A comparison of them and us (link via camchristopher)
How might homosexuality be good for us? Any concept of sexual selection that emphasizes the selfish propagation of genes and sperm won’t be able to account for the abundance of non-heterosexual sex. However, if one looks at homosexuality from the perspective of a community, one can begin to see why nature might foster a variety of sexual interactions. Gayness is a necessary side effect of getting along. Homosexuality evolved in tandem with vertebrate societies, in which a motley group of individuals has to either live together or die alone. In fact, Roughgarden even argues that homosexuality is a defining feature of advanced animal communities, which require communal bonds in order to function. “The more complex and sophisticated a social system is,” she writes, “the more likely it is to have homosexuality intermixed with heterosexuality.”
USN’T UT UNTRESTING - Survival being not just about pro-creation, but also the sense of togetherness and community. Her research is really great, but it would take a hell of a lot more convincing to get people to challenge, or at least ponder alternatives to Darwin’s theories. Looking at homosexuality as something other than just a fun past-time for horn-dogs, and examining the social benefits is a good start.
