TL;DR
- Pigeons are often misunderstood and maligned.
- Philly Pigeon Tours highlight their queerness and social significance.
- Pigeons can mate in same-sex pairs and defy gender norms.
- Cultural attitudes towards pigeons mirror those towards LGBTQ communities.
- The tide may be turning for pigeons’ public perception.
On a sunny Saturday morning in early April, a group of 20 pigeon enthusiasts gather in South Philadelphia, binoculars in hand, ready to explore the often-overlooked lives of our feathered friends. Welcome to the Philly Pigeon Tours, a 90-minute walking adventure that dives deep into the fascinating world of pigeons, guided by the fabulous duo of Aspen Simone and Hannah Michelle Brower, both proudly queer.
“We think of her only partly as a pet, and partly as an ambassador for the species,” Aspen says, referring to Primrose, the malnourished pigeon they adopted. This tour isn’t just about birds; it’s a socially conscious exploration of the pigeon layer—a world we often ignore but that’s intimately entwined with our urban lives.
As Aspen and HM guide us through the neighborhood, they share insights that challenge the heteronormative and cisnormative narratives we often apply to animals. For instance, when pointing out a mating pair on the power lines, Aspen demonstrates the pigeon mating dance, which can be performed by pigeons of any sex. “People tend to believe that when they see a pigeon doing a mating dance, it’s a male wooing a female. This isn’t based on good science,” they explain, debunking myths that pigeon behavior is a mirror of human gender roles.
Interestingly, same-sex pigeon pairings aren’t just a quirky fact; they’re a reality. If you’ve been following the viral stories of Charm and Suki the lesbi-hens or the bisexual pigeon throuple drama, you’re already in the know about the queerness of our urban cohabitants. The reality is that pigeons, much like humans, can have complex relationships, often straying from the monogamous ideals we project onto them.
“As a non-binary person, I resonate with a lot of the complication we find in bird gender,” Aspen shares, highlighting how societal norms shape our understanding of both animals and people. The pigeon’s ability to produce crop milk, a nurturing substance both male and female pigeons can regurgitate to feed their chicks, further complicates our understanding of gender roles in parenting.
For decades, pigeons have been labeled as “rats with wings,” a stigma that Aspen and HM are determined to dismantle. “Humans had thousands of years of positive relationships with pigeons before the narrative shifted about 80 years ago,” they explain. This shift, fueled by misinformation, has led to pigeons being viewed as pests rather than the integral parts of urban ecosystems they are.
Interestingly, sociologist Colin Jerolmack’s research reveals that pigeons, unhoused individuals, and LGBTQ folks were all framed as social problems in mid-20th century New York. “The language used to describe pigeons and LGBTQ people is strikingly similar,” Aspen notes, drawing parallels between the two groups that have faced discrimination and misunderstanding.
But there’s hope on the horizon. With cultural icons like Sarah Paulson advocating for pigeons and media outlets recognizing their importance, it seems the tide may be turning. As we wrap up the tour, Aspen emphasizes that we can coexist with pigeons without resorting to harmful methods. “I’m thoroughly convinced there’s a version of humanity where we can get our needs met without seriously harming each other,” they conclude, leaving us with a sense of possibility.
So next time you see a pigeon, remember: they might just be the new queer icons of the urban landscape, challenging stereotypes and redefining what it means to thrive in a city. Who knew these feathered friends had so much to teach us about love, acceptance, and the beauty of diversity?
https://www.crucialcomix.com/comic/the-queer-ecology-of-pigeons/