Michael Stücke and his flock of 21 gay sheep have risen to fame since the launch of fashion brand Rainbow Wool, which produces products, including caps, patches and shoelaces, to raise funds for LGBTQ+ causes.
Stücke, who rescued to the sheep form the slaughterhouse, said: “In the last weeks, there hasn’t been a day on which I haven’t given an interview.”
“The number of enquiries we’re receiving at the moment is bombastic”, the farmer, who is a member of the Gay Farmers’ Network in Germany, added.
According to research, 30% of all rams demonstrate at least some homosexual behaviour and around 18–22% of rams are bisexual. The question on everyone’s lips is, how can you tell sheep are gay?
“Sometimes rams jump at each other trying to mate or entirely reject the females and only show interest in the male conspecifics,” Stücke said. “Our friend asked, ‘What’s happening to those sheep?’ I said they will be slaughtered for meat because they are not suitable for breeding.”
As Stücke explained there must be one ram per 50 ewes and that ram is expected to produce offspring. If they are gay, that won’t happen and so they may end up in the slaughterhouse.
All profits go to the Federation Queer Diversity in Germany, which helps various LGBTQ+ causes.
Stücke continues: “What really delights me, is that so many people profit from the project, not just one person who came up with the idea.”
You can get involved by adopting your very own gay sheep or by purchasing some of their fashionable wool-based items here
