And God Said: Let There be Homosexuality! *Now Edited to Include Video*
During recent years, it has come to the attention of biologists and zoologists that virtually every creature in the animal kingdom, known to have sex, has also displayed homosexual behaviour or engaged in homosexual activity.
It may surprise you to learn that in recent years, biologists and zoologists have discovered one or more type of homosexual, bi-sexual, and even trans-gender behaviour displayed by over 1500 species of animal. Pairs of males are more common, but female-female relationships certainly aren’t unheard of, and both sexes have been known to engage in courtship, affection, sex, parenting and bonding, within same-sex relationships. Latest research suggests homosexual/bisexual behaviour is universal across all species (with the exception of those which don’t have sex at all).
It remains an area needing much investigation, especially with regard to why animals display such behaviour. It’s been suggested by experts that the phenomenon could be occurring on a far larger scale than is currently suspected, but that people failing to document incidences in the past – because of adverse reaction from the public, or in particular, certain religious groups – may have resulted in a cover-up of the facts. Whatever the truth is, it’s a truly fascinating topic, and opens the door to many questions about sexuality and the nature of sexual attraction.
Image via Wikipedia
The findings have already led to claims homosexuality must be entirely natural, as apposed to sinful, as claimed by most Christians – so the idea may well be ruffling some feathers in certain religious circles. These religious folk may argue that we are not animals, but humans, which is why there is a difference in which type of behaviour is acceptable for each of us. (Or they may claim these animals are also sinners and will burn in Hell for their homosexual relations – if you don’t believe me, read the comments below the article.) However, considering we share 98% of our DNA with a chimpanzee, 80% with an earth-worm, and 60% with a banana, I think it’s safe to say we’re a part of the natural world, and that this behaviour is a natural part of our sexuality.
Some documented incidences of homosexuality in the animal kingdom:
Approximately 25% of black swans are estimated to be in same-sex partnerships, with two males often stealing the nest and eggs of a female, or even joining a nesting female in a threesome and later evicting her and raising her young.
In an experiment to discern whether homosexual pairs of male penguins in a German zoo were partaking in such relationships out of choice, or by necessity as the result of lack of females, the zoologists removed one male form each pair and replaced it with an imported female – only to find that there were no successful matings as a consequence. The males were thought to be suffering from depression as a result of missing their male partners, and the females were removed and males re-united with their mates, after public protests by Gay Rights activists in Germany.
Male dolphins sometimes participate in homosexual group-sex (or gay orgies!), and are the only species known to engage in nasal sex – using their blow-holes in acts of male on male penetration. They also rub each other with their bodies, snouts, and flippers – meaning they are almost certainly engaging in sex for pleasure, rather than reproduction. Read more about the sexual activities of dolphins HERE.
It’s been reported that nine in ten pairings, for mating, between giraffes are male on male partnerships. They have full intercourse and even experience orgasm.
Image via Wikipedia
American Bison are known to have taken part in penetrative (anal) sex, and the Lakota Indians even have a special name for trans-gender or bisexual Bison, which translates as Two-Spirit Bison.
Source
The Bonobo ape, a fully bisexual species, is the animal recorded as displaying the highest levels of homosexual or bisexual behaviour, with 60% of sexual relationships taking place between two or more females (yes, folks – that’s a lesbian threesome!). All great apes display high rates of homosexual behaviour.
Source
Elephants also display homosexual behaviour, with males often forming close, long-term relationships with younger male elephants, in which sexual activity plays a large part (depending on the age of these ‘young’ males, this might just be bordering on the perverse…). In captivity, elephants spend around 45% of the time in which they are engaged in sexual activity with those of the same sex, regardless of gender.
Source
A study showed that between 20% and 80% of sexual relationships formed by eleven species of male dragonflies were with other males.
