Animal Homosexuality

Homosexual behavior in humans has been a controversial topic for eons together, the Church being its formost opponent. Elsewhere I had written about the evolution of homosexuality, wondering why there was such a hue and cry about a person's sexual orientation. Is it really such a big deal? I talked about homosexual behavior within the animal kingdom, and now I'm going to add to that discussion.

But first, what is more intriguing, I think, is the concept of masturbation. It sure is common amongst us humans (a concept that too was debated over), but is it prevalent in the animal kingdom too? If evolution had its way, then it should be, at least to some extent. Looked it up on Wiki and it linked me to a video clip showing a kangaroo masturbating. Apparently female porcupines employ the use of vibrators, too! (Wiki is examples galore here)

Homosexual behavior is known to occur in about 450 different species of animals, ranging from the birds, bees, to higher animals like the mountain goat, cat and the elephant. Till a few years ago, scientists researching animal sexual behavior in the wild would mask their findings on homosexuality as some other form of social behavior. I found this written in another article on animal homosexuality:

• A female ape wraps her legs around another female, "rubbing her own clitoris against her partner's while emitting screams of enjoyment." The resercher explains - its a form of greeting behavior. Or reconciliation. Possibly food exchange behavior. Its certainly not sex, not lesbian sex.
  
• Six bighorn rams cluster, rubbing, nuzling and mounting each other. "Aggressosexual behavior" the biologist explains. A way of establishing dominance.

Of course, today that outlook doesn't allow for good research. What you see is what gets documented. Bruce Bagemihl spent 10 years researching the 'forbidden' topic of animal homosexuality. His extensive research culminated in his book Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity.

Here is Wiki's list of animals that indulge in homosexual, transgender behavior.

The latest from the world of homosexuality is that the Oslo Natural History Museum states for a fact that homosexuality is natural. They are hosting the world's first exhibit on animal homosexuality, which started on Thursday. Some of the exhibits seem to be very interesting, indeed!

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