A fashion show in New York has turned heads by using wool from a flock of male sheep that prefer rams — rescued from slaughter by the initiative Rainbow Wool. These “gay sheep,” cared for by German farmer Michael Stücke, provided the raw material for a 36-piece knit collection by designer Michael Schmidt, backed by dating-app giant Grindr. The collection, shown under the title “I Wool Survive,” blends high fashion with a message: homosexuality is natural — in animals as well as humans. 

 

 

 

 

Stücke, who runs a flock of around 35 rams, says these sheep regularly show affectionate behavior toward other males — cuddling, gentle nudging, even mounting — ditching the stereotypes of dominant mating aggression. Because such rams are often culled for failing to breed, Rainbow Wool rescues them and turns their wool into clothing. The wool is processed in Spain, and the finished garments showcased in New York were presented as a celebration of queer identity and a stand against prejudice. 

 

 

 

 

Schmidt’s knitted runway pieces invoked classic male archetypes — sailors, plumbers, leather dads, pool boys — reimagined through queer fashion. Beyond the theatrics, the project paves a path toward supporting LGBTQ+ advocacy: proceeds from wool sales go to queer-rights charities, and individuals can sponsor a rescued ram, helping pay for their care. 

 

 

 

 

Still, the project has sparked debate. Critics argue that labeling sheep “gay” applies human constructs to animal behavior — noting it's impossible to know how a sheep conceptualizes identity or orientation. Some scholars warn this type of metaphor risks oversimplifying both animal behavior and human sexuality. 

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

Nature meets runway: Wool from rescued “gay sheep” formed the basis for a 36-piece knitwear fashion line showcased in New York by Michael Schmidt and Grindr.

 

Rescue over slaughter: The project gives non-breeding rams — usually culled on farms — a life, using their wool to support LGBTQ+ charities and offer sponsorship opportunities.

 

Provocative conversation: The initiative challenges assumptions about sexuality as uniquely human, though some critics caution against projecting human labels

onto animal behavior.

 

 

Adapted From 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025/dec/05/gay-sheep-fashion-show-rainbow-wool

Checks out, whether noun or verb:

 

That would make a good 'biosphere'  experiment.   Let's see the population count, how many are left in say 15 year   

 

... "A male sheep (ram) has a natural life expectancy of 10-12 years, but can live up to 20 years or more with excellent care, though often much shorter in farming" ...

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

That would make a good 'biosphere'  experiment.   Let's see the population count, how many are left in say 15 year   

 

... "A male sheep (ram) has a natural life expectancy of 10-12 years, but can live up to 20 years or more with excellent care, though often much shorter in farming" ...

Millions of years of evolution have resulted in homosexuality’ or rather ‘same-sex sexual behaviour’ being present in numerous species.

 

‘Homosexuality/same-sex sexual behaviour‘ obviously has some evolutionary benefit.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41290-x

 

 

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Millions of years of evolution have resulted in homosexuality’ or rather ‘same-sex sexual behaviour’ being present in numerous species.

 

‘Homosexuality/same-sex sexual behaviour‘ obviously has some evolutionary benefit.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41290-x

 

I'm all for homosexuals, especially males, and especially when I'm single.  Available ratio of gals in my favor increases with every one, not that I need any help in that area 😎

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

 

I'm all for homosexuals, especially males, and especially when I'm single.  Available ratio of gals in my favor increases with every one, not that I need any help in that area 😎

I’m not convinced that increases your pool of availability.

Anthropomorphic fantasy. The sheep are not gay. 

Comparing rams to homosexual humans was probably somebody's clever inside ridicule of homosexuals. Rams are not particularly intelligent animals. Perhaps the inventor of the notion sees homosexual males as fluffy  dimwits. There are terms such as gym bunny and muscle mary and twinks to label some homosexuals. None of the terms is particularly nice.

 

54 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Millions of years of evolution have resulted in homosexuality’ or rather ‘same-sex sexual behaviour’ being present in numerous species.

 

‘Homosexuality/same-sex sexual behaviour‘ obviously has some evolutionary benefit.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41290-x

 

 

It's nature's way of telling there are way too many people.

5 minutes ago, FlorC said:

It's nature's way of telling there are way too many people.

I remember reading decades ago how tests with rats, placed in extremely overpopulated settings, created gangs and many became homosexual to reduce their numbers. I wish I could quote the exact study and don't feel like spending time chasing it down. Hey - it's Sunday after all.

51 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Anthropomorphic fantasy. The sheep are not gay. 

