(Redirected from Bestiality)
'Zoophilia', from the
Greek ζωον (''zôon'', "animal") and φιλία (''philia'', "friendship" or "love"), is a
paraphilia, defined as an affinity or
sexual attraction by a
human to an
animal. Such individuals are called 'zoophiles'. The more recent terms '''zoosexual''' and '''
zoosexuality''' describe the full spectrum of human/animal
orientation. A separate term, '''bestiality''' (more common in mainstream usage and frequently but incorrectly seen as a
synonym; often misspelled as "beastiality"), refers to human/animal sexual activity. To avoid confusion about the meaning of ''zoophilia'' — which may refer to the affinity/attraction, paraphilia, or sexual activity — this article uses ''zoophilia'' for the former, and ''zoosexual activity'' for the sexual act. The two terms are independent: not all sexual acts with animals are performed by zoophiles; and not all zoophiles are sexually interested in animals.
While sexual zoophilia is legal in a few countries (see:
legal aspects), it is not explicitly condoned anywhere today, and in most countries sexual acts with animals are illegal under
animal abuse laws or, less commonly, laws dealing with
crimes against nature. Philosopher and animal liberation author
Peter Singer argues that zoophilia is not unethical if there is no harm or cruelty to the animal, but this view is not widely shared, with the majority opinion supporting the view that animals, like children, are not capable of informed consent.
There is presently considerable debate in psychology over whether certain aspects of zoophilia are better understood as an
aberration or as a
sexual orientation. The activity or desire itself is no longer classified as a pathology under
DSM-IV (TR) (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the
American Psychiatric Association) unless accompanied by distress or interference with normal functioning on the part of the person. Critics point out that that DSM-IV says nothing about acceptability or the well-being of the animal, and many critics outside the field express views that sexual acts with animals are always either abusive or unethical. Defenders of
zoosexuality argue that a human/animal relationship can go far beyond sexuality, and that animals are capable of forming a genuinely loving relationship that can last for years and which is not functionally different from any other love/sex relationship.
Terminology
:''Each of the major terms in this field is used in more than one way, depending on context.''
The general term ''zoophilia'' was first introduced into the field of research on sexuality by
Krafft-Ebing in his book
Psychopathia Sexualis (1886). In
sexology,
psychology and popular use, it has a variety of meanings, revolving around affinity, affection, or erotic attraction between a human being, and a (non-human)
animal. It can refer to either the general emotional-erotic attraction to animals, or (less commonly) to the specific
psychological paraphilia of the same name.
[1]
The terms '
zoosexuality', signifying the entire spectrum of emotional or sexual attraction and/or
orientation to animals, and 'zoosexual' (as in, "a zoosexual [person]" or "a zoosexual act"), have been used since the 1980s (cited by
Miletski, 1999). Technical discussion of zoosexuality as a
sexual orientation in
psychology is discussed in that article.
Individuals with a strong affinity for animals but without a sexual interest can be described as "non-sexual" (or "emotional") zoophiles, but may object to the ''zoophile'' label. They are commonly called '
animal lovers' instead.
The ambiguous term '
sodomy', usually referring to non-procreative sex,
[2] is sometimes used in legal contexts to include zoosexual as well as homosexual acts. '''Zooerasty''' is an older term, not in common use, for
objectified sex with animals in a
masturbatory manner. In
pornography, human–animal sex is occasionally described as ''farmsex'', ''dogsex'', or ''animal sex''; these terms are often used regardless of the context or species involved.
'Bestiality' signifies a sexual act between humans and animals. It does not by itself imply any given motive or attitude. It is not always certain whether acts such as
kissing, intimate behavior,
frottage (rubbing),
masturbation, or
oral sex are considered 'bestiality' in all cultures or legal systems, or whether the term implies sexual intercourse or other
penetrative activity alone. In a non-zoophilic context, words like ''bestial'' or ''bestiality'' are also used to signify acting or behaving savagely, animal-like, extremely viciously, or lacking in human values. The spelling ''beastiality'' is nonstandard.
Amongst zoophiles and some researchers,
[3] the term '''bestialist''' has acquired a negative connotation implying a lower concern for animal welfare. This usage originated with the desire by some zoophiles to have a way to distinguish zoophilia as a fully relational outlook (sexual or otherwise), from simple "ownership with sex." Others describe themselves as zoophiles and bestialists in accordance with the dictionary definitions of the words.
Finally, zoosadism refers to the torture or pain of animals for sexual pleasure, and also includes willfully abusive zoosexual activity.
Extent of occurrence
The extent to which zoophilia occurs is not known with any certainty, largely because feelings which may not have been acted upon can be difficult to quantify, lack of clear divide between non-sexual zoophilia and everyday pet care, and reluctance by most zoophiles to disclose their feelings due to fear of both social and legal persecution. Instead most research into zoophilia has focused on its characteristics, rather than quantifying it.
[4]
Scientific surveys estimating the frequency of zoosexual activity, as well as anecdotal evidence and informal surveys, suggest that more than 1–2% — and perhaps as many as 8–40% — of sexually active adults have had significant sexual experience with an animal at some point in their lives. Studies suggest that a larger number (perhaps 10–30% depending on area) have fantasized or had some form of brief encounter. Larger figures such as 40–60% for rural teenagers (living on or near livestock farms) have been cited from some earlier surveys such as the
Kinsey reports, but some later writers consider these uncertain.
4 Anecdotally,
Nancy Friday's 1973 book on
female sexuality ''
My Secret Garden'' comprised around 190 women's contributions; of these, some 8% volunteered a serious interest or active participation in zoosexual activity.
[5]
Psychiatric patients were found to have a statistically significant higher prevalence rate (55%) of bestiality (both actual sexual contacts and sexual fantasy) than the control groups of medical in-patients (10%) and psychiatric staff (15%).
[6]
An
internet survey of sexuality run by the internet survey site
survey.net obtained 76,500 responses between October 2000 and December 2006. Responses to the non-specifically worded question "What sexual aspects are you into?" with options "curious/mild/heavy" included: Bestiality-curious 8671 (11.3%); Bestiality-mild 4582 (6.0%); Bestiality-heavy 3133 (4.1%). The respondents by age and gender were 67% male / 31% female; 12.1% age under 18 / 55.0% age 18-30 / 32.9% age over 31.
[7] A second internet survey on an entertainment website of around 6000 respondents which asked "Have you ever had sex with an animal" amongst several other unusual sexual acts, gave a result of 742 (13%) "sometimes" and 95 (2%) "frequently", with 1% preferring not to say.
[8] However, although open surveys with large response rates such as these may be suggestive, it is rarely clear how representative such surveys may be.
Not all people live near animals. Urban dwellers, who usually lack contact with animals, were estimated by Kinsey (1948) to have only one zoosexual contact for every 30 of the average rural dweller. By 1974, the farm population in the USA had reduced by 80% compared to 1940, causing a greatly reduced opportunity for living with animals; Hunt's 1974 study suggests that the demographic changes affecting this one group led to a significant change in overall reported occurrence.
[9]
Sexual fantasies about zoosexual acts can occur in people who do not wish to experience them in real life, and may simply reflect normal imagination and curiosity. Latent zoophile tendencies may be common; the frequency of interest and sexual excitement in watching animals
mate is cited as an indicator by Massen (1994) and commented on by Masters (1962).
[10]
Legal status
Main articles: Zoosexuality and the law
Zoosexual acts are illegal in many jurisdictions, while others generally outlaw the mistreatment of animals without specifically mentioning sexuality. Because it is unresolved under the law whether sexual relations with an animal are inherently "abusive" or "mistreatment", this leaves the status of zoosexual activity unclear in some jurisdictions.
Laws on zoosexuality in modern times are often triggered by specific incidents or by peer pressure.
[11] Whilst some laws are very specific, others employ vague terms such as "
sodomy" or "bestiality" which lack legal precision and leave it unclear which exact acts are covered. Other factors affecting the operation of law include enforced assumptions as to abuse, creative use of alternative laws, and the impact of uncodified
cultural norms, prohibitions, and social
taboos. In the past, bestiality laws were mainly put in place for religious reasons and the assumed possibility that sex with an animal could result in
monstrous offspring, and were primarily concerned with the offense to community standards.
[12]
Currently, the legality of bestiality varies greatly around the world. It is legal in some countries, such as
Sweden,
Denmark and the
Netherlands, while it is illegal in
Great Britain (for penetrative acts),
Canada, and much of the
United States,
Australia and
New Zealand. Countries such as
Belgium,
Germany and
Russia are in between the two as they permit sexual activity with animals but strictly prohibit the promotion of animal-oriented pornography.
