Gay Sheep Want You To Be Cozy This Washington Winter

Yes, you heard that right. Gay sheep want to wrap you up in their rainbow wool. That's not a euphemism (well, it might be, but not in this context). This is legit and I am so excited to share it with you.

Rainbow Wool wants to make a LGBTQ+ fashion statement

Anyone can dye wool and yarn in rainbow colors and label it gay. But Rainbow Wool - a new fashion company in Europe - is taking it to a whole new level. The wool for their fashion comes from actual gay sheep - gay rams, to be more precise.

Supported by a small farm that rescues gay rams from slaughter, the wool shorn from their sheep is being made into products that support LSVD+. The organization is the largest non-profit in Germany, which works to support the rights of LGBT+ people worldwide.

As for fashion? Well, the first project to stun us from Rainbow Wool is showcased on none other than Bill Kaulitz of Tokio Hotel.

Are there really gay sheep?

Yes. Homosexual behavior in both domestic and wild sheep is well documented. Much of the modern awareness and research into the behavior of non-heterosexual sheep has actually been done locally, by Dr. Charles Roselli of Oregon Health and Science University.

The Roselli Lab found in a study that about 12% of rams are asexual, and 10% of rams are specifically male-oriented (homosexual) and do not seek to mate with ewes.

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• Did you know? The LGBTQI+ Crisis Line in Washington helped nearly 500,000 in its first year.

Do gay sheep get slaughtered?

Yes, although this is not well-tracked. According to Mike Neary, Extension Sheep Specialist at Purdue University, reproduction value of the sheep is essential. Neary writes, "If a sheep will not reproduce it is worth no more than current slaughter value."

This is true of ewes and rams alike. Rams are slaughtered often and frequently. Ram lambs are often slaughtered, or left to age for one or two breeding cycles before being slaughtered. The practices vary greatly by area and breed, but it tends to be a hard fact of agriculture: rams are seen as only good for breeding.

The farmer with the gay flock behind Rainbow Wool

Shepherd Michael Stücke, a member of the Gayfarmer Association, owns a farm in Löhne, Germany. Michael is himself gay, and he and his partner Jochen manage a flock of over 20 gay sheep with a commitment to sustainable agricultural and environmental practices. They shear the rams once annually, which they allow to be witnessed live for full transparency.

As for the sheep? Let's just say they have amazing names, which include Achilles Flockissimo, Horny, Madonna, Marvin Gay, Määhhmet, and Prof. Dr. Rambazamba. All of them are available for sponsorship.

Wool with an impact

So as you're gearing up for another cold, wet winter in Washington and Oregon, give some thought to supporting the gay sheep at Rainbow Wool - and make a real fashion statement.

Watch the video below to see how agriculture, LGBTQ+ culture, fashion designers, and Bill Kaulitz came together to make "wool with an impact."