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Why Does Homosexuality Exist in the Animal Kingdom?

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Posted on Jun 21, 2006

If homosexuality is a genetic aberration, why hasn’t it been bred out of all species? That’s the provocative question posed in Seed magazine, which reports that among some species, it actually makes more evolutionary sense for animals to copulate with members of the same sex--as opposed to members of the opposite sex.

Boing Boing:

Joan Roughgarden, a transgendered professor of biology at Stanford University, has penned a fascinating-sounding book on the evolutionary role of homosexuality called Evolution’s Rainbow. This month’s Seed magazine features a long article on Roughgarden’s theories, which center on explaining why, if homosexuality is a genetic aberration, it hasn’t been bred out of all species—instead, homosexual coupling is more the norm than the aberration when it comes to most animals. As she says, “a ‘common genetic disease’ is a contradiction in terms, and homosexuality is three to four orders of magnitude more common than true genetic diseases such as Huntington’s disease.”

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By Cesar A. Turcios, October 30, 2006 at 2:14 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

The real question that should be asked is: What is a homosexual? Also, what notions do we hold about it? Etymologically speaking, it clearly means sex with the same sex. But, does it, or rather should it, mean “completely without sexual regard to the opposite sex”? Clearly, this is our notion of a present epitome homosexual. And though this seems to be the case with some human homosexuals, this has not been exemplified in any other animal species.

There is clearly “homosexual activity” in all animal species, but in actuality isn’t this simply the other half of bisexuality? Does pure homosexuality really exist? And if it does, are those instances biological/social aberrations?

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By Pragmatique, June 21, 2006 at 10:39 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Who says homosexuality exists in the animal kingdom?

First off, let’s make the distinction between homosexuality and what appears to be same gender sexual interaction.

As with homo sapiens many animals exibit sexual interplay for various reasons other than reproduction. In fact, it’s entirely plausible that reproduction isn’t even the primary reason for much of the sexual interaction within various animal species. That’s certainly true for humans, as our proclivity for sexual activity far exceeds what’s necessary for reproductive purposes. 

And what about cross-species sexual acting out. If a male dog pumps on a male cat do we refer to them as “homosexuals,” and are they even committing a sexual act? Or, is it something else entirely, like acting out domination/subordination issues.

It seems absurd to refer to animal behavior as “homosexual” when strictly speaking the term can only be applied to homo-sapiens. And even then, committing a homosexual act does not make one a homosexual.

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By Lord Rathbone, June 21, 2006 at 12:29 pm #
(Unregistered commenter)

Why does Homosexuality exist in the animal kingdom? For the same reason it exists in the human animal kingdom. Natural Selection’s insurance against over population. Quite apart from having no conscience whatsoever, Natural Selection doesn’t seem to have an eye toward progressivity either. You’ll agree it is a most uncompromising entity Natural Selection, if indeed entity’s the correct term.

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By R. A. Earl, June 21, 2006 at 11:09 am #
(Unregistered commenter)

First, just because we don’t have answers to WHY doesn’t invalidate anything. I don’t know about you but I haven’t a clue WHY I’M EVEN ON THIS PLANET let alone what this planet is doing in the universe. SO WHAT?

It seems to me different groups have different roles to play in the mosaic that is “life.” Worker bees don’t breed… but the hive wouldn’t function if they don’t guard it and keep it cool. I don’t hear anyone suggesting we kill all the worker bees because they’re not heterosexually active!

Humans who are not involved in the reproductive cycle are usually fully engaged in doing other productive things for society. Heteros who meet and mate according to hormonal directives find themselves with obligations that require pretty much all their time, energy and resources for at least two decades (if they’re raising those kids properly, that is… but that’s a whole other question).

Non-heteros, relieved of family obligations, often invest huge amounts of time and effort into endeavors that otherwise just wouldn’t be pursued.

But the bigger question to ask is WHY DO MANY HUMANS PERSECUTE AND HARRASS NON-HETEROSEXUALS? Where’s the benefit to society?

I’m not sure, but I don’t think “gay” horses or flamingos are shunned from their respective herds and flocks.

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