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.
Homosexual death cult.
Some animals eat their own feces, or sniff each other's anuses...
... doesn't justify it as a human behavior..
Animals have been known to eat feces too. Are the "scat" people going to claim to have been born that way now?
I think poodles are gay.
When I see evidence that these animals start moving to San Francisco on their own, I'll know its true. Until then, its just wishing thinking (or beastiality, depending on how they are conducting their studies)
Mine humps her fuzzy blue blanket. There is no other thing she goes for. That must mean all species want to find that special blanket to complete their lives. Can I get an audience of nineteen to agree?
Ping
The message here is; if animals do it then we should follow suit. After all, we are just animals too. When will the interspecies folks come out of the closet so we can add another B to GLBT group? And what about I for incest and P for pedophile, and N for necrophiliac. I challenge any to make a word out of all these new letters. GLBTBIPN
Cannibalism is an accepted practice in some the more liberal progressive cultures found in Africa and New Guinea. Like homosexual behavior, cannibalism has it's own set of associated diseases.
Obviously, shoe fetishism is a naturally occurring behavior. We need the Shoe Fetishist Studies Department at Berkeley to address this issue.
NIBBLTPG: pronounced "nibbletypig".
"Buster Cherry".
Legosexual?
An interesting point - the animals who tend to mate for life: swans, eagles, wolves, coyotes and beavers(hah), etc. seem to have a higher incidence of homosexuality than those animals who mate with whoever's handy.
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