[13]
Notable legal views include
Sweden, where a 2005 report by the
Swedish Animal Welfare Agency for the Swedish government expressed strong concerns over the increase in reports of
horse-ripping incidents, and gave as its opinion that current animal cruelty legislation needed updating as it was not sufficiently protecting animals from abuse, but concluded that on balance it was not appropriate to call for a ban.
[5],
New Zealand where the 1989 Crimes Bill considered abolition of bestiality as a criminal offense, and for it to be treated as a
mental health issue.
[14] In some countries laws existed against single males living with female animals. For example, an old
Peruvian law prohibited single males from having a female
alpaca.
[15]
A more detailed list of countries and laws can be found at
zoosexuality and the law.
Zoophiles
Zoophilia as a lifestyle
Separate from those whose interest is curiosity, pornography, or sexual novelty, are those for whom zoophilia might be called a lifestyle or orientation. A commonly reported starting age is at or before
puberty, around 9 - 11, and this seems consistent for both males and females.
Kinsey found that the most frequent incidence of human/animal intercourse was more than eight times a week, for the under-15 years age group. Those who discover an interest at an older age often trace it back to nascent form during this period or earlier. As with human
attraction, zoophiles may be attracted only to particular species, appearances, personalities or individuals, and both these and other aspects of their feelings vary over time.
Zoophiles tend to perceive differences between animals and human beings as less significant than others do. They often view animals as having positive traits (e.g.
honesty) that humans often lack, and to feel that society's understanding of non-human sexuality is misinformed.
[16] Although some feel guilty about their feelings and view them as a problem, others do not feel a need to be constrained by traditional standards in their private relationships.
The biggest difficulties many zoophiles report are the inability to be accepted or open about their animal relationships and feelings with friends and family, and the fear of harm, rejection or loss of companions if it became known
16[17] This situation is similar to "
outing" and "
the closet" of bisexuality and homosexuality in that thoughts and acts of Zoophilia are frowned upon by society. Other major issues are hidden loneliness and isolation (due to lack of contact with others who share this attraction or a belief they are alone), and the impact of repeated deaths of animals they consider lifelong soul mates (most species have far shorter lifespans than humans and zoophiles cannot openly
grieve or talk about feelings of loss).
[18][19] Some of these concerns may be qualitatively similar to historical
perceptions in other sexual groups that have been legal or illegal at different times in history. Zoophiles do not usually cite internal conflicts over
religion as their major issue, perhaps because zoosexual activity, although seemingly condemned by some religions, is not a major focus of their teachings.
Zoophilic sexual relationships vary, and may be based upon variations of human-style relationships (eg
Monogamy), animal-style relationships (each make own sexual choices),
physical intimacy (non-sexual touch, mutual
social grooming, closeness), or other combinations.
Zoophiles may or may not have human partners and families. Some zoophiles have an affinity or attraction to animals which is secondary to human attraction; for others the
bond with animals is primary.
Miletski argues that a scale similar to Kinsey's could be applied for this.
[20] In some cases human family or friends are aware of the relationship with the animal and its nature, in others it is hidden. This can sometimes give rise to issues of
guilt (as a result of divided loyalties and concealment) or
jealousy within human relationships
[9]. In addition, zoophiles sometimes enter human relationships due to growing up within traditional expectations, or to deflect suspicions of zoophilia, and yet others may choose looser forms of human relationship as companions or house mates, live alone, or choose other zoophiles to live with.
Not all zoophiles are able to keep animals, or at least not those animals that they feel attracted to, and because of this some resort to
trespassing on property to have sexual contact with animals. This practice, known as ''fence hopping'', is often condemned by other zoophiles.
Non-sexual zoophilia
Although the term is often used to refer to sexual interest in animals, zoophilia is not necessarily sexual in nature. In
psychology and
sociology it is sometimes used without regard to sexual implications. Definitions of zoophilia include "Affection or affinity for animals", "Erotic attraction to or sexual contact with animals", "Attraction to or affinity for animals", or "An erotic fixation on animals that may result in sexual excitement through real or fancied contact"
[21]
The common feature of "zoophilia" is some form of affective bond to animals beyond the usual, whether emotional or sexual in nature. Non-sexual zoophilia, as with
animal love generally, is generally accepted in society, and although sometimes ridiculed, it is usually respected or tolerated. Examples of non-sexual zoophilia can be found on animal memorial pages such as
petloss.com,
in-memory-of-pets.com (memorial, tribute and support sites), by
googling "pet memorials", or on sites such as
MarryYourPet.com and other
pet marriage sites.
Zoophiles and other groups
Zoophiles are often confused with ''
furries'' or ''
therians (or "weres")'', that is, people with an interest in
anthropomorphism, or people who believe they share some kind of inner connection with animals (spiritual, emotional or otherwise). While the membership of all three groups probably overlap in part, it is untrue to say that all furs or therians have a sexual interest in animals (subconscious or otherwise). Many furs find anthropomorphic adult art erotic and enjoy the companionship of animals, but have no wish to extend their interest beyond an affinity or emotional bond to sexual activity. Those who consider themselves both zoophiles and furries often call themselves ''zoo-furs'' or ''fuzzies''. The size of this group is not known, although the few surveys that exist together with their editors' comments might support a figure of 2 - 5% of furries,
[22] which is not dissimilar to typical estimates of the percentage within the population generally. Expressions of
fur fetishism and
fursuiting are usually considered a form of costuming, rather than an expression of zoosexual interest and are usually legal.
Finally, zoophilia is not related to sexual
puppy or pony play (also known as "Petplay") or
animal transformation fantasies and roleplays, where one person may act like a dog, pony, horse, or other animal, while a sexual partner acts as a rider, trainer, caretaker, or breeding partner.
[23] These activities are
sexual roleplays whose principal theme is the voluntary or involuntary reduction or transformation of a human being to animal status, and focus on the altered mind-space created. They have no implicit connection to, nor motive in common with, zoophilia.
[24] They are instead more usually associated with
BDSM. Zoosexual activity is not part of BDSM for most people, and would usually be considered extreme, or
edgeplay.
Sciences studying zoophilia
Zoophilia is in the main covered by four sciences:
Psychology (the study of the human
mind),
sexology (the study of
human sexuality),
ethology (the study of
animal behavior), and
anthrozoology (the study of ).
The nature of animal minds, animal
mental processes and structures, and animal
self-awareness,
perception,
emotion in animals, and "map of the world", are studied within
animal cognition and also explored within various specialized branches of
neuroscience such as
neuroethology.
Zoophilia may also be covered to some degree by other (non-science) fields such as
ethics,
philosophy,
law,
animal rights and
animal welfare. It may also be touched upon by
sociology which looks both at zoosadism in examining patterns and issues related to
abuse and at non-sexual zoophilia in examining the role of animals as emotional support and companionship in human lives, and may fall within the scope of
psychiatry if it becomes necessary to consider its significance in a clinical context.
Perspectives on zoophilia
Psychological and research perspectives
The established view held by the overwhelming majority of professionals in the field of psychology is that zoophilia is a mental disorder. Although
DSM-III-R (APA, 1987) stated that sexual contact with animals is almost never a clinically significant problem by itself (Cerrone, 1991), and therefore both this and the later
DSM-IV (APA, 1994) subsumed it under the residual classification "
paraphilias not otherwise specified", it continues to be defined as a disorder. The
World Health Organization takes the same position, listing a sexual preference for animals in its
ICD-10 as "other disorder of sexual preference".
[25]
The first detailed studies of zoophilia date from prior to 1910. Peer reviewed research into zoophilia in its own right started around 1960. However, a number of the most oft-quoted studies, such as Miletski, were not published in
peer-reviewed journals. There have been several significant modern books, from Masters (1962) to Beetz (2002), but each of them has drawn and agreed on several broad conclusions:
# The critical aspect to study was emotion, relationship, and motive, it is important not to just assess or judge the sexual act alone in isolation, or as "an act", without looking deeper. (Masters, Miletski, Beetz)
# Zoophiles' emotions and care to animals can be real, relational, authentic and (within animals' abilities) reciprocal, and not just a substitute or means of expression. (Masters, Miletski, Weinberg, Beetz)
[26]
# Most zoophiles have (or have also had) long term human relationships as well or at the same time as zoosexual ones. (Masters, Beetz);
[27]
# Society in general at present is considerably misinformed about zoophilia, its stereotypes, and its meaning. (Masters, Miletski, Weinberg, Beetz)
[28]
# Contrary to popular belief, there is in fact significant popular or "latent" interest in zoophilia, either in fantasy, animal mating, or reality. (Nancy Friday, Massen, Masters)
# The distinction between zoophilia and zoosadism is a critical one, and highlighted by each of these studies.
# Masters (1962), Miletski (1999) and Weinberg (2003) each comment significantly on the social harm caused by these, and other common misunderstandings: "This destroy[s] the lives of many citizens".
