fm sure you’ve heard many arguments why ay marriages shouldn’t be allowed; why omosexuality is wrong or disgusting even. Dne argument that can no longer be used is at which says homosexuality is “unnatural” r, as the statutes in some countries refer to

. a “crime against nature.”

“Against Nature?” is the first of its kind

an exhibition on animal homosexuality. he question mark at the end of the title is of particular importance for the message behind

e exhibition. One billboard quotes Magnus nquist, a professor at Stockholm University

Sweden: “There are things that are much more contrary to nature than homosexuality, lhings humans alone do—like having reli- bion, or wearing pyjamas.”

This inspirational project is unfortunately hot viewable in Vancouver, or even Canada, but is located at the Natural History Museum in Oslo, Norway. According to the organizers nd project manager Geir Soeli, Homosexuality is found in over 1,500 ani- mal species and [is] well documented in 500 bf those cases.” The majority of these obser- ations have been found in most vertebrate broups, insects, spiders, crustaceans, octopi, and parasitic worms.

The exhibit claims that many species have ex outside the mating season, proving that Intercourse is not merely for reproductive purposes, but is also an enjoyable activity. Bisexual tendencies in dolphins are quite ommon, for example. Male bottlenose dol- phins and male spotted dolphins are two nggressive species of dolphin that are usually nggressive towards each other, but it’s been ound that one in three encounters result in ntercourse, not fighting. To emphasize dol- phins’ promiscuity, there hangs in the centre bf the exhibit two male dolphin models, one penetrating the other’s blowhole.

One picture dominating the scene at the exhibit is that of two male killer whales playing’ in the ocean, both with their erec- tions easily visible. It’s been documented that male gray whales, dolphin species, southern ight whales, and bowhead whales often rub heir snouts to the others’ genitals for stimu- ation.

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Homosexuality goes well beyond water territory, too. The earliest mention of animal homosexuality was by Aristotle, who spoke of homosexuality between hyenas. Sex between female hyenas continues to be quite common.

A study focusing on giraffe mating habits in one particular area found that 94 per cent of all registered sexual activity took place between two males. In fact, scientists have seen homosexuality among giraffes for years but have not, until recently, acknowledged them. In many studies of African giraffes, when a male was seen sniffing a female this was recorded as “sexual interest,” meanwhile scientists registered anal intercourse with ejaculation between two males as being a “ritualized form of fighting.”

Homosexuality among animals isn’t always just a case of random promiscuity, rather it is long-lasting with life-long partner- ships forming among the gay mates.

But, if this is true then how do animals continue to procreate and exist? As it turns out, our feathered species are quite apt to raising offspring as homosexual couples. In the case of birds such as laughing gulls, ducks, flamingos, swans, geese, penguins, and seagulls, male partners will often steal eggs from a female’s nest and raise the off- spring as their own. Or they will ‘bond’ tem- porarily with a female who will then volun- tarily give up the resulted egg to the male partner. This is also done vice versa, as one female in a ‘lesbian’ couple will bond with a male just long enough for fertilisation. In fact, with flamingos, a male couple is actual- ly able to hold up or protect a larger territory and is therefore better able to provide care for their chickens (baby flamingos) — and care for more chickens at a time than a het- erosexual flamingo mating couple can.

According to the exhibit, studies like these have not been released to the public because they’ve been disregarded by scien- tists who feared being ridiculed, shunned by society, losing research grants, or who were just in plain disbelief. The first case of ani- mal homosexuality that was actually docu- mented and published was in the early 19th

century when a scientist by the name of DeKerville printed a report and a sketch of his observations of two male scarab beetles having intercourse. However, the findings were printed in a small, obscure publication and were ignored.

Not only are homosexual or bisexual ten- dencies found in the animal kingdom, but masturbation is also quite common. Many animals use either their paws, flippers, or, in the case of walruses, their muzzle for self- stimulation. The male macaques, a species of monkey, will place their most tender body parts in another’s hand to strengthen their bond, or friendship. This act is so common with monkey species that it has its own name, and is referred to as “diddling.”

The museum has received financial sup- port for the exhibit from the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority. It’s also received encouragement from the gov- ernment by way of special subsidies, which it grants to Norwegian museums willing to encourage public debate; and this the Natural History Museum does. As stated on their website, “we feel confident that a greater understanding of how extensive and common this behaviour is among animals, will help to

de-mystify homosexuality among people.” Although it’s been reported in some news sources that there has been some backlash coming from radical Christian groups con- cerning the exhibit, I have yet to see this any- where in Oslo or in Norwegian popular media. Interestingly enough, the exhibit doesn’t seem to be getting much media atten- tion at all in Norway. A random Google search will turn up articles in other sources such as Yahoo News, BBC news, and Germany’s Spiegel Magazine, but none in Norway’s leading newspapers—which is possibly a good example of the country’s lib- eralism and acceptance of freedom of expres- sion. Despite the lack of local attention, the exhibit is gaining recognition internationally. As Soeli and his colleagues told Spiegel, they are considering taking their show on the road at the end of their ten months in Oslo and making it an international exhibition. The exhibit opened on October 13 and for anyone soon planning to be in the Oslo area, it will remain open until August 19, 2007. More information can be found at www.nhm.uio.no/againstnature

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