Love That Dare Not Squeak Its Name

nytimes.com ^ | February 7, 2004 | DINITIA SMITH

[paltz]

Roy and Silo, two chinstrap penguins at the Central Park Zoo in Manhattan, are completely devoted to each other. For nearly six years now, they have been inseparable. They exhibit what in penguin parlance is called "ecstatic behavior": that is, they entwine their necks, they vocalize to each other, they have sex. Silo and Roy are, to anthropomorphize a bit, gay penguins. When offered female companionship, they have adamantly refused it. And the females aren't interested in them, either.

At one time, the two seemed so desperate to incubate an egg together that they put a rock in their nest and sat on it, keeping it warm in the folds of their abdomens, said their chief keeper, Rob Gramzay. Finally, he gave them a fertile egg that needed care to hatch. Things went perfectly. Roy and Silo sat on it for the typical 34 days until a chick, Tango, was born. For the next two and a half months they raised Tango, keeping her warm and feeding her food from their beaks until she could go out into the world on her own. Mr. Gramzay is full of praise for them.

[tiamat]

Whether we like it or not, gay behavior DOES happen in nature. ( I've seen llamas "go gay". REALLY disturbing! )

Let's just hope the penguins don't start to politicize their sexuality!

[King Black Robe]

Murder and theft are rampant in the animal world as well. And rape.

[sharktrager]

I once saw an orangutan in San Diego that somehow became upset by a woman's hat and proceeded to throw is own feces at her until he got her in the head.

Since tha is obviously natural behavior I guess it follows that, should I have the desire, I should be allowed to throw crap at people.

[Lance Romance]

Anomalies, just like in humans.

[freedumb2003]

I should be allowed to throw crap at people

Happens here all the time.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***Since tha is obviously natural behavior I guess it follows that, should I have the desire, I should be allowed to throw crap at people.***

Why not. News paper editors and tv talking heads do it all the time!

[tiamat]

LOL! One hopes that you have more discretion and judgement than an orangutang!

[King Black Robe]

I had a dog once that was a child molestor. No kidding. The poor little baby puppy would run and hide. I had to keep them apart.

[Verginius Rufus]

Sounds like these two penguins need to be transferred to the Boston zoo.

[RedWing9]

Since tha is obviously natural behavior

I'm assuming you have a bend of sarcasm in that sentence, but given the arguments I've had with leftists over this, I want to state unequivocally that this behavior is UNNATURAL.

[Elle Bee]

Roy and Silo sat on it for the typical 34 days until a chick, Tango, was born.

Just proves that it still takes two (sexes) to Tango

.

[thackney]

Does anybody else see a contradiction between naturally occurring homosexuality and evolution?

[Mr Rogers]

It does exist, although people often mistake dominance behavior for homosexuality. However, its rareness (and obvious biological inconsistency) argue it is against natural law.

Some argue one needs to show harm to others before one can outlaw a behavior. I argue traditional morality demonstrates what sort of behavior leads to successful societies, and therefor is appropriate for use in making law.

Bottom line - I'm not interested in legalizing polygamy (horses do it!) or homosexuality (penguins do it!). And I certainly believe society can withhold approval by refusing to allow marriages.

[Reddy]

I've used a similar analogy before when rebutting the "animals are 'gay', so it's natural" argument.

I once saw a monkey eating its own feces at the zoo. Does that then mean that humans should mandate feces eating, too?

[WayneM]

Yes it's been documented.

However, upon reading this article it seems to me the the contributors may be trying to support their viewpoints that homosexuality is absolutely normal and should be accepted without reservation, and that homosexuals can parent as well as heterosexuals.

Take a look at some uncensored Homosexual Pride parade photographs or video and then try to make this case. Try to imagine some homosexual bath house,, and tell me that this is a high point, or even something to be desired for humanity

We are NOT animals. Or at least some of us aren't. I for you will resist every attempt to classify me as such, and will resist every attempt to drag my culture down to such a level.

[Thud]

I'm not so sure about "homosexual" behavior among dolphins, though. It's more like they are incredibly randy all the time with everything available, including inanimate objects.

[Bluntpoint]

"How dare you judge me" said the crapped breath degenerate.

[sharktrager]

Hey, we're all just animals anyway. Maybe it is our poor judgement that we aren't flinging crap at people.

And, by the way, monkeys in overalls are funny.

[Ciexyz]

Animals bond for their own self-protection. I'd bet those two penguins were raised together and that's why they stick so close.