Queer Natural History

How gay is nature, really? Some estimates suggest 1,500 species of animals show some form of homosexual behaviour: from Hawaiian orb weaver spiders to the Humbolt squid and brown bears. However, given these 1500 species span almost every branch on the tree of life, this figure is likely a massive underestimate – a gap in our knowledge not helped by the efforts of some science and scientists to cover up or ignore its existence.

In his book 'A Little Gay Natural History', Josh Davis, a science writer for the Natural History Museum, highlights the sheer diversity of non-heteronormative biology and behaviours that exist in the natural world.

Josh will share some favourite examples from his book, including the moral outrage around lesbian gulls, while explaining his motivations for telling this story, such as tackling head on the astonishing diversity of sexual behaviour that exists in nature when it "appears to go against evolution?"

Visitor information

Talks and discussions are intended for an adult audience and are best suited for ages 16+.

This event is one of the Spotlight Talks, and there will be advance tickets released for this event closer to the Festival weekend. 

If you have an advance ticket, please arrive at the venue 10 minutes before the start time. Your ticket gives you priority access, however, as this is a free event we overbook to help ensure a full event and your space may be reallocated. Early arrival reduces this risk.

To see the precise location of where this talk is taking place, you can use what3words.com with the code 'ship.rips.congratulations'. 

This event has step-free access.

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