Homosexuality in Animals - NYT

[varun]

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/07/arts/07GAY.html?8hpib

Love That Dare Not Squeak Its Name
By DINITIA SMITH

Published: February 7, 2004


oy and Silo, two chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, are completely devoted to each other. For nearly six years now, they have been inseparable. They exhibit what in penguin parlance is called "ecstatic behavior": that is, they entwine their necks, they vocalize to each other, they have sex. Silo and Roy are, to anthropomorphize a bit, gay penguins. When offered female companionship, they have adamantly refused it. And the females aren't interested in them, either.

At one time, the two seemed so desperate to incubate an egg together that they put a rock in their nest and sat on it, keeping it warm in the folds of their abdomens, said their chief keeper, Rob Gramzay. Finally, he gave them a fertile egg that needed care to hatch. Things went perfectly. Roy and Silo sat on it for the typical 34 days until a chick, Tango, was born. For the next two and a half months they raised Tango, keeping her warm and feeding her food from their beaks until she could go out into the world on her own. Mr. Gramzay is full of praise for them....

[gator_in_Ontario]

1. Another example

of why the "it's not natural" argument doesn't hold water...it occurs in nature...it is natural.

[enki23]

3. you don't need that reason

it's simpler than that. there is no such thing as "not natural." i'm sick near to death of fucking idiot humans who think we are somehow apart from "nature."

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. As in nature, so in humankind

Gay people are people first. I would hope that a stable, loving couple could get married and raise a family, no matter if they are gay or straight.

[scottxyz]

4. There's another DU thread on this over in General Discussion

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=1093714