Research into the homosexual behaviour of sheep and fruit flies has led to scientists claiming a genetic factor is involved, thereby stating homosexuality must be determined at birth.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RlTAyNI8WE
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52 Responses to “And God Said: Let There be Homosexuality! *Now Edited to Include Video*”
On October 27, 2009 at 8:16 am
Great article! It’s very interesting to see how many species also engage in homosexual sex and long time partnerships! It reminds me how similar we are to the rest of the animals. I just hope humans would resemble animals in other behaviours, such as not engaging in war…
Let’s make love and not war!
On October 27, 2009 at 8:52 am
Glad you liked it, it was a fun one to create, what with finding the pics. And I totally agree with you, making love is far better!
On October 27, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Interesting article! Thanks for sharing!
On October 27, 2009 at 1:05 pm
You’re welcome!
On October 27, 2009 at 8:12 pm
The picture of the chipanzees is priceless, lol. I bet this article is going to create a firestorm of comments!!
On October 27, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Lovely article
it certainly leaves some old fables hanging out to dry …
On October 27, 2009 at 8:25 pm
WOOHOOO! I love dolphins. Gay orgies, huh?
Great job, Casundara. I second Storm, you are going to get a TON of comments on this article for months to come. Good luck battling off the crazies, girl. Good job again. I absolutely love this.
On October 27, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Catchy title of course, but not true. God’s Word says it is not true.
I invite all of your to read the first three chapters of Genesis. Please see that man invited sin into the world.
What I mean is that God created everything good. When Adam sinned, that brought the whole world, including the animal world, into sin. You’ll see that the ground was cursed in Genesis three.
But, before sin entered, hey, it was male and female was the way to go! And I’m glad.
Btw, at least one typo– opposed not apposed. Close to the top there.
Anyone that really wants to chat with me about this may feel free to send me a Triond PM. I’d put my email addy here, but don’t know if the system will take it, but what you can do is go to sapphirestreams.com — you’ll find my email addy there somewhere.
Well, as you can see I disagree with you, but hey, you got hit on the page from me– lol.
God bless anyway.
On October 27, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Fantastic article, and I absolutely love your clever title. Very well researched and well supported information. Nicely done.
On October 27, 2009 at 8:57 pm
WriteEditSeek, what do you mean well researched? I see a lot of percentages and mention or two of a study, but no references to support the data. Unless I’m having trouble seeing it because the page keeps wanting to load stuff, especially from tribalfusion.
This is rough trying to respond. Those that want to chat with me about this please see my comment above.
God bless,
Pete
On October 27, 2009 at 9:01 pm
dolphins have gay sex orgies? wow! i didn’t learn that on Wild Kingdom.
On October 27, 2009 at 10:01 pm
If there are animals engaging in homosexual behavior than it should be easy for them to find a gay gene. However they have not and that is because there is not one. Just to say you see animals of the same sex having some kind of relation togather proves nothing. There is no desire in any sex for the same sex because you can’t find pleasure in the same sex. God wouldnt have condemed homosexuality if we couldnt help it. And to say there isn’t a God and the Bible is rubish only shows your ignorance. I would be hapy to talk to anyone on these matters. But the arthour of this article is a complete and total blind idiot.
Homosexuals will burn in hell and thats not me talking thats the bible.
On October 28, 2009 at 12:01 am
Nice and interesting…
Pls. read my article and post some comments,
Thanks……..
http://authspot.com/poetry/largest-tree-of-mankind/
On October 28, 2009 at 12:07 am
Interesting article. I find it interesting that research concludes that male homosexuality is more common than female homosexuality, even though popular culture would have you believe that the opposite is true.
On October 28, 2009 at 1:58 am
We used to have a lesbian cow. She constantly mounted other female cows, and often fought with the bull in effort to be leader of the herd.
On October 28, 2009 at 3:04 am
Loved this article. Interesting and good to know.
On October 28, 2009 at 3:23 am
So that’s where humans got their homosexual genes from! ;D
interesting, can’t wait to show this to my friends.
On October 28, 2009 at 5:13 am
I totally agree with you. This is an illuminating article, congratulations! Gay is beautiful.
Some people are so judgemental….fortunately they are very few.
