Homosexuality may have evolved as a 'survival strategy', study claims

"Now, experts at Imperial College London have revealed how primates show more SSBs when their habitats are harsh or dangerous, and when their social groups are larger and more complex. This suggests homosexuality might help forge strong bonds that allow groups to stay together to survive harsh conditions, according to the experts. For example, if predators are especially common, a tight-knit social group that can trust each other's alarm calls is a survival advantage."

"In the study, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, the researchers analysed existing research looking at 491 species of non-human primates - 59 of which engage in same-sex behaviours. Previously, researchers have suggested that these behaviours in primates might be driven in part by genetic factors. For example, in 2023, Professor Savolainen found that SSB was about 6.4 per cent heritable in rhesus macaques - meaning that a tendency towards homosexuality could be passed down genetically."

Same-sex behaviours occur widely across many animal species, including dolphins and chimpanzees. Primates show more same-sex behaviours when habitats are harsh or dangerous and when social groups are larger and more complex. Same-sex behaviours can help forge strong social bonds that keep groups cohesive under environmental stress and improve survival through trusted alarm calls and cooperation. Genetic factors can contribute; one estimate found about 6.4% heritability of SSB in rhesus macaques, indicating partial genetic influence alongside substantial environmental and social determinants. Same-sex behaviours have likely evolved multiple times across primate lineages and can serve adaptive social functions.

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