# Fritz has gone bonkers (aka. gay penguin sexual rights) **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 15, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188 "2005-02-15T14:13:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/1 "2005-02-15T14:13:07Z")
> [@](#): > > Gay groups reacted with outrage when four female penguins were flown in from Sweden to allow keepers to see if they had any influence on the homosexual pairings. > Since then gay activists from as far afield as Australia have been protesting at the zoo’s attempts to “cure” the penguins of their homosexuality. The zoo has been bombarded with threatening letters and telephone calls. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/14/wpeng14.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/14/ixworld.html](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/02/14/wpeng14.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/02/14/ixworld.html) > [@](#): > > According to homosexual spokesmen the zoologist should not try to tempt the two male penguins. > > Homosexual groups claim the penguins sexuality is attempted repressed. Because it is their right to live together without interference. [http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/article.jhtml?articleID=234781](http://www.dr.dk/nyheder/udland/article.jhtml?articleID=234781) [http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=857&ncid=757&e=10&u=/nm/20050211/od\_uk\_nm/oukoe\_life\_germany\_penguins](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=857&ncid=757&e=10&u=/nm/20050211/od_uk_nm/oukoe_life_germany_penguins) Etc. Anyone here on this board with so many dedicated homosexual activist, who will defend these absurd allegation by homosexual spokesmen? ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/2 "2005-02-15T14:21:12Z")
Not me. Keeping females around is hardly abuse of the penguins. It doesn’t have anything to do with “curing” homosexuality. Oh, and this story made me smile for like half an hour when I first read it. ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/3 "2005-02-15T14:31:50Z")
This is _research_, for crying out loud. Homosexuality in animals is [undeniable](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0312192398/104-1535383-9896750). The researchers are seeing if there is any environmental factor at all in this species of penguin, such that the presence of females causes any heterosexual behaviour whatsoever. These activists seem to fear that any such result might be misinpterpreted as “homosexuality is curable by exposure to teh opposite sex”. It’s rather like asking for a football match not to be played because of fears of losing to an absurd refereeing decision. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/4 "2005-02-15T16:20:17Z")
What if the new female penguins decide to ignore the males and prefer each other? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/5 "2005-02-15T16:26:29Z")
> [@SteveG1](#): > > What if the new female penguins decide to ignore the males and prefer each other? 😃 The males will be happy if they get to watch. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/6 "2005-02-15T16:28:26Z")
> [@owlstretchingtime](#): > > The males will be happy if they get to watch. Not if they’re gay males… ---
**Author:** ![SentientMeat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@SentientMeat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SentientMeat)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/7 "2005-02-15T17:08:36Z")
I think **owl** meant the male _Germans_. Hot Swedish penguin action … ya, das is gut ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/8 "2005-02-15T17:12:47Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Not if they’re gay males… Hot pengiun on penguin action will soon sort them out. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2005, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/9 "2005-02-15T17:33:37Z")
Am I the only one thinking of Opus’s autobiography, _Naked Came I?_ ---
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/10 "2005-02-17T01:49:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Anyone here on this board with so many dedicated homosexual activist, who will defend these absurd allegation by homosexual spokesmen? This issue won’t get off the ground. Do you really think anyone other than a troll would side with these knee jerk protestors? The penguins won’t mind, and they don’t even have knees. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/11 "2005-02-17T02:22:25Z")
> [@Priceguy](#): > > Not me. Keeping females around is hardly abuse of the penguins. It doesn’t have anything to do with “curing” homosexuality. > > Oh, and this story made me smile for like half an hour when I first read it. Same here. It was one of those things that made me laugh out loud in traffic. The Zoo is trying to breed more penguins. What a concept to bring in more females. I think the Zoo people need to get out more. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/12 "2005-02-17T02:27:36Z")
> [@JohnBckWLD](#): > > This issue won’t get off the ground. Do you really think anyone other than a troll would side with these knee jerk protestors? The penguins won’t mind, and they don’t even have knees. Nice reference. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/13 "2005-02-17T03:47:39Z")
Imagine the politics-laden imbroglio if we had gay _pandas_ at the Natl. Zoo? Oy freakin’ vey! ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_B.Phart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9fc29f/32.png) [@Capt\_B.Phart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_B.Phart)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2005, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/14 "2005-02-17T18:41:55Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Imagine the politics-laden imbroglio if we had gay _pandas_ at the Natl. Zoo? Oy freakin’ vey! At least they might tell the other pandas to apply the eye-liner with a bit more subtlety. There was a headline about “Anti-gay Primates” in the Telegraph today suggesting a reactionary backlash down at the zoo – but it turned out to be about the Anglian Church ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/15 "2005-02-18T02:37:30Z")
_"Six penguins at Bremerhaven Zoo in north-west Germany provoked excitement across the world when, in the absence of any females, they were discovered wandering around in pairs, trying to mate with each other and sitting on stones as if they were eggs._ And in other breaking news that’s exciting researchers around the world, homosexual behavior is observed at San Quentin. Although the ersatz egg-hatching would be unusual. One would assume there is more to der pengkvin-sexualitat than what the Telegraph is letting on. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/16 "2005-02-18T14:39:17Z")
> [@XWalrus2](#): > > Nice reference. I’m not so sure. Are we allowed to even _imply_ the “F” Name on this board? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/17 "2005-02-18T14:45:13Z")
> [@Loopydude](#): > > Imagine the politics-laden imbroglio if we had gay _pandas_ at the Natl. Zoo? Oy freakin’ vey! They only eat the low fat versions of chinese food - the bamboo shoots. They keep their cages tidy. They also refuse to mate with female pandas (despite being shown how-to porn (this is, rather wonderfully, completely true). They are also non-agressive, despite being bears (sort of). I think you may be onto something… ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/18 "2005-02-18T19:49:59Z")
> [@Northern Piper](#): > > Am I the only one thinking of Opus’s autobiography, _Naked Came I?_ I was thinking of Frank Zappa’s “Penguin in Bondage,” myself. ---
**Author:** ![ReuvenB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9fc348/32.png) [@ReuvenB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReuvenB)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/19 "2005-02-18T21:11:16Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > I’m not so sure. Are we allowed to even _imply_ the “F” Name on this board? Why wouldn’t we? ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2005, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188/20 "2005-02-18T21:18:58Z")
Just don’t want to piss off Cecil by mentioning the competion, is all. :eek: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fritz-has-gone-bonkers-aka-gay-penguin-sexual-rights/290188.md?page=2)