Queer, Isn't It?

The Ugly Duckling has Two Daddies

[8 January 2007]

We are surrounded by a large population that simply flaunts its homosexualness at us -- flagrantly, shamelessly, and completely uncontrollably.

By Michael Abernethy

Wendell and Cass had been living together as a same-sex couple for four years when they became parents. In the beginning of their relationship, officials tried to keep them apart, but the lovebirds couldn’t stay away from one another. The first chance they got, Wendell and Cass were back together, defying society’s expectations. Yet, soon after the couple became parents, the same officials who tried to separate them were praising their parenting abilities. Not the typical response from authority figures, but then, Wendell and Cass aren’t your typical gay parents: they’re Chinstrap penguins, and the officials who followed them so closely were the keepers of the New York Aquarium. (“They’re in Love. They’re Gay. They’re Penguins…And They’re not Alone” - Christina Cardoze, Columbia News Service, 10 June 2002.)

Wendell and Cass would be perfect to headline the Oslo Natural History Museum’s recent exhibit, “Against Nature?” The exhibit focuses on homosexuality in the animal kingdom, which is apparently more common than most would imagine, as 1,500 breeds of animals engage in homosexual behavior. The title of the show, of course, refers to the frequently made argument that homosexuality is unnatural.

And what a loud chorus there is singing that particular argument. According HateCrime.Org’s
resource on religious right hate speech, those who have referred to homosexuals or homosexual behavior as “unnatural” include the Claremont Institute, American Family Association, Family Research Council, Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, and preacher Pat Robertson. Dr. Laura calls homosexuality “deviant” and “dysfunctional”, Anthony Falzarano of the Family Research Council refers to it as a “neurosis, Jerry Falwell says it is a “perversion”, and the medical opinion of Robertson’s 700 Club is that homosexuality is “a pathology. It is a sickness.”

Which makes the Oslo exhibit so important. It shows that homosexuality isn’t really all that unnatural.  Indeed, it is a regular occurrence in the animal kingdom. The sexual behavior featured in the museum’s show is also detailed on LiveScience.com . Among the species featured on the website are the giraffe, American bison, walrus, gray whale, and Kob antelope. Almost all Bonobo chimpanzees are bisexual, and female-female sex in the species is prominent, whereas most male Guianan-Cock-of-the-Rock (a bird, not a bad pun) are bisexual, with some being exclusively homosexual.

Most notable of the species is the black swan. One-fifth of all black swans are in same-sex relationships, and one-fourth of all black swan families are headed by gay parents.  That’s right, not only does homosexual coupling occur in the wild, but homosexual parenting does, as well. Frequently, male black swan couples will “borrow” a female to lay eggs for them, and then raise the brood as their own. And the young ones grow up just fine. And the homosexual parents are an integral part of the overall society.  Go figure.

Of course, this phenomenon is nothing new. In his book Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity, author Bruce Bagemihl maintains that homosexuality in the animal kingdom exists on all life-bearing continents and has for millions of years. Not only that, Bagemihl notes, but also “same-sex behavior in animals exhibits every conceivable variation.” Bagemihl’s contention is substantiated by numerous scientific studies and observations by other researchers. National Georgraphic, The Journal of Avian Behavior, and Nature Australia are three of the numerous journals to have reported on the occurrence of homosexual behavior among animals.

If, in fact, animals instinctively engage in same-sex behavior for whatever reason (some say it is pleasure driven, others maintain it is a form of bonding), then one can safely assume that such behavior is natural. It’s hard to imagine that radical lesbian Japanese macaques are hanging out in the wild enticing innocent young macaques with anti-patriarchy speeches, or that flaming male ostriches are luring younglings into a life of debauchery against their will with jello shots and disco music. Dolphins don’t have ex-gay ministries, and flamingoes, who also participate in same-sex couple parenting, don’t have to worry about being declared unfit parents due to their choice of a mate.

