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I came across an article that singled out this book about "non-traditional" families as the American Library Association's most objectional book on the shelves. Similar to everyone's sentimental favorite of 1989, Heather has Two Mommies", this pageturner follows the adventures of two gay male penguins who hatch out an egg from a hetro-penguin couple (Tango), and live happily ever after in homo-penguin bliss.
Now to be fair, there are other books that turn up every year on the ALA's list -- the 'overtly racist' Huck Finn is a favorite, as is "Catcher in the Rye" -- and I'm a strong believer in freedom of speech and freedom of the press. So why do I personally find this book so objectionable? Simple -- penguins are not gay. Look around at nature and you'll see lots of animals who'd make a better fit for such a themed book. Afghan hounds might be a good place to start, or even llamas; how about just a gay guy? But a penguin?
Update! Seems there's more gay penguins than originally thought:
[url]http://www.ok.co.uk/worldinaction/view/5472/Gay-penguins-pinch-eggs-/">http://www.ok.co.uk/worldinaction/view/5472/Gay-penguins-pinch-eggs-/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ok.co.uk/worldinaction/view/5472/Gay-penguins-pinch-eggs-/">http://www.ok.co.uk/worldinaction/view/5472/Gay-penguins-pinch-eggs-/[/url]
GAY PENGUINS PINCH EGGS
TWO GAY BIRDS DRIVEN BY THEIR FATHERLY INSTINCTS HAVE BEEN CAUGHT 'HATCHING' A DEVIOUS PLOT Posted: Tuesday 25 Nov 2008
Above: The naughty pair have been penned (Pictures: Europics.at)
GAY PENGUINS at a zoo in China have been stealing eggs in a bid to become surrogate dads.
Keepers have been forced to segregate the couple after catching them trying to trick straight birds into parting with their offspring.
The cunning pair would place round stones at their feet before running off with an egg, as reported by the austriantimes.at.
Experts at the Polarland Park in Harbin, north east China, the three-year-old male birds are driven by an urge to be dads, despite their sexuality.
A keeper explained: "One of the responsibilities of being a male adult is looking after the eggs. Despite this being a biological impossibility for this couple, the natural desire is still there."
He denied discriminating against the homosexual penguins.
"It's not discrimination. We have to fence them separately, otherwise the whole group will be disturbed during hatching time."
Update: More evidence penguins are gay!
[url]http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Good_News/2009/06/04/9678691-ap.html">http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Good_News/2009/06/04/9678691-ap.html" rel="nofollow">http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Good_News/2009/06/04/9678691-ap.html">http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Good_News/2009/06/04/9678691-ap.html[/url]
Sad news for the gay penguin couple - one of them went straight and they broke up:
[url]http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/07/12/Same-sex-penguin-couple-split/UPI-56931247417354/">http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/07/12/Same-sex-penguin-couple-split/UPI-56931247417354/" rel="nofollow">http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/07/12/Same-sex-penguin-couple-split/UPI-56931247417354/">http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/07/12/Same-sex-penguin-couple-split/UPI-56931247417354/[/url]
Wow, this story just won't die!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyob3yHVOgs
Crap like that is why I find some comfort in the fact that I'll be in depends soon and then swirling around the bowl myself soon enough. No wonder I drink.