Why penguins are the perfect gay icons and banana slugs deserve their close-up: what this wildlife researcher learned making a doc about queer animals

Toronto Star

11-06-2025

It all started with birds.
Armed with binoculars and a notebook, wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell was always outside as a kid, watching and listening. 'That curiosity never really went away,' he says. 'Being out in nature, trying to understand what animals are doing and why, has always been one of my favourite things.'
After working mostly in wildlife conservation, research and education, he recently moved into wildlife filmmaking.
His newest project — done in collaboration with co-writer Erinn Drage, director Rio Mitchell, producer Carolyn Whittaker and cinematographer Ryan Wilkes, plus composer Kimmortal — is more fabulous than most. 'Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story' (now available via 'The Nature of Things' on CBC Gem) features Bradwell's quest to find and understand the queerer members of the animal kingdom, and delve into why this fierce phenomenon has gone underexplored for so long.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
What inspired this documentary?
My interest in queer behaviour in animals started when I saw two male orcas exhibiting same-sex behaviour while I was working in the field. As a queer person, that moment really struck me. It was surprising, moving, and it opened up a lot of questions for me. That experience sparked a journey, one that led me to learn more about queerness in the natural world. It became really important to me to share these stories, because they show that queerness exists across species and that it's always been part of the natural world.
How did seeing the gay orcas make you feel?
There was physical interaction, bonding, even what looked like courtship. At first, I was fascinated from a scientific perspective. But as a queer person, I also felt something much deeper. It was powerful and unexpectedly emotional. It challenged the idea I had grown up with that queerness is unnatural or only something that exists in humans. Seeing that behaviour play out so clearly in the wild really stayed with me.
What were some of the most fascinating findings you uncovered about gay animals?
In species like bighorn sheep — pictured in Radium, B.C. — and raccoons, same-sex behaviour is a key part of how individuals bond, says Connel Bradwell.
CBC
Just how widespread same-sex behaviour is across the animal kingdom. It is not limited to a few species; it has been documented in over 1,500, from insects to mammals to birds. And it is not just about sex. There are long-term pair bonds, courtship rituals, co-parenting and deep emotional connections between same-sex partners.
I was especially struck by the stories of animals forming lifelong same-sex partnerships, like some species of albatross, where two females will stay together for decades and raise chicks.
Another surprising finding was how queerness shows up in social structures. In species like bighorn sheep and raccoons, same-sex behaviour is a key part of how individuals bond, form hierarchies and maintain group cohesion.
What really stood out overall was that queerness in nature is not rare. It is not an exception or an anomaly. It is a natural and consistent part of life on Earth. Learning that was not only fascinating but also deeply affirming.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Any other intriguing facts that the documentary gets into that you're excited to become more common knowledge?
One of the things I'm most excited for people to understand is that learning about queer behaviour in animals is not just a fun fact or side note. It is actually essential to species conservation. When we ignore or dismiss same-sex behaviour or other forms of queerness in the animal world, we miss out on a full understanding of how these species live, reproduce and survive.
If research assumes that all animal pair bonds are heterosexual, or that reproduction is the only behaviour worth studying, we end up with an incomplete picture. That can limit conservation efforts, especially in breeding programs, population monitoring and habitat planning. Understanding the full range of social and sexual behaviours, including same-sex parenting or bonding, gives us a much more accurate and effective foundation for protecting species.
Did you have any funny moments making this film that were especially zany?
One of my favourite things about our documentary is that it's joyful and fun. There are a lot of funny moments, but one that really stands out involves banana slugs. We filmed with a world-renowned gastropod expert who walked us through their bizarre mating rituals, everything from eating each other's slime to slow, twisting contortions. But it's not just the behaviour that's interesting. The slugs themselves challenge a lot of our assumptions about binary sex and gender in nature.
What made it hilarious was the setting. We were all crammed into this tiny tent in the middle of the B.C. rainforest, soaked and muddy, whispering and barely moving, just waiting to see if the slugs were into each other. It was surreal. And what's even better is that we filmed them in a way that has never really been done before, with mood lighting and real drama. We gave them the full love-story treatment.
That's something I love about this film. It celebrates queerness and science, but it also doesn't take itself too seriously. Nature is weird and beautiful and sometimes very funny.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
As a queer person, what was the most meaningful moment of making this film for you?
Wildlife conservationist Connel Bradwell says making the documentary 'Animal Pride: Nature's Coming Out Story' reminded him that queerness has always been part of the natural world.
CBC
A big moment for me was meeting and learning from some incredible queer scientists. These are people who have been doing important research for years, often in spaces where queerness hasn't always been welcomed or acknowledged. Hearing their stories and seeing the way their identities shape and enrich their scientific work was really inspiring.
Why has news and knowledge of gay animals been suppressed for so long?
Scientists have actually been documenting same-sex behaviour and diverse gender expressions in animals for many years, including species like penguins. Despite this, much of that knowledge has been overlooked or even suppressed because research has traditionally been filtered through a heteronormative perspective.
In some cases, reports of same-sex behaviour were hidden or censored. Historically, it was considered taboo or even illegal to discuss homosexuality in animals, and those attitudes sometimes continue today. There are stories of scientific work being challenged, and books on the subject being removed from libraries or facing institutional resistance.
This silencing has shaped how we understand the natural world. It has reinforced the mistaken belief that heterosexual relationships and fixed gender roles are the default in nature. Our documentary aims to change that by sharing these overlooked stories, showing that diversity in sexual and social behaviour is normal, widespread and has always been part of the natural world.
Which gay animal in the film is the most powerful diva of all, in your opinion? Why should this creature be a queer icon for the rest of us?
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
If I had to pick the ultimate gay diva in the film, it would definitely be the penguins. Early studies called their same-sex behaviour depraved and hooligan-like, which was pretty harsh. But once you see them in action, you can't deny they have a wild side!
Penguins are bold, fearless and full of personality. They break all the old stereotypes with their cheeky antics and strong bonds. They're not just cute, they also remind us that queer behaviour in animals is totally natural, vibrant and sometimes downright rebellious.
That mix of charm and mischief makes penguins the perfect gay icons. They show us that being yourself means embracing all parts of who you are, even the wild and unexpected bits!