this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2026
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A Republican candidate for Congress offered up his analysis of human sexuality and gender on Tuesday, in a group interview with South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel editorial board, alongside two other Republicans running to represent House District 20 in Broward County.

“You never see a giraffe, a male giraffe, that mate(s) with a giraffe,” Rod Joseph said. “Myself right now saying, ‘I am a giraffe,’ that doesn’t mean it’s true.”

Everyone is “born straight,” he offered.

The unusual assertion was made in answer to a question about U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) declaration at the beginning of Pride Month, “Homosexuality has no place in America.”

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[–] tal@lemmy.today 193 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (7 children)

“You never see a giraffe, a male giraffe, that mate(s) with a giraffe,” Rod Joseph said.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexual_behavior_in_animals

Giraffes

Further information: Giraffe § Necking

Male giraffes have been observed to engage in remarkably high frequencies of homosexual behavior. After aggressive "necking", it is common for two male giraffes to caress and court each other, leading up to mounting and climax. Such interactions between males have been found to be more frequent than heterosexual coupling.[95]

[–] tonytins@pawb.social 76 points 3 months ago

"Oh, no. Facts!" Rod Joseph shrieked in horror.

[–] human@slrpnk.net 56 points 3 months ago (3 children)

I would imagine most giraffes, male or otherwise, mate with giraffes.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 25 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt here as to meaning, as the second part of his statement is even more incoherent if not, given context. I'm assuming that he just misspoke.

“Myself right now saying, ‘I am a giraffe,’ that doesn’t mean it’s true.”

I don't see as how his giraffe-ness would have much bearing on homosexuality, otherwise.

[–] Grail@multiverse.soulism.net 14 points 3 months ago (3 children)

He's making an aside to denigrate otherkin because he doesn't know the difference between gay people and otherkin. After all, we're both queer.

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[–] Carighan@piefed.world 7 points 3 months ago (2 children)
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[–] ApeNo1@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

Lions, Giraffes, Bonobos and Tigers, oh my!

[–] affenlehrer@feddit.org 17 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I wonder where he got the giraffes example from. It feels to like it was chosen on purpose. Uneducated people won't fact check it and the fact checkers cause social media engagement.

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[–] mPony@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago

This is why they want to dismantle Wikipedia, by the way.

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[–] ssfckdt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 83 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Giraffes are famous for engaging in extensive same-sex behavior. Studies have documented that up to 94% of observed mating-like activity happens between males, often involving intense caressing, "necking" (rubbing necks), and mounting

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 10 points 3 months ago

Of course they’re necking.

[–] s@piefed.world 8 points 3 months ago

The giraffes are keeping all of the gay to themselves so humans can’t have any

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[–] Whats_your_reasoning@lemmy.world 82 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Well, yes, I personally have never seen a male giraffe mate with another male giraffe. I've never seen a male and a female giraffe mate, either. In fact I've never seen a giraffe in the wild at all.

So I'm gonna take this one step further and say giraffes don't exist in the wild. Every giraffe that exists lives in zoos because that's the only place I, personally, have ever seen them. Any evidence to the contrary is fake news.

Am I Republicaning correctly?

[–] Notyou@sopuli.xyz 18 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Close. You have to make a bold claim that combines those 2 unrelated topics. Something like....."The fact that I have only seen gay giraffes exist while in captivity proves that being gay is unnatural. I'm 100% positive every giraffe outside of Zoos are banging the Lord's way."

[–] Jesus_666@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

I have never personally witnessed two Floridians having sex. Therefore we can conclude that Floridians don't procreate and thus Florida can only sustain its population by illegally importing hordes of immigrants. The American federal government should arrest the entire Floridian government to put an end to this.

[–] kSPvhmTOlwvMd7Y7E@lemmy.world 11 points 3 months ago

You are absolutely right!

[–] Entertainmeonly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 58 points 3 months ago
[–] FlashMobOfOne@lemmy.world 40 points 3 months ago (8 children)

I wish I knew how to get people to care about things that actually matter even 10% as much as they care about things that will never, ever affect their lives in any material way... and are also NONE OF THEIR GODDAMNED FUCKING BUSINESS.

Why do you care if someone likes dick?

[–] MojoMcJojo@lemmy.world 30 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Because he likes dick, I guarantee it.