More recently, research has engaged three further directions - the speculation that at least some animals seem to thrive in a zoosexual relationship,
[29] the thesis of psychological research that zoosexuality is closer to a sexual orientation than a sexual fetish, and the supposition that science apparently is closing in on confirming the capacity for authentic
emotion in animals, and their enjoyment and choice of actions (including sex) driven by an internal feeling that certain things are pleasurable.
[30]
Religious perspectives
Several organized religions take a critical or sometimes condemnatory view of zoophilia or zoosexual activity, with some variation and exceptions.
Passages in
Leviticus 18 (Lev 18:23: "And you shall not lie with any beast and defile yourself with it, neither shall any woman give herself to a beast to lie with it: it is a perversion." RSV) and 20:15-16 ("If a man lies with a beast, he shall be put to death; and you shall kill the beast. If a woman approaches any beast and lies with it, you shall kill the woman and the beast; they shall be put to death, their blood is upon them." RSV) are cited by
Jewish,
Christian, and
Muslim theologians as categorical denunciation of bestiality. Some theologians (especially Christian
[31]) extend this, to consider
lustful thoughts for an animal as a sin, and the Christian theologian
Thomas Aquinas described it along with homosexuality as the worst sexual sins "because use of the right sex is not observed." Alternatively, many Christians and some non-Orthodox Jews do not regard the full Levitical laws as binding upon them, and may consider them irrelevant to an extent.
Views of zoophilia's seriousness in
Islam seem to cover a wide spectrum. This may be because it is not explicitly mentioned or prohibited in the
Qur'an, or because sex and sexuality were not treated as
taboo in Muslim society to the same degree as in Christianity. Some sources claim that sex with animals is abhorrent, others state that while condemned, it is treated with "relative indulgence" and in a similar category to
masturbation and
lesbianism (Bouhdiba: Sexuality in Islam, Ch.4
link). A book "
Tahrirolvasyleh", cited on the Internet, which quotes the
Ayatollah Khomeini approving of sex with animals under certain conditions, is unconfirmed and possibly a forgery.
[32] Though the book Tahrir-ul-Vasyleh does exist, there is widespread suspicion concerning the existence and authenticity of such a "fourth book".
There are a few unsubstantiated references in
Hindu scriptures to religious figures engaging in sexual activity with animals (e.g. the god
Brahma lusting after and having sex with a bear, a human-like sage being born to a deer mother), as well as explicit depictions of people having sex with animals included amongst the thousands of sculptures of "Life events" on the exterior of the
temple complex at
Khajuraho..Orthodox Hindu doctrine holds that sex should be restricted to married couples, thereby forbidding zoosexual acts. A greater punishment is attached to sexual relations with a sacred cow than with other animals.
Buddhism addresses sexual conduct primarily in terms of what brings harm to oneself or to others, and the admonition against sexual misconduct is generally interpreted in modern times to prohibit zoosexual acts, as well as
pederasty,
adultery,
rape, or
prostitution. Various sexual activities, including those with animals, are expressly forbidden for Buddhist monks and nuns.
In the
Church of Satan, sexual acts involving children and/or animals are universally condemned, as are those in which a human who is too naïve to understand is involved. The Satanic Bible states (p.66) that animals and children are treated as sacred as they are regarded as the most natural expression of life.
Animal studies perspectives
The common concept of animals as heterosexual and only interested in their own species, is seen as scientifically inaccurate by researchers into animal behavior. Animals are, in the main, considered as sexual opportunists by science, rather than sexually naïve.
Ethologists such as
Desmond Morris who study animal behavior, as well as formal studies, have consistently documented significant masturbation and homosexuality in a wide range of animals, apparently freely chosen or in the presence of the opposite gender, as well as homosexual animal couples, homosexual raising of young, and cross-species sexual advances. Haeberle (1978) states that sexual intercourse is "not so very unusual" between animals of different species as it is between humans and animals, a view with which
Kinsey (1948, 1953) concurs.
[33] Peter Singer reports of one such incident witnessed by
Biruté Galdikas (a notable ethologist considered by many the world's foremost authority on
primates):
Animal rights, welfare and abuse concerns
One of the primary critiques of zoophilia is the argument that zoosexual activity is harmful to animals. Some state this categorically; that any sexual activity is necessarily abuse. Critics also point to examples in which animals were clearly abused, having been tied up, assaulted, or injured. Defenders of zoophilia argue that animal abuse is neither typical of nor commonplace within zoophilia, and that just as sexual activity with humans can be both abusive and not, so can sexual activity with animals.
The Humane Society of the United States states categorically its belief that: "Not all cases of animal sexual abuse will involve physical injury to the animal, but all sexual molestation of an animal by a human is abuse."
Andrea M. Beetz, PhD. in her book "Love, Violence, and Sexuality in Relationships between Humans and Animals" (2002) reports: "In most [popular] references to bestiality, violence towards the animal is automatically implied. That sexual approaches to animals may not need force or violence but rather, sensitivity, or knowledge of animal behavior, is rarely taken into consideration."
In comment on
Peter Singer's article
"Heavy Petting", which controversially argued that zoosexual activity need not be abusive and if so relationships could form which were mutually enjoyed,
Ingrid Newkirk, then president of the
American animal rights group
PETA, added this endorsement: "If a girl gets sexual pleasure from riding a horse, does the horse suffer? If not, who cares? If you
French kiss your dog and he or she thinks it's great, is it wrong? We believe all exploitation and abuse is wrong. If it isn't exploitation and abuse, [then] it may not be wrong."
(A few years later, Newkirk wrote to the editor of the Canada Free Press in response to a
column by Alexander Rubin, making clear that she was strongly opposed to any exploitation, and all sexual activity, with animals. This was necessary since some had sought to interpret her former statement as condoning zoosexual activity. Accordingly, the response was a clarification of her position regarding zoosexual acts, rather than a different response ''per se'' to Singer's actual philosophical point, namely "if it isn't exploitation and abuse [then is there any moral basis for objecting?]")
Dr. LaFarge, an assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the New Jersey Medical School, who is the Director of Counseling at the
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and works with the
New York correctional system, is quoted in a media article (1999) as reporting that:
[16]
It is also reported
[34] that:
Ernest Bornemann (1990, cited by Rosenbauer 1997) coined the separate term ''"zoosadism"'' for those who derive pleasure from inflicting pain on an animal, sometimes with a sexual component. Some extreme examples of zoosadism include
necrozoophilia, the sexual enjoyment of killing animals (similar to "
lust murder" in humans), sexual penetration of fowl such as hens (fatal in itself) and strangling at orgasm, mutilation, sexual assault with objects (including screwdrivers and knives), interspecies
rape, and
sexual assault on immature animals such as puppies. Some
horse-ripping incidents have a sexual connotation (Schedel-Stupperich, 2001). The link between sadistic sexual acts with animals and sadistic practices with humans or lust murders has been heavily researched. Some murderers tortured animals in their childhood and also sexual relations with animals occurred. Ressler ''et al.'' (1986) found that 8 of their sample of 36 sexual murderers showed an interest in zoosexual acts. (Main article: ''
Zoosadism'')
Sexology information sites (if sufficiently detailed) are usually careful to distinguish zoosadism from zoophilia:
Humboldt Berlin University Sexology Dept (list of paraphilias) sex-lexis.com and
sexualcounselling.com.
Historical and cultural perspectives
Main articles: Historical and cultural perspectives on zoophilia
''Caveat - It is important to be aware that some of the descriptions in antiquity may have been written from a political agenda, that is, with the intent of portraying a given target group intentionally negatively. Reader judgement is necessary.''
Prior to and outside the influence of the major
Abrahamic religions (
Judaism,
Christianity,
Islam), sex with animals was sometimes forbidden, and sometimes accepted.
Prehistoric man probably was not bound by any self-image in regard to sexuality, and "was likely to have made many such attempts."
[35] In recorded history, "[b]estiality... existed as a rather widespread practice in all the nations of antiquity of which we have adequate records. Where it is not specifically mentioned, it may be legitimately inferred on the basis of the over-all evidence."
[36] It was often incorporated into religious ritual.
Some cultures, principally in the
Far East and
North America, were more open about sexuality than the West, whilst in others (for example herding and nomadic cultures in parts of
Africa and the
Middle East) it was considered a normal phase that most
youths went through but adults usually outgrew. Several cultures built temples (
Khajuraho,
India) or other structures (
Sagaholm,
barrow,
Sweden) with zoosexual carvings on the exterior.
