For six years, penguins Harry and Pepper were a gay couple living in the San Francisco zoo. They nested together, even incubating an egg that was laid by another penguin. But all that changed when Harry left Pepper… for a female--Linda. (Footage from CNN)
Our research shows the love triangle between these penguins has added a unique twist to the “nature vs. nurture” debate of homosexuality.
In his opinion piece for the San Francisco Chronicle, Mark Morford cites mounting evidence of homosexuality in various species in his argument that Harry and Pepper’s relationship proves homosexuality in humans is natural.
“Either humankind is part of nature and the wanton animal kingdom, a full participant in the messy inexplicable glories of the flesh and spirit and gender play, or we are the aberrant mistake, the ones who are lagging far behind the rest of the kingdom.”
Moving on to the conservative side, One News Now heard from Peter LaBarbera of the Americans for Truth about Homosexuality. He disagrees the penguins prove anything about homosexuality in nature.
"Well, I mean, the fact is you can find examples of eating their young, eating other animals' young. It's pretty pathetic to turn to turn to animals to guide how humans should behave. It's just ridiculous."
But InstantRiverside.com brings us the perspective from Dr. Marlene Zuk, who studies the sexual behaviors of animals. She debunks the entire “natural” argument all together when it comes to marriage. Period.
“Most animals just don’t have one mate for an extended period of time, so gay marriage is unnatural. Straight marriage is unnatural.”
But Metro News columnist Steve Collins resists using the penguins in a nature/nurture debate at all, saying…
“Our species has reacted with all sorts of specious conclusions about same-sex marriage and other overstretched sociological metaphors… It’s the nature of the human beast.”
Do you think observing sexual behavior in animals sheds any light on the nature vs. nurture arguments over homosexuality in humans?
Thumbnail image from Amy Frenkel / San Francisco Zoo
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