Humpback whales just made the ocean a little gayer

A new aquatic gay icon is born.

For the first time in history, two humpback whales were documented having sex — and both whales were male.

The news comes courtesy of a new report in the journal Marine Mammal Science. In January of 2022, scientists witnessed the two humpback whales getting it on off the coast of Maui, Hawai’i. Photographs of the event mark the first ever documented sexual contact between humpback whales. (Purely going off the evidence, 100% of humpback whale sex is gay. Just saying)

“This discovery challenges our preconceived notions about humpback whale behavior,” Stephanie Stack, the lead author of the study, told the Guardian. “While we have long recognized the complex social structures of these incredible creatures, witnessing the copulation of two male whales for the first time is a unique and remarkable event.”

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When an animal with “hump” in its name comes out as gay, the jokes write themselves, and the internet was quick to take advantage. Sperm whales next, please!

the ocean was made up by big Gay

— whalefact (@awhalefact) February 29, 2024

reminder: not only is this the first time they've found humpback whales having sex, this is the ONLY time, meaning sure, whales can be gay, but there's no real proof whales can be straight

— Veronica Loki @ 1H Year (@defnotloki) February 29, 2024

It was right in front of us the whole time pic.twitter.com/mu4GycUV3o

— Hunter Dale (@hunterdale6) February 29, 2024

get your humpback and moby dick jokes out now this is a safe space

— whalefact (@awhalefact) February 29, 2024

Imagine being in bed with your partner having some good sex, and a fish suddenly comes into your room and takes pictures of you.
That must be how these whales felt.

— Mitchi  (@mitchib1440) February 29, 2024

Omg the whales were roommates

— Vice, the Ambrosial (@Silvaestion) February 29, 2024

Humpback Mountain

— Petirep (@Petirep) February 29, 2024

But don’t get it twisted: humpback whales are far from the first gay icons of the sea. Take, for example, the numerous fish species that can change their genders, including clownfish and gobies. Or the male seahorse, who infamously take on pregnancy for their species, bringing all those Mpreg fanfictions to life. Or the blue shark — better known by its plushie form as IKEA’s Blåhaj stuffed animal — which is now synonymous with trans folks.

That’s not to mention all the other marine animals that engage in gay sex. Same-sex sexual activity has been identified in more than 1,500 species across the animal kingdom — and humpback whales make that more than 1,501.

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