In the West, the most explicit records of sex involving humans and animals activity are associated with reports of the murderous sadism,
torture and
rape of the
Roman games and
circus, in which some authors estimate that several hundreds of thousands died.
[37] Representations of scenes from the sexual lives of the gods, such as
Pasiphaë and the Bull, were highly popular, often causing extreme suffering, injury or death. On occasion, the more ferocious beasts were permitted to kill and (if desired)
devour their victims afterwards.
[38] Being sentenced to
forcible sex by dogs and horses as a method of
torturous punishment or
execution also occurred in the
Far East.
In the Church-oriented culture of the
Middle Ages, zoosexual activity was met with execution, typically burning, and death to the animals involved either the same way or by hanging, as "both a violation of
Biblical edicts and a degradation of man".
[39]
In the
18th century, the
Age of Enlightenment took much that had been under the field of religion, and brought it under the field of science. As with
homosexuality a variety of mixed views resulted
[40] which persisted through until around 1950, when researchers such as
Kinsey followed by
R.E.L. Masters began researching sexuality and sexually fringe topics (including zoophilia) on their own terms.
Health and safety
Main articles: Zoophilia and health
Infections that are transmitted from animals to humans are called
zoonoses. Some zoonoses may be transferred through casual contact, but others are much more readily transferred by activities that expose humans to the
semen, vaginal fluids,
urine,
saliva,
feces and blood of animals.
Brucellosis is one such disease, since it is transmitted by semen, vaginal fluids and urine. Brucellosis is rare in the USA but is widespread in many other parts of the world. Other verified zoonotic diseases include
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease,
Q fever,
Chlamydophila abortus,
Tritrichomonas foetus, and non-specific bacterial urinary and anal infections, sometimes referred to as "dog gonorrhea". Transmission of parasites,
Lyme disease, and fungal infections is also widely noted in the medical literature.
Therefore sexual activity with animals is, in some instances, a high risk activity. It is thus advisable for practitioners of zoophilia to assess their relative risk based on geographic location and the species involved.
Allergic reactions to animal semen may occur. Bites and other trauma from penetration or trampling may occur. Likewise animals may be injured by humans through ignorance of physical differences, forcefulness, or, for female animals, excessive friction or infection.
Arguments about zoophilia or zoosexual relations
Platonic love for animals is usually viewed positively, but most people express concern or disapproval of sexual interest, sometimes very strongly. Criticisms come from a variety of sources, including moral, ethical, psychological, medical and social arguments. They include:
★ "Let bestiality be legal and pedophilia will be legal"
★ "Sexual activity between species is
unnatural."
★ "Sexual activity between species is (or should be) naturally repugnant to anyone in their right mind", sometimes called the "yuck factor". ''(For contrasting view see:
Wisdom of repugnance)''
★ "Sexual contact with animals exposes people to elevated risk for infection with zoonotic diseases"
★ "Animals are not sapient, and therefore unable to consent." (similar to arguments against sex with human minors)
[41]
★ "Animals are incapable of relating to or forming relationships with humans."
★ "Zoosexual relations are simply for those unable/unwilling to find human partners."
★ "Sexual acts with animals by humans are always physical abuse."
[42]
★ "Animals mate instinctively to produce offspring (or: only have sex for reproduction), hence they are deceived when these activities are performed. However, this reason is somewhat disputed due to research by the Bronx Zoo suggesting that some apes copulate for entertainment."
[43]
★ "It takes advantage of animals' innate social structure which forces them to please a leader."
★ "Humans are guardians in charge of animals, so a sexual relationship is a betrayal of the trust earned by this duty of care."
★ "Zoosexuality is 'profoundly disturbed behaviour.'" (cf. the UK
Home Office review on sexual offences, 2002)
[44]
★ "It offends human dignity
[45] or is forbidden by religious law."
Defenders of zoophilia or zoosexuality state that:
★ "'Natural' is debatable; it's also not necessarily relevant." ''(ie,
naturalistic fallacy)''
★ "Animals are capable of sexual consent - and even initiation - in their own way."
[46][47][48]
★ "Animals do form mutual relationships with humans."
★ "Research shows the majority of zoophiles appear to have human partners and relationships;
27 many others simply do not have a
sexual attraction to humans."
★ "Many zoophiles have an attraction to species which are relatively inaccessible, such as
dolphins; tending to oppose the view that they are simply 'looking for easy sex'."
★ "It is a misperception that zoosexual relations need necessarily be inherently harmful/abusive. Usually it needs only sensitivity, mutuality, and understanding of everyday animal behavior."
[49][50]
★ "Instinct does not exclude enjoyment, volition or learning."
★ "Animal and human
social structure is flexible enough both to allow for different species in it and can easily encompass dynamically changing roles and leads."
★ "People choosing to take responsibility for an animal, have to also take responsibility for its sexual drive.
Neutering and ignoring are a failure to accept animals as they are, often used to avoid facing an uncomfortable aspect of animal reality or 'best care'."
[51]
★ "Both male and female domestic animals of several species can experience the physical sensation of
orgasm, and can unambiguously solicit and demonstrate appreciation for it in their body language. Animals of many species also
masturbate, even if other sexual partners are accessible."
[52]47
★ "The psychological profession consensus does not consider it intrinsically pathological. Academic and clinical research consistently tends to substantiate rather than deny zoophiles' claims."
★ "Perspectives on human dignity and religious viewpoints differ and are personal; many individuals do not consider them relevant."
They also assert that some of these arguments rely on double standards, such as expecting informed consent from animals for sexual activity (and not accepting consent given in their own manner), but not for surgical procedures including aesthetic mutilation and castration, potentially lethal experimentation and other hazardous activities, euthanasia, and slaughter. Likewise, if animals cannot give consent, then it follows that they must not have sex with each other (amongst themselves). [Also see: ''
speciesism'']
[53]
Critics of this reasoning state that animals can communicate internally (hence consent) within their own species, but cannot communicate cross-species. Others state that animal communication is clear and unambiguous cross-species as well.
In discussing arguments for and against zoosexual activity, the ''"British Journal of Sexual Medicine"'' commented over 30 years ago, "We are all supposed to condemn bestiality, though only rarely are sound medical or psychological factors advanced." (Jan/Feb 1974, p.43)
People's views appear to depend significantly upon the nature of their interest and nature of exposure to the subject. People who have been exposed to zoosadism, who are unsympathetic to
alternate lifestyles in general, or who know little about zoophilia, often regard it as an extreme form of
animal abuse and/or indicative of serious psychosexual issues.
[54] Mental health professionals and personal acquaintances of zoophiles who see their relationships over time tend to be less critical, and sometimes supportive.
54 ''
Ethologists'' who study and understand animal behaviour and body language, have documented animal sexual advances to human beings and
other species, and tend to be matter-of-fact about animal sexuality and animal approaches to humans; their research is generally supportive of some of the claims by zoophiles regarding animal cognition, behaviour, and sexual/relational/emotional issues.
[55] Because the majority opinion is condemnatory, many individuals may be more accepting in private than they make clear to the public. Regardless, there is a general societal view which regards zoophilia with either suspicion or outright opposition.
Mythology and fantasy literature
From cave paintings onward and throughout human history, zoophilia has been a recurring subject in art, literature, and fantasy.
In
Ugaritic mythology, the god
Baal is said to have impregnated a
heifer to sire a young bull god. In
Greek mythology,
Zeus appeared to
Leda in the form of a
swan, and her children
Helen and
Polydeuces resulted from that sexual union. Zeus also seduced
Europa in the form of a
bull, and carried off the youth
Ganymede in the form of an eagle. The half-human/half-bull
Minotaur was the offspring of Queen
Pasiphaë and a white bull. King
Peleus continued to seduce the nymph
Thetis despite her transforming into (among other forms) a lion, a bird, and a snake. The god
Pan, often depicted with goat-like features, has also been frequently associated with animal sex. As with other subjects of
classical mythology, some of these have been depicted over the centuries since, in western painting and sculpture. In
Norse mythology,
Loki had intercourse with a stallion, in the form of a mare, and gave birth to
Sleipnir. The
Sagaholm, a
Swedish barrow from the
Nordic Bronze Age, contains a number of
Petroglyphs, some of which depict Zoophilia.
Fantasy literature has included a variety of seemingly zoophilic examples, often involving human characters enchanted into animal forms: ''
Beauty and the Beast'' (a young woman falls in love with a physically beast-like man),
William Shakespeare's ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream'' (Queen Titania falls in love with a character whose head is transformed into that of a donkey's), ''
The Book of One Thousand and One Nights'' (a princess champions a man enchanted into ape form, among many other examples), the
Roman Lucius Apuleius's ''
The Golden Ass'' (explicit sexuality between a man transformed into a donkey and a woman), and
Balzac's ''
A Passion in the Desert'' (a love affair between a soldier and a panther). In more modern times, zoosexual relations of a sort has been a theme in science fiction and horror fiction, with the giant ape
King Kong fixating on a human woman, alien monsters groping human females in pulp novels and comics, and depictions of
tentacle rape in Japanese
manga and
anime.
