A Biological Exuberance
In American and other Western cultures, we’ve historically held a myth that queerness in unnatural. In this myth, there are only two immutable genders and sex is only for procreation. In truth, same-sex attraction is widespread and well-documented among other non-human animals. So are transgender changes and sexual activity without procreation.
In my research, I’ve learned that mallard ducks commonly have same-sex pairing both male and females. I learned that Spotted hyenas live in a strict matrilineal society, and that females have unusual genitals; of of this challenges the concept of strict sexual dimorphism. I’ve also found out about whiptail lizards, who are all female and procreate asexually yet still engage in sexual behavior.
My goal in this series is to debunk and disempower the tired and false paradigm that queerness is unnatural — in fact, the whole world is naturally queerer than we know. Our past repressed or denied this truth, but our future will embrace it.
Prices:
16″ x 20″: $400
9″ x 12″: $250
Email me for more info or to purchase:
artemis [at] this website address.
The White-Tailed Deer has some gender variety, the most prominent of which is known as “velvet horns”. These deer are beyond genderqueer, they are gender fabulous!
In this piece, there are two males in festive, imaginary plumage. Since two males couldn’t lay eggs in the “real” world, here they have golden, magical eggs. I wonder who will hatch from them?
Both these lizards are female. Actually, all NM Whiptail Lizards are female. They reproduce through pathenogenesis, or asexual reproduction.
Unlike most mammals, Spotted hyenas live in a strict matrilineal society and females are dominant. The females have unusual genitals, and all of this challengesthe concept of strict gender dimorphism.
Who is male, who is female, who is transgender in this drawing? Female Blue-tailed damselflies have evolved in a variety of colors, and some females’ coloring mimics the males. They “pass” for males.
Sold artwork from this series
These swans sometimes form female-only couples and lay double clutches of eggs that sadly never hatch. Once in a while they add a male to mix. Sometimes three is the magic number. This means their eggs will be fertilized and there are now three adults to defend the nest. Everybody wins! Yet another naturally gay phenomenon in an exuberant world.