The implications of all this rampant gayness in the wild is that it casts doubt on the assertion that homosexuality is a “choice”. Animals engage in homosexuality without concern for the moral implications; it is instinctive. Could the same be true for people?
Many scientists would argue “yes”. Although no “gay gene” has been identified, biological factors have been found which indicate that homosexual tendencies are predetermined.  Numerous aspects of the human body have been studied to determine if there are defining factors for homosexuality, from the human inner ear to the human response to pheromones. Among the various findings:

- The interstitial nuclei of the anterior hypothalamus 3 (the portion of the brain which controls sexual impulse) in gay men is similar in size to the INAH3 of women and not straight men.

- Lesbians have cochlea amplifiers in their inner ears which more closely resemble those of men than straight women. Likewise, the “spontaneous otoacoustic emissions”, faint sounds emitted by the inner ear, are similar between lesbians and straight men.

- Many gay men have a higher number of ridges on their fingerprints.

- Gay men produce sweat with unique odors not found in straight men and women or lesbians, and other gay men are better at detecting those odors.

- Lesbians and straight men react more strongly to the odor of female pheromones than the pheromones of men.

- Prepulse inhibition, or involuntary eye-blink response, is similar between lesbians and straight men and between gay men and straight women. Such responses are controlled by the same part of the brain which controls sexual activity.

- Exposure to certain hormones while in the womb increases the likelihood of males being homosexual (and left-handed).

- On average, gay men have larger penises.

- Lesbians are three times as likely to have a sister who is a lesbian, and identical male twins have a higher rate of homosexuality for both twins than non-identical twins.

Many of these studies are controversial, and proponents on both sides of the nurture / nature debate have chimed in with criticisms and praise. Regardless of whether all the studies, of which only a few are cited above, are accurate, one can easily conclude that there are marked biological differences between gay men and women and their heterosexual counterparts. The fact that many of these differences are formed in the womb, such as fingerprints and brain formation, would indicate that homosexuality is determined before birth.

If homosexuality is predetermined, how can homosexuals be condemned for it? Our society has progressed to the point where most acknowledge biological differences and refuse to denounce those who are different on that basis. A person’s race, physical disabilities, and ethnic characteristics are largely off-limits for criticism. Should it be proven irrefutably that homosexuality is a genetic trait and not caused by circumstance, environment, or choice, then homosexuality would have to be added to the list of physical traits that are out-of-bounds for attack. How can you condemn a person to eternal damnation when he / she has no choice in the life that he / she desires?

Of course, homosexuals could deny their true nature. We do have free choice. But research has shown that such denial can cause significant psychological damage, as evidenced by the high suicide rates among gay teens struggling with their sexual orientation in hostile societies. And in modern society, as we know, we would never presume to ask others to deny their biological composition . . .

There is a downside to the idea that homosexuality is genetic, and it is straight out of science fiction: if it is genetic, then it can be cured (or at least, altered). Assuming there is some biological factor that leads one to be gay, then one can assume that science will eventually find a way to “fix” that factor. Some evangelicals have actually embraced the idea that homosexuality is genetic for this reason, so that scientists can begin to work on a way to correct the wayward genes. It’s simple . . . with surgery we’ll just tweak that part of the brain that malfunctions, there, with drugs we’ll alter the DNA strand before this kid is born, and with a bit of hoo doo magic we’ll alter the genetic composition of the person to make him or her look and act just the way we’d like. Now, isn’t that natural?

And what a slippery slope that would be. A far more rational course of action would be to accept that the Supreme Maker, God, the Spirit, Nature, the Cosmos, Mother Earth—whatever force one believes governs life—intended for there to be homosexuality. And if it was intended to be, there is no reason to eliminate it. After all, should scientists one day eradicate all signs of homosexuality in humans, they still have 1,500 species of animals flaunting “deviance” to remind them that homosexuality is natural.

I’m not a terribly religious person, but in my mind, Wendell and Cass won’t be condemned to eternal hell-fire and damnation for falling in love. And neither will the millions of deceased gay men and women who have led moral lives, had loving relationships, raised families, and contributed to the good of society. The religious right is correct when they say homosexuality is about choice. But the question is, do we have one?

Michael has been writing for PopMatters since 2000.  His primary focus, aside from queer culture, is television reviews and commentary, and his article Male Bashing on TV has been reprinted in two college textbooks.  He currently lives in Louisville, KY, and is a Lecturer of Communication Studies at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, IN.  As a teacher, he has an interest in the study of contemporary political rhetoric and argumentation.  He and his partner Jim have been living in un-wedded bliss since 1995.

