 |
| The Natural History Museum of the University of Oslo's "Against Nature?" Exhibition |
"We have a Darwinist mentality that all animals only have sex to procreate." – Petter Boeckman
Following
a discussion I had with my flatmates I found myself questioning "at what
point did people start being gay?" I had always believed that there was no
such thing as a gay or lesbian animal so I wondered if homosexuality was a
product of changes in society. Animals are there solely to reproduce but humans
have developed purpose than this in life. The results of my investigation
shocked and surprised me.
Throughout
the history of humanity, being gay has always been somewhat "taboo"
and people have often shied away from this minority group. Homosexuals live all
over the world as part of all groups in society, and have done since records
began. There are many examples of famous historical figures who were gay, such
as Julius Caesar, Plato and Alexander the Great (Minh T. Nguyen, 1999).
Also
there is evidence to show that more than 1,500 animal species practice
homosexuality. The study was carried out by the Norwegian Natural History
Museum of the University of Oslo for their exhibition “Against Nature?.”
Petter
Boeckman, exhibition advisor, said: “One fundamental premise in social debates
has been that homosexuality is unnatural. This premise is wrong. Homosexuality
is both common and highly essential in the lives of a number of species.”
The
study revealed that one of our closest relations, the dwarf chimpanzee,
practiced same gender sex to avoid violence and the whole species is bisexual.
Bisexual behaviour is also present in lion prides. There is evidence of some completely
gay and lesbian couples within species. For example geese and ducks where it is
estimated that four to five percent of couples are homosexual, and they are
often better at raising young than heterosexuals. This creates the issue of whether
humans might be the same. Gay couples have fought a long battle to be able to
adopt children, highlighted by celebrity cases such as that of Elton John and
his partner. Although it is now legal in many places for homosexual couples to
adopt this is still met with a lot of controversy. (Medical Net)
There
has been a lot of progress for “gay rights” in the 21st century but
inequalities still exist. A recent article by the “I” showed that a quarter of gay
actors and actresses are afraid to come out in case they are discriminated
against.
Chris
New, a 30-year-old actor, said: “I have never hidden my sexuality… People will
turn on you because you’re gay. But I just carry on; this prejudice is
ridiculous.” (I, Nick Clark)
It
is hoped a charter which enshrines the rights of gay members of the film
industry will be agreed later this year. Entertainment trade union, Equity, has
proposed the charter after the results were released showing that some homosexual
actors and actresses were afraid to come in case they were victimised by the
media and lost out on jobs. (I, Nick Clark)
So
now I have completely changed my opinions. I realise that homosexuality is
widespread in humans across the globe and even in the animal kingdom. And it always
has been. My original belief about society manufacturing a lifestyle which
allows people to be gay was wrong. I now realise it is actually society which
has supressed homosexuality throughout history deeming it as
"unnatural", when in fact it is this belief that is unnatural itself.
Sources:
I,
Nick Clark, 28/01/12
No comments:
Post a Comment