Modern erotic
furry fantasy art and stories are sometimes associated with zoophilia, but many creators and fans disagree with this, pointing out that the characters are predominantly humanoid fantasy creatures who are thinking, reasoning beings that consider and consent to sex in the same manner humans would. "Furry" characters have been compared to other intelligent and social non-human fictional characters who are subjects of love/sexuality fantasies without being commonly regarded as zoophilic, such as the
Vulcans and
Klingons in ''
Star Trek'', or
elves in fantasy fiction. Animals and
anthropomorphs, when shown in furry art, are usually shown engaged with others of similar kind, rather than humans.
Media discussion
Because of its controversial standing, different countries and medias vary in how they treat discussion of zoosexual activity. Often sexual matters are the subject of legal or regulatory requirement. For example, in 2005, the UK broadcasting regulator (
OFCOM) updated its code stating that:
[21]
The contrasting views between cultures are highlighted by the case of ''
Omaha the Cat Dancer'', a
furry comic book, which was simultaneously the subject of a raid by
Toronto police for pornographic depiction of bestiality (as noted, furry art is not usually considered "bestiality"), and the subject of praise by the (now defunct)
New Zealand Indecent Publications Tribunal for its mature depiction of relationships and sexuality.
References to zoosexual activity or bestiality are not uncommon in some media, especially
cartoon series such as
Family Guy ''(episode: "
Screwed the Pooch")'' and
South Park ''(
Recurring themes)'',
satirical comedy such as
Borat, and films (especially shock
exploitation films), although a few broadcasters such as
Howard Stern (who joked about bestiality dial-a-date on NBC) and
Tom Binns (whose
Xfm London Breakfast Show resulted on one occasion in a live discussion about the ethics of zoosexual pornographic movies at peak child listening time) have been reprimanded by their stations for doing so. In literature, American novelist
Kurt Vonnegut refers to a photo of a woman attempting sexual intercourse with a Shetland Pony in ''
The Sirens of Titan'', ''
Slaughterhouse Five'', and ''
God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater'', while
John Irving's novel ''
The Cider House Rules'' repeatedly mentions a pornographic photograph depicting oral sex on a pony.
In
Clerks II Randal orders a donkey show as a going away present for his best friend Dante, in which it is referred to as "interspecies erotica" by the male performer.
Pornography
.jpg)
''Ancient Greek sodomising a goat, plate XVII from 'De Figuris Veneris' by F.K. Forberg'', illustrated by
Édouard-Henri Avril.
involving sex with animals is widely illegal, even in most countries where the act itself is not explicitly outlawed. In the
United States, zoosexual pornography (in common with other pornography) would be considered
obscene if it did not meet the standards of the
Miller Test and therefore is not openly sold, mailed, distributed or imported across state boundaries or within states which prohibit it. Under U.S. law, 'distribution' includes transmission across the
internet. Production and mere possession appear to be legal, however. U.S. prohibitions on distribution of sexual or obscene materials are
as of 2005 in some doubt, having been ruled
unconstitutional in ''
United States v. Extreme Associates'' (a judgement which was overturned on
appeal, December 2005). Similar restrictions apply in Germany (see
above). In
New Zealand the possession, making or distribution of material promoting bestiality is illegal.
Using animal fur or
stuffed animals in erotic photography doesn't seem to be
taboo, nor do photographs of nude models posed with animals provided no sexual stimulation is implied to the animal. Stuffed animals are sometimes used in glamour erotic photography with models touching their sexual organs against such animals, and likewise models may be posed with animals or on horseback. The subtext is often to provide a contrast: animal versus sophisticated, raw beast versus culturally guided human. (Nancy Friday comments on this, noting that zoophilia as a fantasy may provide an escape from cultural expectations, restrictions, and judgements in regard to sex.)
The potential use of media for
pornographic movies was seen from the start of the era of
silent film. ''Polissons and Galipettes'' (re-released 2002 as "
The Good Old Naughty Days") is a collection of early
French silent films for brothel use, including some animal pornography, dating from around
1905 –
1930.
Material featuring sex with animals is widely available on the
Internet, due to their ease of production, and because production and sale is legal in countries such as the
Netherlands and
Denmark. Prior to the advent of mass-market full-color glossy magazines such as
Playboy, so-called
Tijuana Bibles were a form of pornographic tract popular in America, sold as anonymous underground publications typically comprising a small number of stapled comic-strips representing characters and celebrities.
[56]
The promotion of "stars" began with the Danish
Bodil Joensen, in the period of 1969–72, along with other porn actors such as the Americans
Linda Lovelace (''Dogarama'', 1969),
Chessie Moore (multiple films, c. 1994), Kerri Downs (three films, 1998) and Calina Lynx (aka Kelly G'raffe) (two films, 1998). Another early film to attain great infamy was "
Animal Farm", smuggled into
Great Britain around 1980 without details as to makers or provenance.
[57] Into the 1980s the
Dutch took the lead, creating figures like "Wilma" and the "Dutch Sisters". In 1980s, "bestiality" was featured in
Italian adult films with actresses like Denise Dior, Francesca Ray, and
Marina Hedman, manifested early in the softcore flick ''Bestialità '' in 1976.
Today, in
Hungary, where production faces no legal limitations, zoosexual materials have become a substantial industry that produces numerous films and magazines, particularly for
Dutch companies such as ''Topscore'' and ''Book & Film International'', and the
genre has stars such as "Hector" (a
Great Dane starring in several films). Many Hungarian (Suzy Spark, Silvi Anderson et al) and
Russian (Pantera aka Jordan Elliot, various girls filmed by ''Club Seventeen'') mainstream performers also appeared anonymously in animal pornography in their early careers.
[58]
In
Japan, animal pornography is used to bypass censorship laws, often featuring Japanese and Russian female models performing
fellatio on non-human animals, because oral penetration of a non-human penis is not in the scope of Japanese mosaic censor.
Sakura Sakurada is an
AV idol known to have appeared in animal pornography, specifically in the AV ''The Dog Game'' in
2006.
Brazil is also a substantial producer of animal pornography, many films featuring "
she-males". While primarily underground, there are a number of animal pornography actresses who specialize in bestiality movies. A box-office success of the 1980s ''
24 Horas de Sexo ExplÃcito featured zoophilia.
The UK Government has announced plans to criminalise possession of images depicting sex with animals (see
extreme pornography), which would include fake images and simulated acts where no crime has taken place in the production.
Pornography of this sort has become the business of certain
spammers such as
Jeremy Jaynes and owners of some fake
TGPs, who use the promise of "extreme" material as a bid for users' attention.
Social community
Whether there is such a thing as a "zoophile community" or monolithic
subculture, in the same sense as the
gay community or any other
alternative lifestyle communities, is a controversial question. Some zoophiles point to the number and quality of computerized meeting-places in which zoophiles can meet and socialize, the manner in which this extends to
offline social networks, and the trend of social and cultural evolution of community consensus over time, or use the term to imply "the community of zoophiles in general". Others point to the differing viewpoints and attitudes, the trust issues and risks due to lack of safety inherent in socializing, and lack of any true commonality between zoophiles beyond their orientation. Whether or not it should be construed as a "community", the following outline is a rough description of the social world of zoophiles, as it has existed to date.
Prior to the arrival of widespread computer
networking, most zoophiles would not have known others, and for the most part engaged secretly, or told only trusted friends, family or partners. (This almost certainly still describes the majority of zoophiles; only a small proportion are visible online). Thus it could not be said there was a "community" of any kind at that time, except perhaps for small sporadic
social networks of people who knew each other by chance. As with many other
alternate lifestyles, broader networks began forming in the 1980s when networked social groups became more common at home and elsewhere, and as the
internet and its predecessors came into existence, permitting people to search for topics and information in areas which were not otherwise easily accessible and to talk with relative safety and anonymity. The popular
[59] (top 1%)
newsgroup ''
alt.sex.bestiality'' (reputedly started in humor
[60]), personal
bulletin boards and
talkers, were among the first group media of this kind in the late 1980s and early 1990s, rapidly drawing together zoophiles, some of whom also created personal and social
websites and
forums. By around 1991 - 1993 it became accurate to say that a wide social net had evolved.