Queer, Isn't It?

Stonewall: 40 Years Hence

By Michael Abernethy

05.Jun.09

America's first gay Vice-President lived for 15 years with America's first gay President – and more from this Gay Pride Month's Public Service Announcement.

“I Thee Wed”

By Michael Abernethy

12.May.09

Weddings performed by a justice of the peace, a ship's captain, or an Elvis impersonator don't fit into the historical, traditional view of marriage, performed in and sanctioned by the church – but they’re legal.

Is Your Child Safe?

By Michael Abernethy

16.Apr.09

If opponents of gay rights are serious about stopping child molestation, they shouldn't look inside the gay community. They should look inside the house next door.

 
 
Comments

Is gay culture a healthy culture?

     
        I believe that many of the issues facing gay culture has a lot to do with the perception that has been formed by the dominant heterosexual culture about gay culture in general.  Being gay myself and having written a book on this topic, I had conversations with many “straight” people about what bothered them about gays.  One very important issue was that there are a lot of generalities about all gay people based on the stereotypical behaviors they often see on T.V.  Many of these include; being self-serving and superficial, partying all the time using drugs, and the over consumption of alcohol and the wearing of gender blurring clothing.  There are members of particularly the urban gay culture that tend to be what I call the out and loud crowd, making there sexuality a big issue rather than treating their sexual orientation as a neutral issue rather than being obnoxious about it and purposely making a point to shove it into peoples faces. They are often seen as crass by many straight people.  Many of the stereotypical behaviors concerning the gay culture I believe are true and I believe it is time that we, as gay people need to own up to many of these behaviors and start to question the culture as a whole and what the cultures priorities are. I know for a fact as being and out gay man for thirty years that much of gay culture very closely fit these stereotypes and don’t seem to have any direction in their lives and mainly look forward to the weekends so they can go clubbing.  Of course this is a generalization but very common if we are to be honest with ourselves about the culture. I do however understand why many dysfunctional behaviors that can easily be found within the culture are based on childhood wounds because so many gay men were picked on in school, felt isolated and like outsiders. When they finally are out of school they usually seek out and find the safety and security of the gay community with its pre- established norms and ways of behaving that often are not considered to be healthy attitudes or behaviors, or do they promote healthy self-esteem in the new young men joining the gay culture in order to feel some sense of camaraderie for perhaps the first time in their lives. I believe if we all take a good long hard look at ourselves and try and imagine how foreign our culture must seem to the dominant culture.  So often what we don’t understand we fear.  Since they are our largest voting constituency I believe these stereotypes are getting in our way.  We, as a culture can begin to change these stereotypes by behaving in an honorable and respectful manner when we are out in public. We need spokes people that don’t fit the stereotypes that make straight people feel even more alienated from us. I’m not at all saying that men that are more effeminate should start trying to act like something they are not.  Male behavior as does female behavior runs on a scale from very effeminate to very masculine. Neither is right or wrong. They ought to be considered neutral issues. We do however need to be more honest with ourselves about the image we are sending to the world at large. This may be a helpful first step in changing impressions about who we are as a people.  Thank you, Aaron Jason Silver www.aaronjasonsilver.com

Comment by Aaron jason Silver from fenville, mi — January 8, 2007 @ 1:44 pm

Note to Aaron: try reading more than just the quote.  This article has nothing to do with social behaviorisms in homosexual humans, but with socially responsibile behavior in all homosexual creatures.  Let those among the heterosexual-acting who are bigoted figure it out from there.

Comment by Jack Adams from New York — January 8, 2007 @ 2:25 pm

The logic of the claims in this article has a major fault. The article claims that proof that animals do things is sufficient to claim that those things are 1) natural and 2) acceptable.

Since an argument in semantics is highly likely with regards to the first point, and since I don’t really disagree with it, I will ignore it and move on to the second point.

