Same-sex behavior seen in dozens of primate species

[kan...@aol.com]

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/primates-same-sex-sexual-behavior-evolution-rcna252693

There is strong evidence that same-sex behavior is common in many species, even beyond primates. This implies that it is NOT  some choice that people make. Instead it's the result of.....what? Some esoteric survival mechanism that  evolved over millennia. 

Time to leave "the gay" out of politics and realize that it's part of normal. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

Ok, but....

Same sex sex  doesn't propagate the species. Over time wouldn't same sex sex, if it was entirely genetic in causation shrink over time? Frankly I don't care who consenting adults sleep with as long as they are consenting adults.... but adults who dont sleep with the opposite sex have a much lower likelihood of passing on thier genes. If blonde hair and blue eyes was limited to gay people wouldn't blonde hair and blue eyes become an increasingly rare trait? And isnt it ironic that hiding one's identity and trying to pass as straight means its more likely to pass on your gay gene? Wouldn't that mean open gayness will eventually lead to fewer gays through natural non selection? 

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[kan...@aol.com]

Sort of makes sense. However, gay behavior has been around for as long as.........forever. The Bible discusses it; so it's at least that old. 

If it's a genetically recessive gene, then it can lurk around without disappearing. I'd give the example of sickle cell disease; but it amazingly has a very slight evolutionary purpose. Better example is cystic fibrosis. Before the last few decades, with really aggressive treatment, CF people died well before puberty. But the gene persists. Huntington's disease isn't quite a good example because victims don't usually even know they're afflicted until into their 30-40"s. 

I'll stick with CF. Fatal before puberty, no apparent evolutionary advantage, hasn't left the genome. Even type 1 diabetes is a decent example. Before insulin came around juvenile diabetics usually died pretty young. But the gene persists. But Type 1 diabetes is triggered by more than just genetics. There are triggers that are complex and not completely understood.  

Genetics like we're discussing isn't as simple as Mendel and his peas. Multiple genes, activation by unknown triggers, etc. 

Heck maybe homosexuality is a recessive gene that has to be triggered by one of the hundreds of viruses that kids get in childhood. 

But the article suggests that for other primates it may foster some kind of communal closeness; and THAT does impart a survival advantage. 

Some birds are gay; I have no idea what it does for them. 

[GMoney]

On Mon, Jan 12, 2026 at 9:55 PM Brian Kegerreis <bkege...@gmail.com> wrote:

Ok, but....

Same sex sex  doesn't propagate the species. Over time wouldn't same sex sex, if it was entirely genetic in causation shrink over time?

Frankly I don't care who consenting adults sleep with as long as they are consenting adults.... but adults who dont sleep with the opposite sex have a much lower likelihood of passing on thier genes. If blonde hair and blue eyes was limited to gay people wouldn't blonde hair and blue eyes become an increasingly rare trait? And isnt it ironic that hiding one's identity and trying to pass as straight means its more likely to pass on your gay gene? Wouldn't that mean open gayness will eventually lead to fewer gays through natural non selection? 

No. Even if homosexuality was directly linked to genetic traits...which it probably is not...this would still not be true.  Two parents that do not display a particular phenotype can still pass on a genetic trait to their offspring if they are both recessive. 

I.e. two parents who are not color blind can birth a child who is (such as me!). So even if homosexuality was linked to a specific recessive gene (which is almost certainly not the case but it's what you were referencing), two straights can still birth a homo. 

[kan...@aol.com]

Thanks, G. Did my post go unnoticed? One point of posting the article is to suggest that homosexuality IS largely genetic. That of course assumes that other animals are largely driven by instincts, genetics, and whatever preserves the species. We often ascribe to ourselves OTHER reasons for behavior that seems to run counter to our best chances of survival. Like extreme sports, bungee jumping, drug abuse, etc. Or being a MAGA advocate and not taking vaccines. Etc. 

So now it's up to folks smarter than us to explain how gay behavior helps the species. I think that first thing is that other primates aren't GAY as much as BI. They still get their DNA into the gene pool. The extra nookie? Bonding behavior? I dunno. 

[Brian Kegerreis]

The extra nookie is more likely dominance behavior much like in prison...

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[kan...@aol.com]

Gay behavior, or same-sex sexual behavior (SSSB), is common across the animal kingdom, observed in over 1,500 species from insects to mammals, involving activities like mounting, courtship, pair bonding, and raising young together, serving diverse functions such as social bonding, tension reduction, or improving mating skills, rather than just reproduction, and highlights nature's broad sexual diversity. Examples include male giraffes engaging in prolonged "necking" (foreplay) and mounting, female Laysan albatrosses forming lifelong pair bonds to raise chicks, and bonobos using same-sex genital rubbing to de-escalate social tension. 

This video explores how common homosexual behavior is in the animal kingdom:

SLICE Wild

YouTube • Apr 12, 202Common Examples in Mammals

• Giraffes
  :
   Male giraffes spend significant time in same-sex interactions, often engaging in extensive necking (rubbing necks) and mounting, which can account for over 90% of their sexual activity
  .
Bonobos: These primates use same-sex genital stimulation (GG rubbing) to reduce tension and manage social conflicts, not always for sexual reproduction.
Dolphins: Engage in same-sex stimulation using their beaks on partners' genital slits, fostering social bonds.
Bison & Deer: Young males often mount each other in play or practice, even when females are available, challenging early theories that it was just practice for opposite-sex mating.
Sheep: Domesticated rams exhibit exclusive homosexuality, with about 10% preferring males, a rare example of consistent homosexual orientation outside humans. 

This video provides examples of gay behavior in animals like dolphins, lions, and macaques:

00:48

No Meat May

Facebook • Jun 30, 2022

Examples in Birds & Others

• Laysan Albatrosses: On Hawaii's islands, a significant percentage of female pairs form lifelong bonds, share nests, and successfully raise chicks together.
• Penguins: Same-sex pairs form bonds, court, and sometimes even attempt to hatch rocks, with some pairs successfully raising adopted chicks.
• Fruit Flies: Even insects show same-sex courtship and copulation. 

Functions of Same-Sex Behavior

• Social Bonding: Strengthens relationships, reduces conflict, and helps groups stay stable (e.g., bonobos, dolphins).
• Practice: Helps young animals learn behaviors for future reproductive encounters (e.g., bison).
• Stress Relief: Reduces tension in social groups (e.g., bonobos).
• Pair Bonding: Forms stable, lifelong partnerships, often for raising young (e.g., albatrosses, some penguins). 

This video explores the evolution of gay behavior in animals:

Dio Genesis

YouTube • Aug 25, 2009

Key Takeaway

Same-sex behavior in animals isn't rare; it's a fundamental part of nature's complexity, serving various social and evolutionary roles beyond simple reproduction, demonstrating the rich diversity of sexual expression in the animal kingdom.

Sorry, Brian, but there's nothing to suggest that gay behavior is a dominance display. Only humans seem to be that low in their actions. 

1500 species at least do it. So, hard as it is for the Bible thumpers to understand, it's just part of nature. Try not to act disappointed or spin this into something base. Dominance in animals is usually pretty easy to observe. It often leads to severe injury or death. 

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