Blogs > Liberty and Power > Gay Lions

Feb 9, 2005

Gay Lions




I really don't know where to begin in replying to William Marina's latest post. Here are just some of the highlights:

"A blatant [homosexual] culture trying to attract young males..."

"...homosexuals develop an overt culture and attempt to recruit/seduce among the young, especially those in the years of puberty."

And my personal favorite, "The [female lions (!)], however, wanted nothing to do with [homosexual male lions], apparently sensing they were threats to their cubs."

Apparently. Because we, like, did interviews with them.

Really, I didn't know where to begin in refuting this post. Then I noticed that there wasn't a scrap of evidence to back Marina's claims. There were no citations to any research in human sexuality, no evidence that the animal studies had any experimental validity, and nothing more than some fairly weak stereotypes to relate them back to humans. I realized, then, that I didn't need to refute this post. There's nothing here to refute [...]

Or was he really just trying for guilt by association, with no hard data whatsoever to get in the way?

[Note: I've removed a couple of sentences that on reconsideration I thought were not constructive. I keep having to remind myself that despite all appearances, perhaps Marina might not have bad intentions, and that maybe his misconceptions can be corrected. I hereby resolve to keep control of my temper in the discussions that no doubt will ensue.]

Update: I've posted a longer response at Positive Liberty. I'd crosspost, but I think the discussion here has gone on for long enough already.


comments powered by Disqus

More Comments:


William Marina - 2/9/2005

Jason,
I would try not to confuse lions and humans!
I see no evidence that bachelor lions recruit to their group, although they may have a preference for whom they groom, but that may be an area where more reserach would be useful.
The lions are not, apparently into oral sex or pedophilia, but cubs appear to be a possible meal if not protected.
I think, for humans, the reaction is against a recruitment threat.
My point was to note the role of testosterone in all of this at the time of puberty.
Bill Marina


Jason Kuznicki - 2/9/2005

So it's not about a sexual recruitment threat? Because that's what you made it sound like.

Or are gays both pedophiles AND cannibals?


William Marina - 2/9/2005

Dear Jason,
I don't think we need to interview the lionesses.
If she doesn't defend her cubs against the bachelor males, they usually eat the cub.
That is why in the Zoo, the females reacted as they did.
Bill Marina