In 'Brokeback,' men might not be only gay characters

[kweerwolf]

Over the last two weeks, the news media have explored every possible angle of the gay sheepherder movie Brokeback Mountain - except perhaps for the sex lives of the sheep.

And that actually leaves much to consider, because sheep research is beginning to offer some of the greatest new insights into the nature of homosexuality.

<snip>

Scientists who spend lots of time watching animals have reported that dozens of creatures from elk to elephants climb onto same-sex partners. Killer whales and manatees engage in gay trysts while frolicking in the sea, while gay geese and ducks latch onto one another in devoted male-male or female-female partnerships.

And for decades, it turns out, homosexual sheep have been a financial drain on their frustrated breeders. About 8 percent of rams are interested only in other rams, says Charles Roselli, a professor of physiology and pharmacology at Oregon Health and Science University. When their time arrives to become lamb chops, Roselli takes the brains and studies them for gay/straight differences. He spoke on his latest research last month at a symposium organized by the Endocrine Society.

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/13531397.htm

[davidinalameda]

1. gay ducks?

oh the humanity!!!!!

[daleanime]

2. Gay Rams?

Oh my!:rofl:

[davidinalameda]

3. welcome daleanime

glad to have you here

[daleanime]

5. Glad to be here...

where else can you go to laugh, cry, or yell in under a minutes time?

[TechBear_Seattle]

16. How about a famous pair of gay swans?

Thou art no Romeo
Famed swan couple is all-female

By Donovan Slack, Globe Staff | August 12, 2005

Boston's beloved pair of swans -- feted by city leaders, residents, and tourists alike as one of the Hub's most celebrated summer attractions -- are a same-sex couple. Yes, scientific tests have shown that the pair, named Romeo and Juliet, are really Juliet and Juliet.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department conducted the tests months ago, but didn't announce the results for fear of destroying the image of a Shakespearean love story unfolding each year in the Public Garden.

"Each year when the swans go in, the kids immediately come to us and say, 'Which one's Romeo, and which one's Juliet?'" parks spokeswoman Mary Hines said yesterday in response to a Globe inquiry. "It's just like one of those fairy tales; why spoil it?"

This year and last, the swans have laid eggs in the spring and then stood guard at the nest as visitors and nearby residents made regular pilgrimages, hoping to see the eggs hatch. Neither batch did. Turns out, that's because they were never fertilized by a male swan.

The news ignited something of a debate among swan spectators in the Public Garden yesterday, with some insisting the city now should buy a true Romeo and others saying the city should embrace the two as a couple.

"If these two swans are happy together, they shouldn't have to have a guy," said Emma Stokien, a 15-year-old from New York. "It's good to have the swans as a symbol of the acceptance in Massachusetts."

The article continues at http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/08/12/thou_art_no_romeo/

[pmchenry]

Only the Inquirer

Ah the old Inky... :)

[pmchenry]

4. Only the Inquirer

Ah the old Inky... :)

[Maat]

6. Thanks for the post!

Maybe I will send it, at the right time, of course, to my hardright Southern Baptist relatives.

I'm getting sick of the unconscionable 'Love in Action'-related nonsense.

[moobu2]

7. I'm not sure about gay sheep but

But I have a bi-sexual dominatrix female dog named daisy though. Seriously, I'm not kidding.

[Rowdyboy]

8. First penguins, now rams......

I hope Wendell and Cass are still going strong

http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-06-10/591.asp

[Bucky]

9. Frustrated breeders? What about the ewes? I'm sure they're VERY upset

Oh, I get it. Frustrated "breeders". Nevermind.

[dickthegrouch]

10. My dogs are as queer as I am.

The pomeranian is absolutely not interested in any female, even one in heat. He goes for every male in sight. Our Yorkie is happy to oblige him at every opportunity he gets.

They didn't get it from me - my sex life sucks.

[davidinalameda]

11. poor baby

come here and sit on my lap because I refuse to go to Mountain View!

[swimmernsecretsea]

12. This is going to make for an unusual Animal Planet episode...

Can't wait 'til Jeff Corwin or Steve Irwin wrangle those gay alligators...they look so dang cute in those safari shorts.

[NMMNG]

13. I call bullsh*t!

Everybody knows homosexuality doesn't exist in nature. It is not a genetic/biological issue, it is a choice that humans make. There is no such thing as a gay animal. What rubbish! :sarcasm:

[Meldread]

14. Geese, rams and whales, oh my!

It's a gay world after all!

[TechBear_Seattle]

15. "Biological Exuberance" by Bruce Bagemihl

Published in 1999. It's a meta-study of over a hundred years of zoological field research that documents more than 300 species of fish and mammals that exhibit homosexual behavior. Definitely an eye-opening read and a great resource for the "it's against nature" crowd.