Against Nature?

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sexual orientation Part of sexology
Common classifications
Asexuality Bisexuality Heterosexuality Homosexuality
Other classifications
Autosexuality Kinsey scale Klein Sexual Orientation Grid Fluid sexuality Storms sexuality axis Monosexuality Pansexuality Paraphilia
Related articles
Affectional orientation Against Nature? Biology and sexual orientation Choice and sexual orientation Demographics of sexual orientation Non-human animal sexuality Situational sexual behavior
This box: view • talk • edit</div>

Against Nature? is an exhibition on animal homosexuality taking place in The Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, Norway. The exhibition focuses on occurrence and function of homosexuality among animals, and is the first of its kind.

The exhibit contains stuffed animals of species known to engage in homosexuality, models and pictures, showing among other things southern right whales and giraffes engaged in same-sex pairing. The museum says one of its aims is to "help to de-mystify homosexuality among people... we hope to reject the all too well known argument that homosexual behaviour is a crime against nature." Most of the exhibition is based on the works of Bruce Bagemihl and Joan Roughgarden.

The exhibition was initiated by ABM, the Norwegian Archive, Library and Museum Authority as part of their "Break" program, encouraging museums, libraries and archived to do research and exhibitions of controversial and taboo subjects. The exhibition is a direct answer to this challenge, and has received financial support from ABM.

The exhibition will run until August 19, 2007. It has been well received, including by the museums regular visiting groups, mainly families[1], but there is hostility from some groups who argue that it is propaganda.