Congratulations To Gay Penguins Sphen and Magic On The Birth Of Their Child, Sphen-Gic

Source - Two male penguins just welcomed a chick, an aquarium in Australia announced Friday.

Parents Sphen and Magic met their fostered baby on Oct. 19 and have been successfully feeding and caring for the little bird, who is known now as Sphengic, according to Sydney’s Sea Life Aquarium. 

Before the aquarium entrusted the Sub-Antarctic same-sex penguins with an egg, they observed them with a dummy egg and said the parents were “absolute naturals.”

The aquarium said the first 20 days of the chick’s life are the most vulnerable, and so far, the new parents are effectively co-parenting and feeding their chick. The chick will remain nearby its parents for the first five to six weeks of life, feeding up to 10 times a day.   

Staff said the chick will become an ambassador for the aquarium, helping educate the public on the species. 

How far we’ve come! Just a few months ago gay penguins were so desperate to become parents that they were literally stealing babies from straight couples. Now, not only are they raising babies, they’re doing so with the full support of the zoo. How long that support lasts is dependent on their parenting skills. From the looks of it they seem to be doing just fine.

The only thing I can see getting in the way is the surrogate. Right now she’s laying low, but I wouldn’t be surprised if she tried to insert herself back into the picture once these two get famous a la La’Reina Haynes. TLC would eat this story line up. “Against All Odds: The Sphen and Magic Story.” I could see them getting John & Kate Plus 8 money if they can manage to stay together.

Regardless, it’s a good look for the zoo and an even better look for gay animals in general. Other species probably see this and think, “why not us?” It’s inspirational. So congrats to Sphen and Magic on Sphenmagic. Wishing you nothing but the best.