On October 28, 2009 at 5:27 am
I have often thought I was related to a banana thanks for clearing that up.
interesting article I won’t leave any super controversial comments on this but rest assured I thought a few.
On October 28, 2009 at 5:29 am
An enjoyable article, which is well written and has a well deserved place in the hot content.
I think Storm Jackson is right – you may well get many a comment about what you have written. Here are some of mine from secular, groovy Europe!
Firstly, to those who believe in God – please don’t get all high and mighty about this – leave that to the High and Mighty, as it were. The Bible never condemns homosexuality – it condemns homosexual acts between supposedly heterosexual people as unnatural – which I guess it is put that way. It never condemns homosexual love between *real* homosexuals, such as David and Jonathan.. And before people scream that it doesn’t say they were gay, then remember that Dickens almost two thousand years later had to imply rather than state many things around homosexuality.
Pete Macinta is of course correct – there are no direct references here to where the research was done (a mistake I made in my own article too). However, as much as links to the proof of research would have been useful, one must practice a leap in faith when it comes to online journalism and assume that the information had been gathered without discrimination or used in an unbalanced way. Articles like this in newspapers do not have a list of biographical references at the end and it blurs the line between something written for entertainment (this) and an academic paper (not this).
Pete, though, does voice his disquiet in a calm and rational way, which is more than can be said for The Right Stuff who can’t even comment with his own name. Please, if there was a gay gene, there would be a straight gene. What you say intimates that the former has already been discovered. Without one you cannot have the other.
As an aside though, scientists have recently discovered the gene for loneliness. It was isolated anyway..
Back to The Right Stuff, for a second. Really, do you think you help your agenda, sorry religion, by ranting on in the way that you do? Your comments were so very Old Testament I think you might have forgotten the one that starts with the word ‘New’. You are a modern day Pharisee, TRS, who would force Jesus, were he to come back, in to the gay bars because you still insist on your blind and bigoted prejudices. Get with the century, man!
If there is a god – and I hope to hell there isn’t because if and when I reach the pearly gates I will be rolling up my shirt sleeves for a heated debate with the geezer – then he would have, if homosexuality was such a biggy – stuck it on those two stone tablets that Moses so carefully chiselled and then dropped (silly man). I don’t see a number eleven anywhere, do you?
Here is my own take on the subject from back in June.
http://scienceray.com/biology/gay-animals-on-parade/
It received quite a few nasty comments, including one guy who accused me of being gay for daring to write about the subject! That was, as the younguns say, a real L-O-L moment.
On October 28, 2009 at 6:21 am
@Pete Macinta – is that mailbox over-flowing yet? hehehe
@TheGood/RightStuff & Pete Macinta
Fruit flies
Male Drosophila melanogaster flies bearing two copies of a mutant allele in the fruitless gene court and attempt to mate exclusively with other males.[69] The genetic basis of animal homosexuality has been studied in the fly Drosophila melanogaster.[70] Here, multiple genes have been identified that can cause homosexual courtship and mating.[71] These genes are thought to control behavior through pheromones as well as altering the structure of the animal’s brains.[72][73]
(Yamamoto D, Ito H, Fujitani K (1996). “Genetic dissection of sexual orientation: behavioral, cellular, and molecular approaches in Drosophila melanogaster”. Neurosci. Res. 26 (2): 95–107. doi:10.1016/S0168-0102(96)01087-5. PMID 8953572.)
Sheep
An October 2003 study by Dr. Charles E. Roselli et al. (Oregon Health and Science University) states that homosexuality in male sheep (found in 8% of rams) is associated with a region in the rams’ brains which the authors call the “ovine Sexually Dimorphic Nucleus” (oSDN) which is half the size of the corresponding region in heterosexual male sheep.[22]
A pair of St. Croix ewes.
Scientists found that, “The oSDN in rams that preferred females was significantly larger and contained more neurons than in male-oriented rams and ewes. In addition, the oSDN of the female-oriented rams expressed higher levels of aromatase, a substance that converts testosterone to estradiol, a form of estrogen which is believed to facilitate typical male sexual behaviors. Aromatase expression was no different between male-oriented rams and ewes.”
