I love this, just another inconvenient truth, for some. The story's been going around the globe, and since there is plenty of discussion on all issues gay, and since it’s Science Friday anyhow: let's go animal..)
The Natural History Museum in Oslo (Norway) is staging an exhibition on GAY ANIMAL BEHAVIOUR. That is, same-sex mating in the oceans, in the deserts, in the forests, on the ice-caps (as long as they still float around). Stats: 1 in 10 penguins prefers his or her own sex. From Livescience:
"Homosexuality has been observed in more than 1,500 species, and the phenomenon has been well described for 500 of them," said Petter Bøckman, project coordinator of the exhibition.
Says the Museum:
We hope to reject the all too well known argument that homosexual behaviour is a crime against nature.
Check out about dolphins, giraffes, macaques (those ones) and of course the multi-erotic bonobos.
http://www.livescience.com/...
But it even ain’t mere stroking and necking and mating. Male flamingo couples rear baby birdies together. In fact, up to 1 in 5 black swan couples are male, who go 'borrow' eggs, or assign a female for the laying and then chase her... while female swan couples engage in adoption, one will simply do a one-time thing with a male and then come back to her own lady. I've just been back and forth in vain through this book Coming out Spiritually by Christian de la Huerta, which I would have sworn has this story, both touching and outrageous, about when as a student he was observing nesting behaviour of black ibis, I believe, and one particular couple that kept building and building while others were long done, and the nest became more and more beautiful until it was this absolutely exquisite dream nest - And only then did it turn out they were both male... It got him to sigh: “sure, leave the interior decorating to the gay ibises” .
This is a rich area, in many ways, and of course there were so-called Christian groups saying this is gay propaganda - hard to believe, or maybe not anymore.. But anyhow, it's far more important that all of the tiny and anecdotal loose bits have now been put together, making a really solid case for the 'naturalness' of this - all too sadly and shamefully - politically fiery issue.
The show attracts plenty of families who learn about the real world in this respect. And my guess is that it will go on a tour elsewhere. I have put out an enquiry about it to the museum, and will keep Kos posted.
International media have noticed it, like British:
Oslo gay animal show draws crowds
http://news.bbc.co.uk/...
and even American:
Gay animals out of the closet?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/...
or check out: http://www.planetout.com/...
I'd rather not spend much breath on the ugly political stink around this very issue at large, it's a little too ridiculous and predictable, as in - HEAR HEAR!!.... - [emphasis mine]:
There has been some hostility to the exhibition. An American commentator said it was an example of "propaganda invading the scientific world." http://www.bobrivers.com/...
Therefore, for some solemn serious study of this profound subject of sofar hidden secrets of the natural world: Top 10 gay animals: http://www.livescience.com/...
On Giraffes:
One in every 20 male giraffes will be found necking with another male at any instant. In many cases, homosexual activity is said to be more common than heterosexual.
On Japanese macaques:
Female macaques engage in sexual activities such as genital stimulation and vocalize their delight in forms of cackling sounds.
So, that's enjoyable indeed. And while we're at it, why not hint at a yet larger issue behind this, nicely connecting pink and green - (ouch, is that a match at all???)
.... says this 8 years and 8 days happily gaily married lady who happens to also be an environmentalist - (yes, go and see AN INCONVENIENT TRUTH, if you have not already. Whether you 'know' this stuff or not - you must see it because it is an historic document.)
Researchers have spotted gay orangutans in Sumatra.
from (Monday, December 10, 2001), http://uk.gay.com/...
Dr ElizaBeth Fox, a researcher from the Bronx Zoo-based Wildlife Conservation Society:
"It's disheartening that we're only now beginning to learn of the full range of behavior among these highly intelligent animals, yet they are vanishing faster than any time in history."
Let's go save some gay whales.
Update: While polishing this dairy, I already got word from the Petter Bøckman, quoted in the lead. his reply to my enquiry about option for the show to travel:
Hallo!
Thank you for your interest in our exhibition.
Unfortunately, the exhibition in its current form is not suited for travelling. Much of the stuffed animals are old and brittle, they simply would not survive transport. Also, the CITES rules regulating transport of
animals and parts of animals from endangered species means most of the animals would have to travel with a stack of papers the size of a telephone book.
We have had several inquiries about our exhibit, and hope that we will have the time and resources available to make a travelling version. Such a version would only be interesting to other institutions with access to
extensive zoological collections, as they themselves would have to supply relevant stuffed animals. We are currently looking at the possibilities, but as always it is a question of resources.
As for other activity in this field, there is a lot of research going on. The field of animal homosexuality was effectively started in 1999 with the book “Biological exuberance” by Bruce Bagemihl. As such it is a very young field, and much of the work done is spearheaded by primatologists (like Frans de Waal) - [who put the bonobo on the map - Fransje***]. If you are interested in a well written and entertaining book on the matter, I will recommend “Evolutions rainbow” by Joan Roughgarden (2002).
Natural History Museum, University of Oslo
Dep. of Exhibitions and Publ. relations
P.O. Box 1172, Blindern
0318 Oslo, Norway
.
[*** Close, but not me, Fransje de Waard]
So Kossacks, pink, green: anyone want to have some scientific fun? Contact your local zoo!
And I know many of you can write a far funnier and juicier story about this, so please take your chance in the comments...