Second Nature: Gender and Sexuality in the Animal World

A playful, eye-opening science lesson that turns biology into a joyful, defiant celebration of diversity in nature and the people who study it.

Directed by

Drew Denny

Genres

Documentary, Comedy

Starring

Elliot Page, Joan Roughgarden, Patricia Brennan

Tagline

Elliot Page narrates this hilarious and heartening romp through the animal world, led by brave scientists fighting censorship as they reveal the truth about our nature. SECOND NATURE — everything you didn’t learn in high school biology.

Overview

Did you know that clownfish change sex from male to female? (So if Nemo’s mom had died in real life, his dad could have become his mom!) Did you know that albatross, penguins and swans parent in same sex pairs? Or that bonobos, who are just as closely related to us as chimps, are matriarchal and have same-sex sex every day?! Narrated by Elliot Page, Second Nature follows trailblazing Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Joan Roughgarden as she meets groundbreaking scientists exploring the 1500+ animal species who engage in same-sex sexual behavior and parenting, change sex, form matriarchies, and more, debunking myths that females are “inferior” and that being queer is “unnatural.” SECOND NATURE — everything you didn’t learn in high school biology.

How it feels

Brisk and easy to follow.

Content

Mild sexual content and language. No violence or gore.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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Watch the trailer on YouTube (opens in a new tab)