“The dense cluster of neurons that comprise the oSDN express cytochrome P450 aromatase. Aromatase mRNA levels in the oSDN were significantly greater in female-oriented rams than in ewes, whereas male-oriented rams exhibited intermediate levels of expression.” These results suggest that “…naturally occurring variations in sexual partner preferences may be related to differences in brain anatomy and its capacity for estrogen synthesis.”[22] As noted prior, given the potential unagressiveness of the male population in question, the differing aromatase levels may also have been evidence of aggression levels, not sexuality. It should also be noted that the results of this study have not been confirmed by other studies.
The Merck Manual of Veterinary Medicine appears to consider homosexuality among sheep as a routine occurrence and an issue to be dealt with as a problem of animal husbandry.[61]
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_behavior_in_animals
On October 28, 2009 at 6:29 am
@Everyone else – Thank-you for reading and taking the time to comment, I’m glad people enjoyed the article and that there were so few negative responses, it’s good to know we’re moving forward… a man was beaten to death in the UK last week, by teenagers, in public, for being gay. People should be very careful what they say.
Thanks also for the compliments given, and to R J Evans for explaining the idea of an entertaining article, although references have now been added for those needing them. I’ve also found a video which I’ll add to the main content right now. It’s odd how people who believe every word of a book despite there being no proof any of it is real cannot accept the points put forward in my article without references…
On October 28, 2009 at 8:06 am
@Jennifer Marre – Sorry, I missed your interesting question. I believe it probably has something to do with repression on the part of human males – because of the attitude displayed by people such as TheGoodStuff, no doubt. Apparently homosexual behaviour in the animal kingdom was observed long before it was documented, for fear of the way certain groups might respond to the information… this article only proving their point.
On October 28, 2009 at 1:17 pm
I believe that evolution toys with its biological creations on its way to creating something new….in thousands of years hence. In homosexuality we may be seeing evolution in the middle, before it has completed its purpose. For example a certain percentage of people are born with male and female organs. What if nature is slowly trying to program biology for that kind of future.
On October 28, 2009 at 1:23 pm
@Leonardo – That’s a very interesting idea… there are already hermaphrodite animals so who knows?
On October 28, 2009 at 5:13 pm
you are all a bunch of idiots and will go to hell for it. Thats not me talking thats the bible.
On October 28, 2009 at 5:25 pm
The video doesnt do you much justice either becuase you cant tell that they are the same sex. dont know how a female humps a female and a male a male. Seems to disprove your thought. By the way your comment about us being 70% like a worm and 98% like a monkey proves creation not evolution. The 2 percent between us and monkeys is an extremly high number of differnces. The fact that we share common body parts and organs only shows that there is a system with design. If I create something that works for animal it is pointless for me to make several intirly differnt systems for all the other animals. The fact is there is a God and the Bible is truth from him. It is taught clearly that the act and the state of homosexuality is sinful and you will go to hell for it. When the author of this article can show me an animal that is 100 percent homosexual and with no fallacies then there will be something to talk about. People who are homosexuals are that way because they choose to be and not because there made that way. They freaks who cant get a mate because there to wierd and ugly. People whoo result to this kind of behavior will burn in hell according to the bible.
On October 28, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Really CaSundara! Well, let’s talk about. But according to the Holy Bible–the Word of God (God’s Word), the perverse statement you’ve made is not true. Homosexuality is an abomination in the sight of the Lord. Truly, the Lord loves homosexuals; but He hates homosexuality because it is a sin.
On October 28, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I agree with you Pete Macinta. God made everything good and with good intentions. Apart from reading Genesis, read Leviticus Romans also!
On October 28, 2009 at 6:16 pm
Fabulous article! You have a lovely writing style, accessible but informative; a rare thing on this site. It’s a shame the religious fundies won’t accept the facts they’re being presented with.