This changed significantly around 1995-96 (due to the double impact of Miletski's research and the unrelated mid/late-1990s boom in zoosexual pornography), and then a few years later again around 1998-2000 in the wake of the controversy over the first proposed public US appearance of a zoophile on the
Jerry Springer show ("I married a horse", 1998, pulled before viewing), which was followed by the 1999-2000
Philip Buble case (in which a plaintiff petitioned the court to let his dog attend judgement as his "wife"). Whilst some zoophiles saw these as attempts to state a personal viewpoint or encourage debate, others saw them in a negative light as ill-advised, futile, harmful, or ultimately egoistic attempts to obtain a public hearing which could only backlash strongly both legally and otherwise against zoophiles. There was also a perception that as knowledge of zoosexuality as a lifestyle became wider spread, the smaller but more formative social groups were being diluted by large numbers of newcomers who had not grown up within the same "culture" or communal values, and many website owners came to be less interested compared to the past. In 1996, a zoophile version of the
Geek Code was created, known as the
Zoo Code, intended as a shorthand "
signature" for zoophiles to describe themselves, their
philosophies, and their stances on certain common issues such as
animal welfare and
vegetarianism. It achieved some degree of popularity for a time and is still occasionally encountered today, having also been translated into
French and
German.
In the wake of these changes, a number of the older pro-zoophile websites and forums were voluntarily removed or vanished from the net between 1995 and 2001, and many of the more established individuals and social groups at that time withdrew
[61] from the online community, perceiving the risks and benefits to no longer be worth it, as they already had sufficient
offline friends amongst other zoophiles. This led to a period of change and consolidation during the late 1990s and early 2000s as old sites closed and the older and newer 'generations' mingled. Most of the major "talkers"
faded and closed too, especially following the increasing popularity of
instant messaging and an
incident on "Planes of Existence" (Germany, 2000). At the same time, many other social groups online drew lessons from these and other incidents, leading to a maturing consensus which tended to replace the previous divides on common topics such as the desirability vs. harmfulness of public debate and acceptance, ethics, and conduct.
Websites catering to zoosexuality at present can be broken down into several categories. Some sites restrict or prohibit explicit material (such as pictures, stories, contacts, etc), while others embrace these explicit aspects. Some zoophilic websites are run by professional or amateur
pornographers, marketing pictures, stories and videos. A few provide personal perspectives and information relating to it.
There also exist sites providing support and social assistance to zoophiles (including resources to help and rescue abused or mistreated animals), but these are not usually publicized. Such work is often undertaken as needed by individuals and friends, within social networks, and by word of mouth.
19
Books, articles and documentaries about zoophilia
Academic and professional
★ Andrea Beetz Ph.D.: ''Bestiality and Zoophilia'' (2005), ISBN 978-1-55753-412-5
★ Andrea Beetz Ph.D.: ''Love, Violence, and Sexuality in Relationships between Humans and Animals'' (2002), ISBN 978-3-8322-0020-6
★ Belliotti, R.A (1993). ''Good Sex: Perspectives on Sexual Ethics''. University Press of Kansas. ISBN 978-0-7006-0605-4
★ Professors Colin J. Williams and Martin S. Weinberg: ''Zoophilia in Men: a study of sexual interest in animals'' in: Archives of sexual behavior, Vol. 32, No.6, December 2003, pp. 523-535
★ Davis and Whitten: ''The Cross-Culture Study of Human Sexuality'' (Annual Review of Anthropology 1987, Volume 16, pp. 69-98), ISSN 0084-6570
★ Ellison, Alfred, ''Sex Between Humans & Animals: The Psycho-Mythic Meaning of Bestiality'', San Diego: Academy Press, 1970. [paperback, volumes 1 and 2]
★ Gunther Hunold Ph.D.: ''Abarten des Sexualverhaltens: Ungewohnliche Ersheinungsformen des Trieblebens (Perverse Sexual Behaviour)'' (1978)
★ Hani Miletski Ph.D.: ''Bestiality - Zoophilia: An exploratory study'', Diss., The Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality. - San Francisco, CA, October 1999
★ Hani Miletski Ph.D.: ''Understanding Bestiality and Zoophilia'', 2002, available at
Hani Miletski's Homepage (
Book review by Journal of Sex Research, May 2003)
★ Hans Hentig Ph.D.: ''Soziologie der Zoophilen Neigung (Sociology of the Zoophile Preference)'' (1962)
★ Harris, Edwin. ''Animals as Sex Partners'', 1969
★
Havelock Ellis, ''Studies in the psychology of sex, Vol. V'' (1927) ch.4
covering Animals as Sources of Erotic Symbolism--Mixoscopic Zoophilia--Erotic Zoophilia--Zooerastia--Bestiality--The Conditions that Favor Bestiality--Its Wide Prevalence Among Primitive Peoples and Among Peasants--The Primitive Conception of Animals--The Goat--The Influence of Familiarity with Animals--Congress Between Women and Animals--The Social Reaction Against Bestiality.
online version
★ Josef Massen: ''Zoophilie - Die sexuelle Liebe zu Tieren (Zoophilia - the sexual love of/for animals)'' (1994), ISBN 978-3-930387-15-1
★ Podberscek, Anthony L, Elizabeth S. Paul, James A. Serpell eds. ''Companion Animals and Us : Exploring the Relationships between People and Pets'', Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-63113-6
★ Lindzey, A. "On Zoophilia". ''The Animals' Agenda'', Westport: May/Jun 2000. Vol. 20, Iss. 3; p. 29.
★ Mandetta and Gustaveson: ''Abortion to Zoophilia: A Sourcebook of Sexual Facts'' (1976), ISBN 978-0-89055-114-1
★ R.E.L. Masters Ph.D.: ''Forbidden Sexual Behaviour and Morality, an objective examination of perverse sex practices in different cultures'' (1962), ISBN LIC #62-12196
★ Roland Grassberger Ph.D.: ''Die Unzucht mit Tieren (Sex with Animals)'' (1968)
★ S. Dittert, O. Seidl and M. Soyka: ''Zoophilie zwischen Pathologie und Normalität: Darstellung dreier Kasuistiken und einer Internetbefragung (Zoophilia as a special case of paraphilia: presentation of three case reports and an Internet survey)'' - in: Der Nervenarzt : Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie, Psychotherapie und Nervenheilkunde; Organ der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Neurologie, 2004,
published online in German June 10 2004 (
PDF)
English machine translation
Other books
★ Midas Dekkers: ''Dearest Pet: On Bestiality'', ISBN 978-1-85984-310-9
★ Mark Matthews: ''The Horseman: Obsessions of a Zoophile'', ISBN 978-0-87975-902-5
(German translation: ''Der Pferde-Mann'', 2nd Print 2004, ISBN 978-3-8334-0864-9)
★ Marjorie B. Garber: ''Dog Love'', ISBN 978-0-641-04272-0
★ Brenda Love: ''The Encyclopedia of Unusual Sex Practices'' (1994), ISBN 978-1-56980-011-9
★ Nancy Friday: ''My Secret Garden'' (ISBN 978-0-671-01987-7), ''Forbidden Flowers'' (ISBN 978-0-671-74102-0), "Women on Top" (ISBN 978-0-671-64844-2), notable for readability, and neutral treatment of a wide scope of women's sexuality including zoophilia.
★ Raymond A. Belliotti: ''Good Sex; perspectives on sexual ethics'' (1993), ISBN 978-0-7006-0604-7 or ISBN 978-0-7006-0605-4
★ Bram Dijkstra: ''Idols of Perversity: Fantasies of Feminine Evil in Fin-De-Siecle Culture'', zoophilic art
★ Gaston Dubois-Dessaule: ''Etude sur la bestialité au point de vue historique, médical et juridique (The Study of Bestiality from the Historical, Medical and Legal Viewpoint)'' (Paris, 1905)
★ A.F. Neimoller:
★
★ ''Bestiality and the Law: A Resume of the Law and Punishments for Bestiality with Typical Cases from Fifteenth Century to the Present'' (1946)
★
★ ''Bestiality in Ancient and Modern Times: A Study of the Sexual Relations of Man and Animals in All Times and Countries'' (1946)
★ Marie-Christine Anest: ''Zoophilie, homosexualite, rites de passage et initiation masculine dans la Greece contemporaine'' (Zoophilia, homosexuality, rites of passage and male initiation in contemporary Greece)'' (1994), ISBN 2-7384-2146-6
★ Gaston Dubois-Desaulle: ''Bestiality: An Historical, Medical, Legal, and Literary Study'', University Press of the Pacific (November 1, 2003), ISBN 978-1-4102-0947-4 (Paperback Ed.)
★ Robert Hough: ''The Final Confession Of
Mabel Stark'' (Stark was the world's premier tiger trainer of the 1920s, specializing in highly sexualized circus acts. She wore white outfits to hide the tiger's semen during mating rituals and foreplay, which the audience took to be vicious attacks.)