Comparing rams to homosexual humans was probably somebody's clever inside ridicule of homosexuals. Rams are not particularly intelligent animals. Perhaps the inventor of the notion sees homosexual males as fluffy  dimwits. There are terms such as gym bunny and muscle mary and twinks to label some homosexuals. None of the terms is particularly nice.

 

 

Suggesting the rams were gay, are as silly as your notion, that they was claimed as gay to 'ridicule homosexuals'.

 

Did you read the OP .... " Because such rams are often culled for failing to breed " ...  not because they were gay, as if even possible to tell.

I prefer gay lamb chops.

49 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I prefer gay lamb chops.

The sweet ones or the tough ones?

17 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The sweet ones or the tough ones?

Use your imagination.

Talk about being your own worst enemy...

 

They want to be respected and taken seriously, yet they sport a patch Down to F***.

 

 

That'll earn the respect and acceptance they clamor for.

 

4 minutes ago, impulse said:

Talk about being your own worst enemy...

 

They want to be respected and taken seriously, yet they sport a patch Down to F***.

 

 

That'll earn the respect and acceptance they clamor for.

 

"They" ?!?

So that represents all gay people?

Dude, that post proves you are inherently biased and wouldn't have respect for gay people regardless of anything any particular gay person does.

Don't try to play act otherwise. Readers aren't stupid.

As a marketing gimmick the gay wool concept isn't horrible.

It's a value add for some consumers and as there will be a small supply they're also creating extra value with scarcity.

Of course the products had better have exceptional style as well. 

I wonder if they could go gay sheep coffee? You know like Vietnamese civet coffee.

 

 

 

https://i.imgflip.com/31nvvw.jpg

3 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Millions of years of evolution have resulted in homosexuality’ or rather ‘same-sex sexual behaviour’ being present in numerous species.

 

‘Homosexuality/same-sex sexual behaviour‘ obviously has some evolutionary benefit.

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-41290-x

 

 

 

Your supporting paper mentions sheep - let me see - zero times. 

Just because the wool is from "gay" sheep , wool is wool ,

they are just using this as a marketing scam ,you can bet

the price is higher than from your normal hetrosexual

rams.

 

regards worgeordie

7 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Just because the wool is from "gay" sheep , wool is wool ,

they are just using this as a marketing scam ,you can bet

the price is higher than from your normal hetrosexual

rams.

 

regards worgeordie

 

The wool is probably from normal heterosexual rams anyway - promotion pics of sheared gay rams would look crap.

 

 

15 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Just because the wool is from "gay" sheep , wool is wool ,

they are just using this as a marketing scam ,you can bet

the price is higher than from your normal hetrosexual

rams.

 

regards worgeordie

Now that would be a scandal!

I demand a congressional investigation!

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Now that would be a scandal!

I demand a congressional investigation!

Can you wait a few years till they get their sheep in line ,and there will

be cover ups I am sure. release the gay sheep files..

 

regards worgeordie

3 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

Can you wait a few years till they get their sheep in line ,and there will

be cover ups I am sure. release the gay sheep files..

 

regards worgeordie

I suspect that they're grooming the gay sheep.

They could juice up their pricing power to nuclear levels by having all the gay sheep wool products woven by blind gay albino Haitians.

46 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

As a marketing gimmick the gay wool concept isn't horrible.

It's a value add for some consumers and as there will be a small supply they're also creating extra value with scarcity.

Of course the products had better have exceptional style as well. 

I wonder if they could go gay sheep coffee? You know like Vietnamese civet coffee.

 

And who really cares?

 

Benetton how much didn’t they manage to provoke when they first appeared? Big billboards with mixed ethnics and colors. 

 

Humans manage to bring out the worst in themselves on things that shouldn’t be a question or provoke. 

Just now, Hummin said:

 

And who really cares?

 

Benetton how much didn’t they manage to provoke when they first appeared? Big billboards with mixed ethnics and colors. 

 

Humans manage to bring out the worst in themselves on things that shouldn’t be a question or provoke. 

No comparison to Benetton. That's mass market.

1 hour ago, HappyExpat57 said:

The sweet ones or the tough ones?

My guess it would have a salty taste 🤔.  But whatever rocks your boat.

Just now, howlee101 said:

My guess it would have a salty taste 🤔.  But whatever rocks your boat.

A voice of experience.

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No comparison to Benetton. That's mass market.

They had to come from somewhere 

Do the sheep use lambskin condoms?