By Preston Hunter, 1994. This paper examines homosexuality in
the animal kingdom. The seeming paradox of the existence of
homosexuality is delineated. The observed reality of animal
homosexuality is described through examples as well as evidence
for its biological causes. Possible theories of how
homosexuality could have evolved and how it might be adaptive
are examined. Sex is important but very inconvenient.
Biologically speaking the word "sex" has two important and
distinct meanings, one for each of the fundamental requirements
of sexually reproducing species. Sex is a state: the separation
of a species into two distinct genders, male and female (thus
"hetero- sexuality"). Sex is also an action: the combined
behavior of both a male and a female individual which results in
the combination of genetic material from both. While some plant
and animal species produce both asexually and sexually, many
species dispense with sex altogether and are strictly asexual.
Through asexual reproduction organisms essentially