Reddit reviews Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

>Exclusive homosexuality does not exist outside of humanity

This is a myth that has perpetuated because naturalists have not wanted to pit themselves against homosexual prejudice.

There is a good book on the subject:
Biological-Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality & Natural Diversity

Quote in the review:
>most scientists have thus far studiously avoided the topic of widespread homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom--sometimes in the face of undeniable evidence

Yeah... thankfully, no one has done any studies on the subject since then.

Either way, Desmond Morris was a zoo director observing animals in captivity who then drew parallels to human social constructs. He was not observing animals in the wild, and his statement should be taken as someone reflecting the common belief at the time, not as an expert with hard data to back him up.

I suppose we better start "conversion therapy" on the entire animal kingdom (768 pages of unnatural goodness).

Humans are pretty fucking dumb when it comes to shit they don't understand. More often than not they will simply try to kill it. Religion simply tends to reinforce this idiocy.

http://www.amazon.com/Biological-Exuberance-Homosexuality-Natural-Diversity/dp/0312192398/

Many, many animals engage in behavior that is divergent from "standard" heterosexual interactions.

http://www.amazon.com/Biological-Exuberance-Homosexuality-Natural-Diversity/dp/0312192398

Although I can find no source definitely documenting "homophobia" in humans alone (which would be difficult as -phobia indicates emotion/feeling, and we can't really evaluate the emotions and feelings of non-speaking animals)

First, Judeo-Christian people like to throw out the trump card. "God created the universe with a plan." (Though the plan doesn't really fit with what I see in nature. And I don't subscribe to your religion.)

Biological Exuberance

>animals with urges.

Humans are animals ... with urges. We can hold back on urges, like violence, but sometimes even the "bad" urges are good. Self-defense can be violent. There is no such thing as lust-less reproduction. You have to succumb to the urge of lust in even a procreative heterosexual marriage to reproduce.

>an act of protest

Some people are attention whores, but others choose suicide because of pain. But, we MUST treat each suicide case as serious.

Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity Christ, I love Ricky Gervais.

There is actually a book documenting all kinds of same sex relationships in the animal kingdom.

Bam

Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity

It seems to be the norm and not an exception

Uh homosexuality is completely normal, it exists all over nature.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_behavior_in_animals

http://www.amazon.com/Biological-Exuberance-Homosexuality-Natural-Diversity/dp/0312192398

In addition to what LordSariel mentions, there are books and sites you can use to back up your claim. An example of one book that covers animal same-sex behavior is "Biological Exuberance", by Bruce Bagemihl. Also see Wikipedia's article on Homosexual behavior in animals for more references.

Word of caution about this: See NARTH's response for potential refutes to the argument.

Remember this from that Ricky Gervais special?

It's a misinterpretation to think that the only purpose of sex is child production. Sexuality is a form of communication for many animals, including humans--and from what we see elsewhere in the animal kingdom, heterosexuality is not necessarily the default. Many other species exhibit bisexuality and homosexuality, and while such individuals may not go on to reproduce, they will continue to benefit their social groups and rear their offspring.

Consider bonobos, one of our closest relatives on the evolutionary tree, and a species which engages regularly in bisexual orgies as a means of social discourse. In comparison, our strict monogamous heterosexual ideals may be the more "unnatural" of the two lifestyles.

Suggested reading, if you're still curious: Sex at Dawn and Biological Exuberance.