On October 28, 2009 at 6:21 pm
*applause* Way to get them talking, Casundara. I really love this article and homosexuals too!!! Well….not all of them. lol Great job again!!!!!!
On October 28, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Homosexuality is wired into the personality, not bound by genetics. Trust me, scientists will never find a homosexual gene, just as they have never found, and never will find a “missing link”.
Your title might be catchy, but it is wrong.
Gays and lesbians already have the freedom to make the beds they lay in, why try to find an excuse for the behaviour? Why waste money trying to find DNA links to it? The average homosexual doesn’t care about those kind of facts, and neither does the average heterosexual, because for the most part homosexuality has become accepted by the wider populace. It just seems to me that the only people really concerned about it are the ones who want to throw it in each other’s faces. Is it an attempt to force those who choose straight and celebate lives to accept it? You can’t force anyone to accept anything they don’t want to, neither should you try since the “American dream” is based on the freedom of choice and to take away any choice not illegal is just as much a terrorist act as 9/11. Just as gays and lesbians have their rights, so does the straight person. No willful homosexual cares what the Church thinks, why try to change the religious person’s beliefs when the gay/lesbian doesn’t want to change theirs? Why not just let your yes be yes and your no be no.
People need to move on. There are other more important issues in the world. There’s no need to keep flogging a dying horse, or to incite people to keep flogging.
On October 28, 2009 at 8:12 pm
@Adam Henry Sears – You know, a gay man was beaten to death in London last week, because of the disgusting nonsense spewed by people like some of those responding to this article. Life doesn’t begin and end in America, you know? And people need to do a lot more than simply move on: they need to realize that talking about other human beings in this way is nothing less than shameful. There should be a law against it.
If I didn’t know I’d be banging my head against a brick wall, I’d try to explain to these people that their religion is only real in their own minds, and that any other spiritual path has as much validity as their own, but that would never work…
To any homosexuals reading their rubbish, I apologise, we cannot all be expected to have the ability think for ourselves. And I agree with Henry, we should be investing funds in attempting to discover the Christian gene, instead. Then we could fix the problem once and for all.
On October 29, 2009 at 1:06 pm
But dear Christians…the bible says that people are not given to one another to marry in heaven. Your lords prayer says may Gods will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Therefore, to be the very best you can be for your God, you would not marry and would forgo sensual relationships yourself! How is it you expect homosexuals to be the very best they can be for God when you, yourself will not committ to be the very best for your God?
On October 30, 2009 at 12:43 pm
There are many animals and people that partake in sequential hermaphridism. What these means is that not only do they possess both testes and ovaries-which is a bit different that what we are discussing, but this allows then to mate with an individual of the same species if they are encountered. It’s all about reproductive fitness and cross-fertilization
On October 30, 2009 at 7:54 pm
please read my article
”what god said of sexuality”
inspired by your article
On October 31, 2009 at 7:16 am
@Lovely Honey – And when I do, should I respond by telling you what I genuinely think of it, or by spamming some of my own articles?
Honestly… Now, where’s a link to an internet etiquette article when I need one?
A big thank-you to others who’ve commented in the expected manner, it’s much appreciated.
On October 31, 2009 at 10:35 am
Good article….
Great research too…
On October 31, 2009 at 10:39 am
Come on guys.. We have to take a natural way of life style… This would include ‘everything’….
Should return to the good-old days and lead the life peacefully
On October 31, 2009 at 4:50 pm
CaSundra, This was a really great article for several reasons. First it was fun, informative and educational. Second, it certainly got a hot debate going which is great! Third, You could do oh so many spin offs from it, you could write for years!
Congratulations girl!
On October 31, 2009 at 5:58 pm
Thank-you very much, Martie!