The article claims that since there are numerous examples of animals that practice homosexuality in various forms, it must then be appropriate for humans to practice homosexuality in those forms. By this logic, the fact that numerous examples exist of animals who kill their own kind must imply that it is acceptable for humans to kill their own kind. To take this to the point of absurdity, the presence of examples of animals that run around without clothes must imply that it is acceptable for humans to run around without clothes.

There is a physical component to being a mass-murderer. The fact that there is a genetic predisposition to this pathological condition does NOT by any means imply that the ramifications of this pathology are acceptable to society.

None of this is intended to imply any bias for or against homosexuality in humans.  There is simply a fundamental flaw in claiming that “natural” implies “right”.

Comment by Ed Bynum from Pendleton, SC — January 17, 2007 @ 5:25 pm

Ed is correct in pointing out that many “natural” behaviors (which I think here means behaviors which can be observed in populations of non-human mammals) are not considered healthy or appropriate in human society.  For me the strongest point of the recent focus on homosexual behavior in animals is simply as a rebuttal to the charge that human homosexuality is “unnatural.” 

Personally I have never been terribly affected by this argument—even if humans were the only animals to express homosexual behavior I think it would be just fine.  No other animals write operas, build skyscrapers, post to blogs, or use condoms, yet all of these “unnatural” behaviors are considered normal and acceptable (well except the last which is not acceptable to some people). 

Finally, to Aaron Jason Silver, a couple of suggestions.  First, please learn to use paragraphs.  It will make your writing much easier to read and understand.  Second, I highly recommend that you read Didier Eribon’s book “Insult and the Making of the Gay Self.”  It addresses many of the issues with which you seem to be concerned.  You may find that you disagree with some of what he writes, but it is provacative and quite thoughtful.  Well worth the read.

Comment by Andrew Leavitt — January 28, 2007 @ 5:02 am

I’m sorry about the prior e-mail that I sent in response to your article in regards to homosexual behvior in animals. 
 
  I have been involved with animals of all sorts my entire live. I have raised many mammals, most specifically dogs. I also owned a veterernay clinic
  My best childhood friend began a sanctuary for exotic animals of all sort primarily primates. That is the reason for the name of the org.“primarily primates” He had the largest privately owned primates in the world. He did it as a non profit org to care for abandoned animals when peope started realizing that when they become adults they are very dangerous.   
 
  Now for the reason I gave some background information was I suppose to indicate my experience with all sorts of animals and I also have been on numerous African Safaris. There are not any mammals that I am aware of that do not engage in homosexual activity. There is a species of chimps where the female chimps are almost exculsive homosexual with the exception of when the would be in esterous andd would then have heterosexuality for the sake of creating offspring. Dogs simulate sexual intercouse when they are coming into heat. That is my clue that they are so i can make arrangement for them to be bred in advance.

  The argument that many religious right wingers bring up about humans being the only animals that are gay or practive homosexuality couldn’t be further from the truth. There is even an Island off the coast of Greece called Lesbos. It was an island that manay woman of ancient times lived and engaged in sexual invovement with other woman,hence the name Lesbos.

  As hard as people have tried to put an end to homosexuality within the human race as always been unsuccessfull. No method has proven througout history to stop homosexuality and even now in the modern age of so many medical miracles they have not been successful. No one can create more homosexuals anymore can anyone stop homosexuals from being born. If sexual preference were so maliable then the ex gay programs would be such a success. They hoever are not and there is much scientific research to prove that. The ones in high profile positions that have claimed to cured by these programs and then go out speaking at seminars are just in a state of denial. Many of them have been seen in gay bars, so I would guess that it isn’t working. Why are their so many ministers and other high profile members of christian organizations been caught engaging in homosexual activity. Could it be possible that we are here to stay and that they will never be “cured”. If anyone could pray it away as many of us did when we were kids, it therefore would seem that prayer would be the answer. It however is not and it will never be. Thank you,
aaron silver www.aaronjasonsilver.com

Comment by aaron silver from fennville, michigan — January 30, 2007 @ 4:54 pm

Add a comment

Please enter your name and a valid email address. Your email address will not be displayed. It is required only to prevent comment spam.

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Please enter the sequence of letters and numbers you see in the image above. Do not include any spaces.