A campaign is underway to save a bull from slaughter in Ireland, after he failed to show interest in mating with the females in the herd. A farmer in County Mayo in Ireland’s west has decided to fatten the animal up and send him to the slaughterhouse, because he’s shown more interest in other male bulls than any of the cows. The plight of “Benjy the gay bull” has led to a #SaveBenjy hashtag and fundraising campaign which already has supporters from around the world. The movement is being led by TheGayUK, Animal Rights Action Network and Hillside Animal Sanctuary. They have already raised nearly £3,000, and need £5,000 to buy Benjy and have him re-homed within the Hillside Animal Sanctuary where he’ll be looked after till the natural end of his life. “When we first heard about the story in the office we were quite shocked as poor Benjy isn’t being slaughtered because of illness, but instead because he was gay,” says Co-Founder of TheGayUK Graham Davies. “Where’s the acceptance? Many LGBT people in the UK still fear judgment from others around them, so choose not to come out. We wanted to do something positive, to make a stand and say someone is on your side. Man or beast. We are offering certain rewards for your pledges, however the main reason here is to save Benjy from slaughter.” He says homosexuality in nature is widely observed. “In fact same-sex attraction is noted in over 1,500 species. Most recently two male penguins became the talk of the town after the zoo in which they are housed called them the ‘best parents they had ever seen’.” John Carmody from the Animal Rights Action Network says the bull’s plight has hit many hearts in Ireland. "As a gay man myself, I know only too well what it is like to be treated indifferently, that's why I hope we can give Benjy a second chance in life whilst helping to bring attention to the problems facing all gay people everywhere around the world, and of course the many other Benjy's that are brought to slaughter on a daily basis who are not so lucky." Donations can be made here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Saturday, 15th November 2014 - 11:45am