On November 1, 2009 at 12:55 am
No citations, no backup of proof….no quotes
Makes me think none of it is true
On November 1, 2009 at 9:31 am
Here you go, monsieur Skeptic:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_behavior_in_animals
I’m sure you’ll find all the clarifications and proof you need on that one page…
On November 1, 2009 at 12:11 pm
Cass, You are a goddess (no pun intended) I knew there was a reason I was so disappointed that I could’t get on this article the other day! What an absolutely fantastic article, I take my hat off to you. You have put a lot of work into this and I really wish I had thought of it first, although I think you are better at arguing a point than me. hehehehehe
I watched a program presented by John Barrowman a few months ago and on that program they stated that being gay was actually determined in the womb and that it was something to do with the mothers hormones, it is defiantly not a matter of choice!
I have worked around all sorts of animals all my life and they do have same sex, sex. Even in my home our two male guinea pigs are always at it and the two female gerbils! Our horses used to mount each other. I love the bit about the gay dolphins, that hole had to have other uses!!
Good on you for bringing this boring Sunday so in to the present time. xxxx
On November 1, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Oh and to the good stuff, most gay men are gorgeous to look at and would have no problem getting a female mate!
On November 1, 2009 at 3:41 pm
@Lilyrose – hehehe Thank-you, I’m glad you finally got to read it and enjoyed it so much. It’s been my favourite to write so far, I did chuckle as I researched it (and at the thought of the comments I would no doubt receive – and did…). That sounds like an interesting programme, maybe I should watch tv now and again. LOL at your gay animal kingdom – I once had a female rabbit who wanted to mate with my female cat!
On November 1, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Men always take nature to his advantage… he avoids some facts consciously.
Well.. MAN and WOMAN make a great combination.. Why this animal homo?
Think.. Nature has created man for woman and vice versa..
BE NATURAL .. THINK NATURAL…
BE A RATIONALIST
On November 2, 2009 at 12:37 pm
I felt sad when I read this article.
I was hoping that this is not just another act to justify homosexuality, but unfortunately, it is..
It’s amazing how people could go to great lengths just to justify some actions, even using animals for that matter.
By the way, even if animals are observed to join with same sex species, there could be a lot of possible reason why they are doing that — no one could actually give a conclusive explanation for animal behavior. Even the best psychologists could not decipher the ‘exact’ motives for human actions, including sex (though most agree it’s basically for pleasure) — and humans could talk! How much more for animals?
Explanations for actions and behaviors of men and animals are always debatable…
But beyond reasonable doubt the body structure of most male and female species are designed for the opposite sex. So it’s sensible to think that the natural design for pairing is heterosexual.
On November 6, 2009 at 12:57 pm
You lifted that apple to your lips and bit it because you were hungry and you dare to say that actions and behaviors of men and animals are always debatable…The horse took a bit out of your apple because he was hungry too. How is it so complicated and debatable. Actually, you are just using words as cover for your gaycism (like racism).
On November 8, 2009 at 2:18 am
Wikkipedia????? Wikkipedia is your proof text??????
You HAVE to be kidding!!!!! Anyone can say anything and its not verifiable
So, yes…I still do not believe anything you said is true…as you do not have ONE, not ONE shred of reliable proof…not ONE!
Ever written a paper before? They dont let you hand in wikkipedia as a proof text.
On November 8, 2009 at 9:39 am
Firstly, this isn’t a paper. Secondly, if you read the wikipedia article you’ll find that the homosexual behaviour I’ve mentioned is referenced. So all the proof you need is on that page, if you know where to look for it. I only used information with cited references.
On November 13, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Same sex loving is a common thing in hundreds of species..whether it be for pleasure, or to strengthen bonds..it’s perfectly natural. My girlfriend has two male shih-tzu dogs that often hump one another..but I think it’s more practice for heterosexuality..or it might even be to show the other who’s more dominant (?). I think it’s fair to say that not every sexual act involves reproduction..and that the only difference between humans and animals..is that homophobia is exclusive to humans. Bears, gorillas, owls, dolphins salmon all engage in same-sex coupling..so perhaps there is some deep and meaningful reason why. An excellent write CaSundara..and like LilyRose..I had problems posting a comment to this article..hmm..Triond strikes again!
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