"You aren't born liking dick. You choose to like dick, just like I'm choosing not to like dick. I don't like dick, I don't like dick, I don't like dick, I don't, I don't, I don't"

[–] OryxAndCake@slrpnk.net 12 points 3 months ago (1 children)

“You aren’t born liking dick. You choose to like dick, just like I’m choosing not to like dick. I don’t like dick, I don’t like dick, I don’t like dick, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t”

He says to himself while gargling balls in a public restroom.

[–] PattyMcB@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I mean if he stays away from the dick and just gargles the balls, maybe he really doesn't like dick

(He's still lying to himself and self-loathing, but what if?)

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[–] PhoenixDog@lemmy.world 10 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Why do you care if someone likes dick?

Because they do too but were told it's bad.

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[–] comador@lemmy.world 40 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Meanwhile, Grindr profile views and hookups peak every time there's a Republican held convention.

[–] SuiXi3D@fedia.io 14 points 3 months ago (3 children)

It’s only gay if the balls touch your chin.

[–] BozeKnoflook@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It doesn't count if it's just the tip!

[–] PhoenixDog@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

Licking precum isn't gay, guys!

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[–] aarch0x40@piefed.social 39 points 3 months ago (1 children)

BREAKING: U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) caught in public restroom having sex with another man

[–] MummifiedClient5000@feddit.dk 35 points 3 months ago (1 children)

~~another man~~ male giraffe

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[–] emmanuel_car@fedia.io 29 points 3 months ago (4 children)

“You cannot be born gay. That’s impossible biologically,” he added, stating his sureness that sexuality is a preference, not a biological orientation.

In my limited experience, I have read plenty of anecdotes where someone has this point of view, only to later realise that they’re bisexual.

[–] Macchi_the_Slime@piefed.blahaj.zone 8 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

It's just like those homophobes that talk about how hard it is not to be gay. "Something something constant temptation to have sex with men" and all that. I can say with absolute certainty that I've never experienced that temptation. I think you might just be attracted to men my guy.

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Even if it were true that people aren't queer by birth, that should make no difference to their rights.

[–] iknewitwhenisawit@fedinsfw.app 6 points 3 months ago (1 children)

My very fundamentalist first boss and I agreed strongly on this, although with opposite conclusions.

My feeling was whatever one or more consenting adults want to do in private is fine.

His feeling was if God tells you not to do something that you shouldn't do it, even if you really want to, even if you were born wanting to.

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[–] NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 29 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Aren't giraffes known for being the most gay out of almost all animal species? Or am I thinking of another animal?

[–] mPony@lemmy.world 17 points 3 months ago

They are, yes.

This is like saying Liberace proves gay people are all actually straight.

[–] NihilsineNefas@slrpnk.net 7 points 3 months ago

https://slrpnk.net/post/40047735/23228566

There we go someone beat me to it lmao

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[–] marine_mustang@sh.itjust.works 24 points 3 months ago

I mean, this is so on the nose, it has to be on purpose.

[–] stoly@lemmy.world 22 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Sir, how many giraffes did you survey to come to this conclusion?

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

survey

Computer, zoom in, decode, and enhance.

have sex with

[–] impudentmortal@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago (1 children)

How much animal porn is this guy watching that he thinks he's an expert on animal mating habits?

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[–] Zier@fedia.io 19 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I love how all these conservatives have medical degrees and specialties. I had no idea that we had so many doctors in the US. Where is our free healthcare if we have such a surplus of 'expert' medical professionals???

[–] phutatorius@lemmy.zip 11 points 3 months ago

Quite a lot of them are chiropractors, osteopaths and other para-medical "degree" holders. Not to mention the ones who have real medical degrees, but are certified by dodgy boards that they set up themselves, like Rand Paul.

[–] Malyca@lemmy.zip 18 points 3 months ago

Plenty of queer animals throughout the animal Kingdom.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 13 points 3 months ago

Republicans will claim that giraffes aren't gay and then shoot them anyway.

[–] luthis@lemmy.nz 12 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

Shouldn't there be some law or something to remove people in office who blatantly lie like this? Surely someone with this kind of attitude could not uphold democracy. They are a threat to national security.

[–] halcyoncmdr@piefed.social 10 points 3 months ago (2 children)

That dude definitely wants to fuck a giraffe.

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[–] Pat_Riot@lemmy.today 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Bet that dude jumps when someone else's Grindr notification goes off out in public.

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[–] ilovededyoupiggy@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 months ago

Tell that to Proximo, dude.

Those giraffes you sold him, they won't mate. They just walk around, eating, and not mating. You sold him... queer giraffes. He wants his money back.

[–] baggachipz@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 months ago

South Florida

Yeah.

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