★ Otto Soyka: ''Beyond the Boundary of Morals''
Print and online media
★ ''The Joy Of Beasts'' (3 December 2000, Independent on Sunday, UK)
★ ''
Heavy Petting'' (2001, Peter Singer
Nerve.com)
★ ''Laying with Beasts'' (March 1996,
The Guide)
★ ''Sexual Contact With Animals '' (October 1977, Pomeroy Ph.D.) (co-author of the
Kinsey Reports)
★ ''
All opposed, say "neigh"'' (1999, RiverFront Times, discussing the British documentary and Missouri's legislation)
★ ''
A Goat's Eyes are so Beautiful'' (May 2004) "Tanya Gold, reviewing the Edward Albee play, finds that love affairs with pets are not as unusual as you'd think"
★ ''
Lovebites'' (July 2005,
The Eye)
★ ''
Depraved Indifference'' (2006, Steven Rinella, published on
Nerve.com)
★ ''
Animal Attractions'' (September 2001, ''
Hustler'')
Notable cases
★ ''Sudan man forced to 'marry' goat'' (
BBC, Friday, 24 February 2006, 16:40 GMT
[23])
★ ''Closing the Barn Door'' (Seattle Weekly, Wednesday, 9 November 2005
[24])
Film, television and radio
★ In
The Simpsons episode ''
A Fish Called Selma'' (19th episode, seventh season, aired 1996), the character
Troy McClure married
Selma Bouvier in order to resurrect his career after it was destroyed following "rumors about a romantic abnormality concerning
fish".
★ In ''
Clerks II'' (2006), the character Randal throws a going-away party for his friend Dante, featuring "Kinky Kelly and the Sexy Stud" - a
donkey show.
★ In the 2001 comedy "
Super Troopers", a man is in a forest pretending to have sex with a bear with a fake recording of bear growls.
★ In the Woody Allen movie, ''
Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Sex (But Were Afraid To Ask),'' one segment, ''"What is sodomy?"'', shows a scene where
Gene Wilder, who plays a doctor, is seen with a
sheep, as his patient, in bed.
★ ''Animal passions'' (part of the Hidden Love series) (1999, follow-up sequel 2004, Channel 4, UK)
:: Ofcom [the UK television regulator] reported that: "This was a serious documentary exploring a rare minority sexual orientation. Although the programme gave an opportunity for zoophiles to express their opinions, the effect was neither to sensationalise nor normalise their behaviour."
★ ''Sexe et confidences'' (April 2002, CBSC Decision C01/02-329, Canada)
:: Hour-long sex information program hosted by sexologist Louise-Andrée Saulnier discussing zoosexuality. Covered folklore, academic studies and general information, plus telephone call-in from viewers describing their zoosexual experiences and stories they had heard.
★ ''Talk Sport Radio'' (December 2002, UK)
:: Live talkshow interview with lifelong zoophile, followed by call-in discussion.
★ ''Animal Love'' (1995, Ulrich Seidl, Austria)
imdb entry
★ The animated series ''
Drawn Together'' features a character named
Captain Hero, who frequently shows traits of Zoophilia.
★ ''Coming Soon'' (2006, Sir Tijn Po, released by
Devilhead Films):: Won a special award for "Originality and Support for Suppressed Minorities" at the Festivalu Finále Plzeň.
[25] The film takes the form of a documentary about E.F.A., the world's first zoophile-rights organization,
[26] thereby exploring "civilization's eternal quest for the perfect balance between love, tolerance, morality, censorship, tradition, experimentation, etc." The film is currently released in the Czech Republic and an English version is being prepared for international distribution.
Official website,
imdb entry
★ ''
Zoo'' (2007), a documentary of the life and death of
Kenneth Pinyan, and those who came to
Enumclaw for a similar reason. One of 16 out of 856 candidates awarded a place at the
Sundance Film Festival 2007.
★ ''
Sleeping Dogs Lie'' (also known as ''
'Stay''')
::A romantic comedy in which a girl's engagement is heavily tested when she confesses to her fiance that when younger she performed
oral sex on her dog .
★ ''
The Mighty Boosh, 'Bollo' episode, Howard Moon is accused of being a 'fox bummer' after a rumoured encounter with a fox named 'Jack Cooper'
See also
References and footnotes
1. Beetz (2002) section 5.2.7: "It has to be noted here, that not only in older literature, but also in new books and articles the information on zoophilia/bestiality that is available today is often neglected. Authors write about zoophilia, and though they do not explicitly define it, it must be assumed that they at least do not include all persons who have sex with animals, but rather restrict their comments to a real, permanent, exclusive, fixated zoophilia as defined in the DSM-IV."
2. ''Lawrence v. Texas'' ruling - "Early American sodomy laws were not directed at homosexuals as such, but instead sought to prohibit non-procreative sexual activity more generally"
3. Masters (1962) uses the term "Bestialist" specifically in his discussion of Zoosadism, in the section "related perversions". Elsewhere he tends to use other terms. Likewise Dr. LaFarge, an assistant professor of Psychiatry at the New Jersey Medical School, who is the Director of Counseling at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and works with the New York correctional system, is quoted as commenting that: ''"it's important to make the distinction between bestialists and zoophiles, because zoophiles try not to hurt their animals, whereas bestialists do"'' [1]
4. Martin Duberman, reviewing the Kinsey Reports stated that: ''... as for the call for a "random sample," a team of independent statisticians studying Kinsey's procedures had concluded as far back as 1953 that the unique problems inherent in sex research precluded the possibility of obtaining a true random sample, and that Kinsey's interviewing technique had been "extraordinarily skillful." They characterized Kinsey's work overall as "a monumental endeavor."'' [2] The controversial results were hotly debated, especially by some who felt that inclusion of prison results had allowed sampling bias to distort the conclusions. Gebhard, who investigated these claims and later "cleaned up" Kinsey's large quantities of data in response to these issues, stated that to his surprise, the 1960s "cleaning" of Kinsey's data had not in fact changed any of kinsey's findings significantly.
5. ''Nancy Friday'': - ''My Secret Garden'' contains around 190 fantasies:
★ 15 represented zoosexual activity as an actual interest or major fantasy, either past or present:
::''Jeanne (p.85), Lisa (p.87), Kate (p.89
★
★ ), Jo (p.161), Rosie ( p.163), Dawn (p.163), Wanda (p.163), Raquel (p.168), Felicia (p.195
★
★ ), Sonia (p.196), Trudy (p.198:
★
★ ), Nina (p.202
★
★ : youthful experimentation), Jocelyn (p.279
★
★ ), Esther (p.288
★
★ ), Anon (p.300)''.
(
★
★ - actual activity or strong stated interest in actual activity)
★ For a further 8 (23 total = 12%) it was represented as one of multiple fantasies:
::''Madge (p.18: humiliation), Hilda (p.48: size), Esther (p.69: fantasy), Alexandra (p.218: fantasy/domination), Gelda (p.230: fantasy), Tina's husband (p.244: both interested in animal mating), Bobbie (p.256: fantasy/horses), Paula (p.259: sex on horseback)''
★ It should be noted these figures are for sexually interested aspects only. Non-sexual zoophilia is excluded from the above book.
★ Various sources comparing genders in zoophilia, express an expectation that the rate for zoosexual activity in men would be expected to be higher than the rate in women.
6. A prevalence study of bestiality (zoophilia) in psychiatric in-patients, medical in-patients, and psychiatric staff., Alvarez WA, Freinhar JP., , , Int J Psychosom., 1991
7. http://www.survey.net/sex1r.html
8. http://supervert.com/surveys/sexual_perversity_results as at 2 January 2006.
9. Hunt 1974, cited and re-examined by Miletski (1999): males in 1974 were 4.9% (1948: 8.3%), and in females in 1974 were 1.9% (1953: 3.6%). Miletski correlates this not to a reduction of interest but a reduction in opportunity, due to the 80% decline in people living with animals on farms in the same period (rural farming as percentage of population: 1940 23.2%, 1970: 4.8%). Such people were found by Kinsey to be the most likely to practice zoosexuality.
10. From Masters (1962) section 'Psychical bestiality' -- "Sexual arousal at the sight of animals copulating has been reported by a great many persons, both famous and obscure, who have added that such arousal leads sometimes to acts of bestiality, sometimes to masturbation, and occasionally to heterosexual coitus with anyone available. (That the latter result may be forthcoming has always been well known to operators of houses of prostitution, who have staged exhibitions of animal coitus and of bestiality for the express purpose of stimulating the carnal appetites of their patrons...)"
