From the “Birds-Do-It-Etc.” file, Scientific American Mind magazine (June/July 2008), in an article called “Bisexual Species,” has many interesting tidbits: ” … 1500 species of wild and captive animals … have been observed engaging in homosexual activity”; “Animals may engage in homosexual acts to diffuse social tensions, to better protect their young … or simply because it is fun,”; male scarab beetles do it; female bonobo chimp’s genitalia may have evolved to ease female-female sex; koala bears do it; and there are common terms for domestic cattle doing it—”bulling” for male pairs and “going boaring” for female pairs. In one research project, 40 percent of 49 heterosexual former high school football players at various colleges reported at least one homosexual encounter among teammates including kissing and oral sex”the researcher said “It feels good and [the athletes] bond.” And by the way, although the famous gay penguin Silo left his partner, Roy,for a lady named Scrappy, their adopted daughter, Tango, has paired off with a lady named Tazuni.
From the “Gay Icon” file, The New York Times (June 30) reports heavy popularity breaking out in the vicinity of New York Gov. David A. Patterson. Patterson walked in New York City’s Pride parade”no other serving governor ever has and he was the one who ordered that state agencies recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages. He has walked in many Pride parades, urged on by gay friends, but ” [b] ack then we would march in the back, [b] ut then we learned that wasn’t cool because you couldn’t hear the music in the back. So we moved up.” Keep hearing the music, governor.
From the “Time-For-a-Revelation” file, the Chicago Tribune (June 29) in a story about Affirmation, an advocacy group for gay Mormons, various people like Dr. Robb Killian are quoted: “My personal story”I got recommended for electroshock therapy. [The Mormon Church] told me to hate and be angry at my parents for making me gay.” Mormon leaders have agreed to talk to Affirmation but the church is still anti-gay. Affirmation hopes to reduce the suicide rate for young males in Utah and believes gays are overrepresented in the death toll. (Mormon doctrine can be changed if their president has a “revelation.” This happened some years ago re Black people being allowed to be full members.)
The New York Times Book Review (June 29) looks at Selected Poems by Frank O’Hara, editor Mark Ford. O’Hara was a wildly uneven prolific poet who ran with painters, poets and artists; had affairs with many of them; and died young. “O’Hara wrote about homosexual life with a cheerful nonchalance rarely matched since,” the article stated. Allen Ginsberg, his more famous gay contemporary, was much more reticent and gloomy about sex.
From the “Might-Have-to-Skip-This-One” file, The New York Times (July 4) reviews a gay-teens-with-angst flick, Holding Trevor. Some pretty boys, drug addiction, no sleazy (or otherwise) glamor. No substance and no seeming purpose. Go see “Wall-E.”