The animal kingdom, or queendom, as some might say, is full of surprises. We often focus on human relationships, but what about the diverse and complex lives of animals? In this exploration, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of “A Field Guide To Gay Animals,” examining same-sex behavior, non-monogamy, and the many ways animals express their identities. We welcome Owen Ever, from the Field Guide to Gay Animals podcast, to share their expertise.
Owen Ever is a community-oriented artist and educator dedicated to wonder, history, and healthcare justice. They have a background in HIV support and prevention, therapeutic medical clowning, and find queer joy in bird watching.
“I’ve really leaned into being a person who finds joy in nature, and birding, bird watching has become one of the main avenues for that for me,” Owen shares. Birding has offered a sense of reflection and affirmation, leading to the creation of the Field Guide to Gay Animals podcast.
What is the Gayest Animal? The Humpback Whale
To start off on a strong note, what is the gayest animal? While many animals exhibit same-sex behavior, the humpback whale stands out. In March 2024, humpback whales were documented having sex for the first time, and it happened to be gay sex. This unique distinction earns them a gold star.
“We’re going to surface and let you watch the most beautiful, sensual sex that you’ve ever seen between these two male humpback whales,” Owen explains. Homosexuality is prevalent among various whale species. The right whale, gray whale, and blue whale have all been witnessed having sex. Dolphins and porpoises are also highly sexually active, engaging in same-sex pair bonding, partnership, and mounting.
It’s a myth that humans are the only species to have sex for pleasure. Pleasure among mammals is abundant, with similar sensory receptors and nervous systems to humans. Great apes also make tools for masturbation and have invented diverse ways of having sex.
Anthropomorphism and Animal Behavior
It’s challenging to divorce ourselves from having a human lens when observing animal behavior. Science often reflects the worldview of its practitioners. Scientists may misclassify same-sex behavior as aggression or ignore it altogether. There’s a utility in seeing queerness where it is and acknowledging same-sex behavior, whether it’s mounting or pair bonding.
Giraffes: Necking and Homo-communism
Giraffes offer an exceptional example of same-sex behavior. Male giraffes engage in “necking,” hitting their necks together, caressing, and exploring each other’s bodies. They get incredibly aroused, experiencing erections.
While necking is often coded as aggression, giraffes defy this interpretation. They have a hierarchy, but when it comes to necking, sex, and copulation, it’s total homocommunism. A study in Tanzania observed that 17 out of 18 copulations were gay sex. Female giraffes rarely have sex, making the male giraffes’ behavior even more striking.
Bisexuality in the Animal Queendom
We underestimate the amount of bisexuality among animals, including humans. There’s an evolutionary advantage to being bisexual, constantly maintaining virility, and seeking pleasure. Sex has health benefits, and animals practice it frequently.
The Monogamyth: Non-Monogamy in the Animal World
The idea that monogamy is the norm is a “monogamyth.” Only 3% to 5% of all species practice any form of monogamy, and some of that is only within breeding periods. Animals offer many examples of ways to exist outside of the monogamous structure.
Penguins are often romanticized for their monogamy, but they are more like serial monogamists. They pair up for a mating season, and sometimes they pair up with the same partner the next year, but often they don’t. DNA studies of penguin babies reveal that a good portion are not genetically related to the father.
Even swans, often held up as paragons of birds that mate for life, have offspring that are not from the pair.
Bonobos: Sex for Reconciliation and Conflict Resolution
Bonobos, our closest mammalian relatives, use sex for reconciliation and conflict resolution. When presented with food, they don’t fall into an alpha dominance hierarchy. Instead, they play, kiss, and have sex.
Bonobo sex is incredibly fast, but it fosters bonds and connections. They share food based on who’s hungry, not based on who wants it. Bonobos can share and meet each other’s needs due to the strong relationships.
Prairie Voles: Monogamy and Its Limits
Prairie voles are often cited as an example of monogamous animals. They exhibit anxiety when apart from their bonded partner. They have higher levels of oxytocin and vasopressin in their brains than meadow voles. However, even in prairie voles, 23% to 56% of litters are sired by other partners.
Dolphins also form and maintain lifelong partnerships but also engage in group sex. Nature offers diverse ways for relationships to happen alongside and with each other. It’s not all or nothing.
Female Sex in the Animal Queendom
Bonobos’ female genitals have developed specifically for lesbian sex, adapting because of the prevalence of their sapphic pleasures. They do a thing called genital-genital rubbing or GG rubbing, and their external genitals have developed specifically in the pursuit of that pleasure so they can do that.
Elephants are matriarchal in their societies. The herds of elephants are almost exclusively female. The males go off and live a solitary life. Female elephants masturbate, have sex with each other, and have amazing co-parenting dynamics. They form intimate lifelong pair bonds that are female-female and support each other.
The Dark Side of Non-Monogamy
It’s essential to avoid going to the extreme point and arguing that monogamy is toxic and unnatural. We should look at behaviors through the lens of what is good for the individual animal in that particular context. Monogamy may be best for some individuals, and that ultimately leads to what’s best for the species.
It’s important to overemphasize the diverse ways that animal relationships happen because we’re up against a deluge on the other end, emphasizing things like monogamy and heteronormativity and competition.
A Field Guide to Gay Animals Podcast
A Field Guide to Gay Animals, releases its pilot five-episode season in June through July. The podcast was inspired by the book, Biological Exuberance. The author, Bruce Bagemihl, looked at every instance where some form of queer behavior was referenced and brought it all together in a 750-page book.
The podcast looks into the legacy of this book. What is the current ecosystem of individuals who are interested in this now and who are willing to talk about this now? What does it mean for us to all find some familiar ground, some platform to feel exuberant about it?
The animal kingdom offers a rich tapestry of diverse relationships and sexual behaviors. By exploring “a field guide to gay animals,” we can learn more about ourselves and the world around us. We’re grateful to Owen Ever for shedding light on this fascinating topic.
