Posted on 04/18/2006 7:52:52 PM PDT by DBeers
The reasons and causes for homosexuality should no longer be viewed only in terms of the long-debated nature-versus-nurture argument, a women’s studies and sexuality expert told a small group in Gerlinger Lounge on campus Monday.
Jennifer Terry, a program director and associate professor in Woman’s Studies at the University of California-Irvine, spoke to the 19-person audience on a new concept she refers to as “nature culture.”
“Nature and nurture are not separate, but intertwined together,” she said.
The presentation, entitled “Burying the Bone: Primal Scenes Among Queer Companion Species,” looked at the debate through discussing homosexuality in animals and how it relates to humans. Terry gave examples of homosexual octopi, “The two males used their ninth arm, or what we humans call a third leg,” she said. Also, Terry used examples of homosexuality in sheep, rats and monkeys.
Originally, research on homosexuality in animals focused on pumping female rats with testosterone and monitoring their brain responses. However, when scientists turned the focus onto monkeys, a shift in philosophy occurred.
“Greater attention turned to social activities, which were viewed more important than biological research,” Terry said.
Terry fears that religious groups and conservative politicians could use the focus on animals and homosexuality in scientific research against the gay community. Looking at it as an animal act dehumanizes gays, she said.
“The animals are pawns used for political argument,” Terry said after the presentation.
She feels that the reasons for homosexuality in animals — and humans for that matter — will never truly be solved through scientific and psychological research. A combination of “biology and culture are too complex a topic to be sufficiently answered,” she said.
Her speech became personal when she told of a sexual encounter involving her current companion that occurred in 2001. While living in Berkeley with a friend, the friend’s dog, a Chow Bella named Buster, sat on the bed while she was in the thralls of a sexual experience. Terry quickly removed the dog from the bed.
The next day, Terry found a bone underneath her pillow, a sign of affection from the dog. That brought to the forefront of her mind the idea that companion animals, such as dogs and horses, can be gay.
Terry became passionate about the study of homosexuality and the concept of nature versus nurture in the late 1990s with the publications of research showing that the brain caused homosexuality.
“I became concerned about what the significant and larger political gay rights issue involved,” Terry said.
The University’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Support Services director, Chicora Martin, was happy to have Terry speak on the topic.
“It was very thought provoking,” Martin said. “It is a contemporary twist on a discussion we have had for decades.”
The Standing Committee for LGBT Concerns sponsored the speech. Terry’s presentation is part of the 2006 InterSEXions program, which aims to bring the campus together on social issues. It is the 11th time the committee has hosted the event.
So these photos I've seen of them and their signs were just Photoshopped? What do you mean they are fakes? They seem real enough to cause a lot of trouble.
Sorry. That term is already taken by people who have a sexual attraction to colorful childrens' snap-together toys.
This is a losing argument for the homo left. Taken to its logical conclusion it means homosexuality is an animal behavior, and we should accept this animal behavior as good.
If we should accept this particular animal behavior, then we should accept other animal behaviors like territoriality, hunting and killing, mating and selection of mates. IOW, if you intrude on my space, I can kill you--legally. If you have a better looking woman than I do, I can take her from you and kill you--legally. If I feel like it I can hump any woman I want on the street in full public view--legally, take a crap on the streets--legally, and on, and on, and on.....
Yes the behavior has been observed but I don't think there is actual penetration. In animals it is a way of showing dominance.
In every instance of that genetic defect happening in the Bald Eagle, that particular Bald Eagle does not pass that genetic defect on.
The fact is that God loves everybody, and Fred Phelps is an anti-Christian moron.
The non-God Darwinist view would state that homosexuals do not help ensure the species of humankind and therefore are a waste of resources.
The Christian viewpoint of man is that every human is valuable and loved by God and that sinful behavior should stop for benefit of the sinner, not for the species as a whole.
So, homosexuals are viewed as a waste of resources by those who proclaim darwinism as their belief system, while they are viewed as sinners needing to find the redemption of God in the eyes of Christians.
This part was insightful:
Taking this history into account, we critique solutions to the contemporary crisis that rely on a colonial, Manichean model whereby "advanced capitalist freedom and liberty" is venerated over "backward extremist Islamic barbarism."
And she claims to be a feminist? If she thinks the Arab model is OK, why isn't she wearing a burka in support of her Arab sisters?
BINGO!!! We have heifers and steers that jump on others. The jumped on ones just walk away. ANY animal expert will tell "you" that it is a dominance behaviour. As far as the bone under the pillow, how many dog owners have not had their dog bury a bone/treat under a pillow/blanket etc to come back to later. All these idjits are doing is to try to make their perversion into a normal behaviour.
"Yes the behavior has been observed but I don't think there is actual penetration. In animals it is a way of showing dominance."
Interesting. I'm only really around dogs and cats and certainly establishing dominance is a key part of their lives.
I have a cat when we got a part wolf puppy. The puppy was little that he had to climb each stair one leg at a time dragging his body up. Rusty, the big male dominant cat would sit on stairs watching the puppy struggle up.
When Scooter (the puppy) got about half way up, Rusty would casually reach out and flick him back down to the bottom of the stairs.
That dog was afraid of that cat till the end of their days...long after the dog feared nothing else.
"For those who wondered where the Left would take us after they force gay-marriage upon us......."
Next on the docket are "transgendered" animals.
"'It was very thought provoking,' Martin said."
The only thought it provoked: you're a bunch of sickos.
Most male poodles are gay? the why do we have more poodles at all. LOL
Real people, fake agenda. They try to make Christians look bad.
Try DU if you wish to debate the finer points of homosexual activity or wish to moral relatively equate the homosexual disorder with contraception.
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Find a foot. If you are going to accuse someone or some group of hating others or posting hateful messages then stick your neck out and do it rather than meekly insinuating with broad brush statements -engage or drop the rhetoric...
Of course not - in the S.F. Bay Area, I see two furry female animals in Subarus all the time!
But two male animals? VWs, always. Well, not always, sometimes they ride Harleys. But never Subaru. Never.
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