Same-sex sexual behavior observed in dozens of primate species, suggesting evolutionary origin

[Coventina]

Humans are far from the only primates engaging in same-sex sexual activity.

A new study found instances in which 59 nonhuman primate species, including bonobos, chimpanzees and macaques, have taken part in same-sex behaviors.

Researchers observed repeated occurrences of the behavior in 23 species. The study, published Monday in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, is the most comprehensive review of same-sex behavior in primates to date (though humans are not included). The findings challenge some common assumptions about the purpose of sex in the animal world, suggesting it plays a broader social role.

The authors posit that same-sex behavior developed evolutionarily to help primates in complex social groups ease tension, reduce conflict and build bonds. A combination of genetics and external stress — from the environment or from social systems — appears to drive this behavior, they conclude.

“What we found shows that same-sex is not like something bizarre, aberrant or rare. It’s everywhere, it’s very useful, it’s very important,” said Vincent Savolainen, director of the Georgina Mace Centre for the Living Planet at Imperial College London and an author of the study.

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/primates-same-sex-sexual-behavior-evolution-rcna252693

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Glad these folks are researching from the UK. If it were taking place here, they'd lose their funding.

[mwmisses4289]

1. It's been seen in a lot of species.

I've mostly heard about it in birds, but doesn't surprise me. The supposed christian rwnj heads are gonna explode, though.

[Disaffected]

2. Interesting article but,

I though same sex activity has been considered to be of "evolutionary origin" for a long while now. IOWs, where else would it have originated?

[Coventina]

3. Well, if you ask the fundies (my family) it comes from being willfully perverse (sinful)

And that people who engage in such behavior should be put to death.

[AZJonnie]

4. I've been saying for forever that same-sex affection is part of the human genome

Sort of a random expression of a gene that occurs at some % level in the population, as opposed to "you're gay because your parent is gay" type of thing that implies direct inheritance.

Something that's always fascinated me is that the entire bonobo population is "sexually" active, and all are basically bisexual. They're also what one could call pedophiles (they even sexualize infants, ewww, but rationally I don't think it's proper to impose human objections onto their behavior). An interesting outcome of their sexual profligacy is that their society is relatively peaceful, and the females are mostly "in charge" of their groups, certainly much more so than their chimp cousins. It's theorized that the females collectively being wanton hussies (I say that affectionately) means that males don't know which of the offspring are their own, therefore, they don't fight over exclusive breeding rights, and instead the males are affectionate towards, and look after ALL the young, because any of them could be their own kids or grandkids.

This could also play a part in why right-wing macho men are so obsessed with controlling female's sexuality, and punishing same-sex behavior. Deep in their psyche there's an awareness that it leads to erosion of their collective societal power. Compare the societies of chimps (much more of a "tournament" species where all the females of the group constitute a "harem", and are the "property" of the alphas) to bonobos and you'll see some strong parallels (except the pedo part) to conservatives and liberals in humans. Bonobos are also MUCH more welcoming to outsiders than chimps, and this is just scraping the surface.

I speculate that homosexuality (specifically) in human males evolved as a way to keep the peace in tournament species (like chimpanzees, though it's origins can be found much "further back" than chimps) wherein if a certain % of the males are instead attracted to one another rather than the females (that the alphas believe they "own" and have exclusive breeding rights with), this will notably reduce the number of fights over sexual primacy that result in severe injury and even death among the population. If you're going to be a "tournament" species, the species needs for a certain % of the males to actually not even be interested in breeding with the females, IOW.

[Disaffected]

5. STOP that!

You are applying reason and logic to this issue.

[Coventina]

6. I read somewhere (too lazy to try and find source right now) that in early humans

Most of the males were the "father figures" to their sister's (or sisters') children.

The women would breed with whomever they chose in the moment, but their children were reared in a matriarchal structure where their uncles were the "dads" (protectors and providers).

This is thought to be possible reasons why so many romantic relationships are intense but short-lived, and that long-term monogamy is really something that has to be a central focus of effort.

So the "guncle" (gay uncle) may be a very ancient archetype indeed!