October 7, 2005--Friday Feature: Fanaticisms III
I am sad to report that the Central Park Zoo penguins Silo and Roy are no longer togother after a seven year love affair. This report from Sodom On the Hudson (read New York City) has been widely reported upon, including of course in the NY Times (see “Original Article” below). Widely not because penguins are so cut, but because the incredibly popular documentary, March of the Penguins (nearing $100 million in box office) has been required viewing for evangelicals and other conservatives who see the penguins portrayed there as evidence that our Intelligent Designer (whomever she is) created an animal kingdom in which even penguins are compassionate, monogamous, and, most important, heterosexual.
But then there have been Silo and Roy, the best known gay penguins in the world. Offering evidence that Nature does not abhor such a “lifestyle.” That is until recently when they broke up, with Silo taking up with Scrappy, a hotty from Sea World in California. The blogs and right wing talk shows were aflutter at this welcome news. Radio host James C. Dobson gloated, “For those who have pointed to Roy and Silo as models for us all [emphasis added], those developments must be disappointing. Some gay activists might actually be angry.”
Well some are and some aren’t, claiming, among other things that looking at penguins in captivity is not a way to answer the question—is sexual orientation genetic or the result of choice.
This situation in Central Park has had a ripple effect around the world. A German zoo, for example, abandoned plans to force homosexual penguins there to pair with females (not that this was working very well—the male penguins were not chasing after females imported from Sweden. Sweden!)
But I think there is a larger question here—it sounds as if Silo is OK, but what about Roy? How is he doing? Zoo keepers have been a little concerned about him. Since Silo split, they have observed Roy all alone, in a corner, staring at a wall.
Just another Sex In the City story I suppose, but can’t we get Roy out to the Stonewall or something? It’s cold in this town.
But then there have been Silo and Roy, the best known gay penguins in the world. Offering evidence that Nature does not abhor such a “lifestyle.” That is until recently when they broke up, with Silo taking up with Scrappy, a hotty from Sea World in California. The blogs and right wing talk shows were aflutter at this welcome news. Radio host James C. Dobson gloated, “For those who have pointed to Roy and Silo as models for us all [emphasis added], those developments must be disappointing. Some gay activists might actually be angry.”
Well some are and some aren’t, claiming, among other things that looking at penguins in captivity is not a way to answer the question—is sexual orientation genetic or the result of choice.
This situation in Central Park has had a ripple effect around the world. A German zoo, for example, abandoned plans to force homosexual penguins there to pair with females (not that this was working very well—the male penguins were not chasing after females imported from Sweden. Sweden!)
But I think there is a larger question here—it sounds as if Silo is OK, but what about Roy? How is he doing? Zoo keepers have been a little concerned about him. Since Silo split, they have observed Roy all alone, in a corner, staring at a wall.
Just another Sex In the City story I suppose, but can’t we get Roy out to the Stonewall or something? It’s cold in this town.
posted by Steven Zwerling at
11:52 AM
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