Penguin Gay Love

Autostraddle.com

What is it called when a penguin bromance turns into “this is awkward, that’s a mating ritual?” Don’t ask the zookeepers at the Toronto Zoo. They have no idea:

“They do courtship and mating behaviours that females and males would do,’’ one keeper said in an interview. [...]

Their relationship is somewhat of a delicate issue for the keepers to discuss with outsiders. But they’ve all noticed the pair’s bond, and talk about it among themselves.

“This is all new for us,’’ said another keeper, pointing out that the zoo hasn’t had African penguins on display since 1993.

“It’s a complicated issue, but they seem to be in a loving relationship of some sort,’’ says Joe Torzsok, chair of the Toronto zoo board.

Buddy and Pedro, two African Penguins, pair off every night and even once raised a baby penguin together. Seriously.

So: are they gay? Does it matter? On a scale from adorable to unbearably cute, where do they lie? That’s all left to be decided.