Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

The utility of such a system is that homosexuality in any given context (or species) can be seen as the intersection at various points on a number of such axes, thereby allowing comparisons to be made across multiple factors. In this chapter a number of these typological axes will be explored in greater detail to show that both animal and human homosexuality exhibit a comparable variability when examined from virtually every angle.⁶ Ultimately, we will see that the plurality of homosexualities in both animals and people suggests a blurring of the seemingly opposite categories of nature and culture, or biology and society. On the one hand, it is no longer possible to attribute the diversity of human (homo)sexual expression solely to the influence of culture or history, since such diversity may in fact be part of our biological endowment, an inherent capacity for “sexual plasticity” that is shared with many other species. On the other hand, it is equally meaningful to speak of the “culture” of homosexuality in animals, since the extent and range of variation that is found (between individuals or populations or species) exceeds that provided by genetic programming and begins to enter the realm of individual habits, learned behaviors, and even community-wide “traditions.”

Comparisons between animals and people almost inevitably focus on behaviors that are supposed to be uniquely human. As biologist James Weinrich points out, nearly every behavior that was at one time believed to be practiced only by people has been found to have an analogue among animals—including homosexuality:

There is a long and sordid history of statements of human uniqueness. Over the years, I have read that humans are the only creatures that laugh, that kill other members of their own species, that kill without need for food, that have continuous female receptivity, that lie, that exhibit female orgasm, or that kill their own young. Every one of these never-never-land statements is now known to be false. To this list must now be added the statement that humans are the only species that exhibit “true” homosexuality. Does anyone ever state that we alone exhibit true heterosexuality?⁷

While many scientists now accept that animals engage in homosexuality, claims about human uniqueness continue to be made regarding the specifics of homosexual interactions: people, but not animals, engage in exclusive homosexuality, for example; people, but not animals, exhibit greater variety or “genuine” sexual motivation in their homosexuality; people, but not animals, react with hostility toward homosexuality and live in groups segregated by sexual orientation; and so on.

As we come to understand more and more about animal behavior, premature blanket statements like these have generally proven to be naive, if not incorrect—and this is especially true where homosexuality is concerned, since so much still remains to be learned regarding such activities in animals. In this section we’ll address a number of these claims and explore some broader issues surrounding each (this theme will also be taken up in subsequent chapters with regard to the other typological “axes”). While there is some truth to these statements of human uniqueness, none is an absolute line of demarcation between human and nonhuman animals. As always, animal sexuality and social life are far more complex and nuanced than previously imagined: perhaps the only true difference in behavior between the species is that people, but not animals, are prone to make simplistic generalizations.

Exclusively Homosexual, Simultaneously Bisexual: Sexual Orientation

… preferential or obligatory adult homosexuality is not found naturally in any mammalian species other than Homo sapiens.

—W. J. GADPAILLE, 1980

Homosexual human couples who remain together throughout their adult life have few, if any, counterparts in wild mammals as far as is known at present.

—ANNE INNIS DAGG, 1984

Exclusive homosexual behavior appears to be absent among nonhuman primates …

—PAUL L. VASEY, 1995⁸