Against Nature? An Exhibit on Animal Homosexuality, University of Oslo

I had a gay dog. I'm quite sure now thanks to a new exhibit at the Oslo Natural History Museum in Sweden: Against Nature? An exhibition on animal homosexuality.

Despite outrage from some Christian groups who accuse the museum of displaying pornography, the museum has opened the exhibition as the first in the world on the subject of animal homosexuality. The project is meant to foster a "greater understanding of how extensive and common this behavior is among animals, to help de-mystify homosexuality among people and in the least, to reject the all too well know argument that homosexual behavior is a crime against nature" said an exhibit statement.

The exhibit is graphic, a needed tactic to get its message across clearly. The show's photographs of animals engaged in sexual activities with the same sex include one of two aroused male whales together and another of a male giraffe mounting another male giraffe. The photographs make the exhibit's theme difficult to ignore. These photos and other documentation of gay and lesbian behavior among penguins, giraffes, whales and other animals help the Oslo Natural History Museum defend the exhibits message that homosexuality is not "unnatural." According to Geir Soeli, the exhibit leader, "homosexuality has been observed for more than 1,500 animal species and is well documented for 500 of them."

The exhibit's theme is not a new one. Observed animal homosexuality was documented as long as 2,300 years ago but the subject seemed to drift off the radar of serious researchers for various reasons. Perhaps, biologists who are ever influenced by Darwin's theories of evolution, find the subject of little value to conservation agendas. It's also unlikely that researchers interested in human sexual behavior found themselves observing wild animals. It seems that the Oslo Natural History Museum has crossed disciplines to use the animal kingdom to champion human rights. That is the general idea.

Now, if you are like me you might have witnessed some sort of animal homosexuality whether you wanted to or not. And, like me, you might not have given it a second thought after finally getting your canine friend to "let go" of your friend's canine friend. But the folks running the Against Nature? exhibit might be making history and even starting a real paradigm shift.

The exhibit, which has already gotten a few "burn in hell" responses, certainly seems to be challenging some long held views and making some people uncomfortable. Regardless of your personal feelings on the subject of homosexuality, even if you have a live and let live attitude, the fact stands that homosexuality is still considered a crime in some countries, a "crime against nature" to be exact. That's not a philosophical or religious debate, that's one of civil liberties and has lead to the creation of oppression against homosexuals. If the Oslo Natural History Museum proves its point, than it might become a point that furthers gay rights worldwide. Already a Dutch zoo has organized tours to observe its established homosexual animal couples.

Following general evolution rules, homosexuality seems obsolete, a genetic dead end. However, like humans animals also have non-conventional families complete with adopted offspring. And, like humans, the pairing of same sex partners is not solely about sex and procreation but are long-lasting partnerships and sometime lifelong partnerships. The Oslo Natural History Museum doesn't disregard homosexual behavior in animals that is for pure enjoyment, in other words without "reproductive intent." It does however point out that birds including penguins, swans, geese, ducks and seagulls all exhibit same sex pairing that succeeds in rearing adopted chicks or chicks from "one night stands" with a female bird. These partnerships benefit evolution and the survival of the species at large.

According to the exhibit, other reasons for animal homosexuality include acceptance, social bonding or even "political" motivations. For instance, two male partners might stand to possess a wider shared territory than a male and female and two males creating an alliance in a pack can protect one another.

In addition to religious outrage, other critics have deemed the exhibit as propaganda and even some creators of the exhibit admit to a political agenda. The truth is that this might be a case where everyone is right. Yes, animal homosexuality exists. Yes, the Oslo Natural History Museum chose a propagandous route. And, yes, my dog was gay.