Sphen and Magic have been going strong for five years (Picture: Facebook/Sea Life Sydney Aquarium)
There is a long, seedy list of conspiracy theories about LGBT+ communities that politicians cherry pick from when sensing opportunities.
Perhaps this one – about an aquarium in Sydney that ‘manipulated’ its same-sex penguin couple into being gay – takes the cake.
As most of the world celebrated Pride Month, Conservative Lyle Shelton accused the Sea Life Aquarium in Sydney of creating ‘fake gay penguins’ to indoctrinate children.
Sphen and Magic began developing a bond in 2018 and became inseparable as breeding season was about to start.
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They were constantly seen waddling around and going for swims together in the Penguin Expedition, and were later given a dummy egg to not be excluded from the season.
They ended up being such great dads that the aquarium eventually gave them a real egg from a couple who had two.
Fast forward five years, Sphen and Magic’s relationship is strong as ever and they have even raised chicks together.
Their love has become so famous across Australia that the aquarium and the New South Wales Teachers Federation have collaborated to use their story to educate children about sexuality and consent.
The two penguins have even raised chicks together (Picture: Facebook/Sea Life Sydney Aquarium)
But the proposal has not impressed the Family First Party leader who accused the aquarium of tricking the penguins into thinking they are gay.
A statement on the party’s website read: ‘Essentially what should be a story about the damage caused by human interference in the animal kingdom is instead being served up to our youngest, most impressionable children as education on thriving gay relationships and diverse parenting arrangements.’
Mr Shelton later tweeted: ‘Family First will not back down on protecting children from harmful indoctrination in our schools.’
The politician vowed to ‘scrub such nonsense education’ from school curriculums as a priority.
He even urged parents to miss future trips to the aquarium to not be influenced by the penguins.
But as it is often with conspiracy theories about sex and gender, he does not have his facts straight.
In reality, various species of animals – including penguins – form partnerships that challenge the traditional notion of heterosexual pairings.
Even Sea Life London Aquarium houses a pair of female Gentoo penguins, Rocky and Marama, who are possibly one of the capital’s cutest couples.
Their adopted daughter Ziggy also lives in the same aquarium.
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He even urged parents to miss future trips to the aquarium.