A few years ago I was watching Logo, the cable channel designed for queer lifestyles. Since it wasn't until a few years ago that such a channel existed, I am endlessly grateful for the validation such a show (as well as channel) provides. In my peer group, I find many people unsatisfied with Logo for not being realistic enough, but for the time being everyone should just be grateful that it's accessible because there was nothing like that when I was in high school. I often wonder what the next queer generation will be like, from having that kind of exposure and validation from such a young age. Hopefully, less fucked up than mine.
The program I saw that struck me the most was a documentary called Out In Nature: Homosexuality In The Animal Kingdom. This documentary was a survey of scientific research done into the omnipresent expressions of homosexual love and sex displayed in all areas of the animal Kingdom. Biologists have discovered that many more types of animals are gay than just humans and binobos- in fact it's so common it can be viewed in most types of mammals, as a queer person learning this information made me feel so validated! Why is this not getting more attention in the media- in short this is a triumph for the queer community. We're not genetic mistakes, we hold a valuable and valid place in evolution.
What I find strange yet not surprising is how common it happens to be, especially in highly evolved mammals such as dolphins and primates. Since these animals are not socialized to see sexual expression as either "acceptable" or "not acceptable" it makes observing their behaviors so much easier. I've always been interested in biology and homosexuality, and I'm really happy it's finally being taken seriously- it seems like this will eventually lead to a new type of study all together, since there is so much more that has yet to be discovered. What's always been inspiring to me is the thought that there will always be more unknowns, variables, and mysteries and it only takes people like me with a vision and the will to understand to solve them.
What is so upsetting is that this kind of research is barely emerging in spite of being observable to all modern humans- previously all these behaviors had been dismissed by biologists, downplayed by being called "playing." Now that these behaviors have been observed as being so much more, there's no way any relevant scientist would try to dismiss the behaviors at this point, especially with all the new discoveries. Science only cares about what's true, and now that paradigms are liberal enough to allow for publishing findings without fear of backlash from conservatives, christians, and other small minded people, this kind of research is only going to become more prevalent and more respected.
My whole life, I have tried to figure who I am, as well as why I am the way I happen to be. I'm really inspired by all the emerging research, it really makes me want to be a part of it, because the more we can measure these expressions of love and sex, the sooner biology textbooks can be rewritten to include all this history that has been purposefully left out.
Remember:
Dumb Kids Play Catch On Freeway Get Squished-
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