To Be Or Not To Be..

The Gay Side of Nature
Directed Freewrite, Page 340

Homosexuality has been a dominant debate in our society for the past few decades. There have been numerous arguments regarding the acceptance of it as a whole, but the issue is just as hot and two-sided as the arguments about abortion.

One of the most recent prominent arguments is one that Jeffrey Kluger elaborates on in his essay, “The Gay Side of Nature.” He explains how we humans share homosexuality with many other animals (Kluger 337). According to Bruce Bagemihl, a cognitive scientist, “the animal kingdom is a more sexually complex place than most people know – one where couplings routinely take place not just between male-female pairs but also between male-male and female-female ones (Kluger 338). This has definitely raised some eyebrows in communities all across America. If animals have same-sex relationships naturally, then why can’t humans? Even mammals, including bears bring their young into homosexual unions, raising them with their same-sex partner (Kluger 338). Sounds all a bit too familiar, doesn't it? Honestly, it makes sense to have this as a strong backbone and as the first step to realize that our society should truly accept same-sex relationships. After all, it is nature therefore it’s a natural act. It seems like animals have it down pat when it comes to having a bond with the same gender, but unfortunately for them there is no shades of grey and fine lines on whether it’s wrong or right.

There are always two sides to every story, as well as every argument. One who is very religious would disagree strongly with the debate that because animals unite in homosexual unions then it makes it okay for humans as well. Take Christianity for example. In the Bible it states that homosexuality is not a course of nature, but rather a sin so it is deemed unacceptable. Like politics, religion is also another tough subject in which there usually is never an agreement with opposing sides. In my own opinion, I believe that this debate will remain unsettled for quite some time whether or not other living things besides humans live homosexual lifetstyles.