By Nitya Krishnan
Homosexuality is commonly thought to have been the domain, and the invention, of humanity. This idea originates from society’s need to see the different as exotic, unique and unnatural. However, there has been considerable research that proves that queerness is a natural phenomenon, just like the phenomenon of sexual attraction. Humanity naturally exists in a large variety of sexual preferences. But, what about the Animal Kingdom?
Much to the surprise and dismay of naysayers, homosexuality exists in large abundance in the animal kingdom. There is a preconceived notion that humans are the only species that engages in sexual activity for the sake of pleasure. This thought also feeds into the idea that heterosexuality is the natural state of being, given that it serves the purpose of reproduction. But, animals in the wild have been observed engaging in sex for pleasure, and thereby, homosexual behaviour as well.
Most famously, male penguins are known to mate with a male partner for life, even raising foster eggs together. Zoos across the world have noticed and observed this phenomenon in their enclosures, even giving the couple eggs to raise when they notice them trying to incubate rocks. The male couples, in captivity and the wild, are known to court each other in all the ways straight penguins do. With mutual preening, entwining of necks and flipper flapping. And they have sex.
Other animals that walk to queer road include lions, giraffes, dolphins, bonobos and macaques. Female macaques are even known to be life-long, monogamous companions, while their male counterparts prefer one-night stands.
It should be noted that sex, like male and female, operates differently across animal families. Many invertebrates are genderfluid, switching between genitalia when the need arises. Clownfish are normally born as males but switch to females when they grow older.
Humanity’s binary and gendered idea of the natural world is slowly proving to be a farce that we have erected for our contentment.
Further Reading:
10 animal species that show how being gay is natural. (2017, August 2). dw.com. https://www.dw.com/en/10-animal-species-that-show-how-being-gay-is-natural/g-39934832
Biology and life cycle of the Gray Field slug. (2016, October 30). College of Agricultural Sciences. https://agsci.oregonstate.edu/slug-portal/life-slug/biology-and-life-cycle-gray-field-slug#:~:text=ADULTS%3A%20Slugs%20are%20hermaphrodites%E2%80%94every,though%20self%2Dfertilization%20can%20occur
Owen, J. (2021, May 4). Homosexual activity among animals stirs debate. Science. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/homosexual-animals-debate
Same-Sex behavior among animals isn’t new. science is finally catching up. (n.d.). National Wildlife Federation. https://www.nwf.org/Home/Magazines/National-Wildlife/2023/Summer/Conservation/Same-Sex-Behavior-Animals-Science
Sex change in clownfish. (n.d.). The Australian Museum. https://australian.museum/learn/teachers/classroom-activities/sex-change-in-clownfish/#:~:text=The%20three%20banded%20anemone%20fish,bigger%2C%20they%20eventually%20become%20female
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