11. In Arizona USA, the motive for legislation was a "spate of recent cases" [3], and the Arizona legislator is quoted in that source as stating:
12. Posner, Richard, A Guide to America's Sex Laws, The University of Chicago Press, 1996. ISBN 978-0-226-67564-0. Page 207:
13. Germany: Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) § 184a [4]
14. In New Zealand, Fisher J considered that "[t]he community is generally now more tolerant and understanding of unusual sexual practices that do not harm others," (''Police v Sheary'' (1991) 7 CRNZ 107 (HC))
15. ''"Strange sex laws"'' page at dribbleglass.com trivia page on sex laws: "The alpaca (a variety of llama) appears to be the most popular four-legged bedmate for many single Peruvian guys. So prevalent, apparently, is this sexual deviance that an old law still outlaws the activity. Unmarried young men are prohibited from even having a female alpaca live in their homes or apartments." Also cited in April 1997 on ''salon.com'' [6]
16. "Masters (1966) also remarked, that most zoophiles do not feel guilty about their sexual practices and do not think, that what they do is immoral or wrong, but mainly fear the legal and social consequences." (cited by Beetz 2002, section 5.2.13)
17.
Beetz (2002) section 5.2.13 comments on the findings of Ullerstam (1966, p.119) in Sweden, where zoophilia has been legal since 1944: "It has to be noted in this context, that not having laws against a behavior and acceptance of it by society are two completely different matters... no acceptance of the persons engaging in this kind of sexual activity was adopted by the population. [...] Furthermore, Ullerstam referred to alleged evidence that showed, that many remarkable men had sexual experiences with animals and had to live a life in constant fear because of that. Those man had been widely respected, but would have lost everything if their activities would have become known; all their great contributions would have been forgotten due to a 'primitive moral reaction'."
18. For example this description of the loss of a dog to congenital kidney disease despite being able to confide in his wife: "I thought I was O.K., and then I burst into tears in the kitchen and couldn't stop crying. I didn't have any idea how much I loved [my dog] until she was gone. I was depressed for a long time. My work was suffering and my relationship with my wife was suffering. People I knew would make comments that on the surface were quite harmless, but cut me deeply - "You got rid of one of your dogs, didn't you?", and "Look, it was only a dog. You'll get over it!" After I found myself idly wondering how I'd commit suicide (just as an intellectual exercise, you understand), I realized that something had to be done.... Eventually my doctor referred me to a free counseling service.... Eventually I told him of my sexual relationship with [my dog]. I have to confess that I was expecting him to denounce me and wheel out a straight-jacket. But he surprised me by declaring happily that THAT was the reason I was so feeling so damned rotten. I hadn't lost a dog, I had lost a lover! And I couldn't express that pain to my friends because of the social taboo. Even my wife couldn't fully comprehend the extent of the loss I had suffered. So I was being forced to carry the pain of my loss all alone. That man saved my sanity, and possibly my life." [7]
19. One notable early attempt at creating a zoophile support structure was the newsgroup ''soc.support.zoophilia.'' which was proposed in 1994 but narrowly failed to meet the 2/3 majority needed to be created (actual result=63% [8]). Its proposed charter stated:- "The purpose... is to provide to the zoophile community a place to exchange information, emotional support, and advice of legal or psychological natures. The newsgroup will be moderated to avoid the unwelcome presence of [pornographic files]... will not be used for fictional erotica, binaries, or personal advertisements. Relevant discussions on this newsgroup include: the social and emotional difficulties that zoophiliacs have in today's world; legal issues affecting zoophiles; emotional support for zoophiles who are confused or depressed about their love for animals; and discussion of zoophilia as a social and psychological phenomenon..."
20. Miletski, Hani: ''"The findings of this question... clearly indicate that different people have different levels of sexual inclination toward animals. "Is there a sexual orientation toward nonhuman animals?" — yes, so it appears...it very clearly shows that some people...have feelings of love and affection for their animals, have sexual fantasies about them, and admit they are sexually attracted to them. Sexual orientation, as we know it, can be fluid and changing with time and circumstances...We can place people on all levels of the Kinsey scale, even when we apply this scale to sexual orientation toward animals. It is logical to assume that the majority of the human race will be placed around the zero point of this Kinsey-like scale...but the current study shows that there are some humans whose place on this Kinsey-like scale is definitely not zero. In fact, there are some...individuals whose place on this scale would be the other extreme (6=sexual inclination exclusively with animals)."'' (Miletski ch.13 pp.171-172)
21. dictionary.com
22. There are few surveys of relevance, two of the best known suggesting a small minority, and "anecdotal word" suggesting 5%. The two surveys are 'The Sociology of Furry Fandom' (2000-2002, based on data 1997-98) by David J. Rust, states that of the 360 (325 in person, 35 online) surveys around 2% were self-reported zoophiles. 'Locandez' furvey (TXT)' (2000), commonly referenced in furry sites as a well known survey/FAQ of furries states that 28% of his 232 respondents were zoophiles, but emphasizes that "not all were practising" and this was in a specifically zoophile-accepting group. Overall (he states) zoophiles are a minority in the furry fandom ("We know that lots of zoos are also furry, and we know that there is nowhere else in furrydom that they can even mention both words in the same sentence without being abused. It's the same problem that plush furries have had; the same problem Christian furries have had.")
Rust adds that furries "report a rather non-judgemental attitude" to some aspects of sexuality, to contain a large proportion of people reporting bisexuality and open committed relationships, that furries have "a higher tolerance for variety in sexual orientation and activity", and that heterosexual furries "participate in [mixed gender] social body language between members of the same sex without any apparent threat to their sexual identity as a heterosexual", citing these as reasons why furries may give an impression otherwise.
23. See, eg, ''gloria-brame.com'' glossary of scene slang: "''Animal Training:'' fantasy play in which one partner is an animal trainer and the other is the animal. Ponyplay and dogplay are the two most popular forms this takes. Fantasies including obedience training, exercise training, paper-training (in dogplay), harnessing and riding (in ponyplay), and so on. Other animal roles include cats (especially kittens), tigers, pigs, cows, and worms."
24. Online media article in ''The Village Voice'' ("Leather Puppy Love", 2001): "Myths were dispelled (people into puppy play are ''not'' into bestiality) [...] For some, it is pure role-playing with no erotic component, because when a pup is a pup, there is no sexual interaction [...] For others, the pup is always a ''human'' pup capable of frisky human sexual behavior with other pups or their owners" (italics as in original) [10]; similar views are given on the disclaimers to other animal roleplay sites, such as leatherdog.com
25. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10, F65.8 Other disorders of sexual preference
26. Beetz 2002, section 5.2.4, comments on Massen's views on zoosexuality stating: "Not clearly named in this list is the form of zoophilia, that is characterized by an emotional as well as a sexual attraction respectively love to an animal, which is called zoosexuality by other authors (Donofrio, 1996; Miletski, 1999). Such an attraction is experienced and not deliberately chosen, and the animal does not serve as a surrogate in such a relation"
27. Beetz 2002 section 5.2.4: "Studies (Donofrio, 1996; Miletski, 1999) showed, that in the majority of zoophile cases besides the zoosexual activities also sex with human partners takes place... Even if there is an – often very intense – emotional involvement with the animal, sometimes sexual or nonsexual human partners can be found among zoophile persons (Miletski, 1999; Money, 1986)."
28. As described by Beetz (2002) section 5.2.7, after a discussion of common perceptions:
Beetz comments on this that: "Peven drew a very dark picture about zoophile persons. It has to be noted here, that not only in older literature, but also in new books and articles the information on zoophilia/bestiality that is available today is often neglected. Authors write about zoophilia, and though they do not explicitly define it, it must be assumed that they at least do not include all persons who have sex with animals, but rather restrict their comments to a real, permanent, exclusive, fixated zoophilia as defined in the DSM-IV (Kockott ''et al.'' 1997; Peven, 1996 p.403)."
29. Masters, in 1962, wrote:
And ultimately speculated that:
Similar findings are also reported by Kinsey (cited by Masters 1962), and others earlier in history. Likewise Miletski (1999) notes that information on sex with animals on the internet is often very emphatic as to how to give pleasure and identify consent beforehand, to the point that "one can find instructions on how to tell if the animal is in the mood for sex."
30. Jonathan Balcombe ''"Pleasurable Kingdom"'' (2006) discusses the "possibility of positive feelings in creatures," including "play, sex, touch, food, anticipation, comfort, aesthetics, and more." In response the President and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) comments about recognition of animal emotion: "Dr. Balcombe convincingly argues that animals are individual beings with a wide range of emotions and feeling. If he is correct — and I believe he is — it follows that we must grapple with the ethical consequences of his important insights."
(The common urban myth that only a few species such as dolphins have sex for pleasure is discussed more fully under the article non-human animal sex 
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