Gay Bull Saved: Activists, ‘Simpsons’ Creator Prevent Benjy The Cow’s Slaughterhouse Death

Benjy, a bull that was deemed “gay” by his owner in Ireland, was heading to a slaughterhouse. However, thanks to the efforts of animal rights activists like Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon and others, Benjy the gay bull has a new lease on life, according to a Fox News report.

Tuesday, Ireland’s Animal Rights Action Network announced that efforts to save the “dead-bull-walking” were successful. Evidently, a last-minute appeal spared him from being culled for sale on the wholesale market.

Simon, who is also credited with creating popular sitcoms like Taxi and Cheers, heard about the plight of the Charlerois bull and his planned execution date for simply being gay. Reportedly, Benjy was fertile but did not mate with heifers to produce any offspring. Moreover, the animal appeared to take more of an interest in other males.

It led the farmer to believe he had a gay bull on his hands. Luckily, Simon intervened and saved it from slaughter. Reportedly, the farmer took no pride in having to end the bull’s life but it was chosen for the expressed purpose of mating.

“The bull is now too old to castrate and turn into a bullock so I will keep him for the factory.”

The Simpsons co-creator, a strict lifelong vegan, learned about the growing story from a bunch of animal activists that created a crowdfunding effort to foot the cost of the gay bull’s transportation to a farm in England. Three hundred donors contributed $6,200 towards the $7,825 goal. Simon intervened and donated the full cost to buy Benjy and have him transported to Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk. The property, a place for scores of other unwanted animals, will be Benjy’s new home.

Simon announced recently that he has terminal colon cancer. He pledged to donate all of his $100 million fortune to animal welfare causes. Already, he funds a dog shelter in Malibu and supports many other animal rights projects. However, saving the gay bull from death just because of his sexual orientation is perhaps is his most significant intervention. Simon released a statement on buying the bull.

“All animals have a dire destiny in the meat trade, but to kill this bull because he’s gay would’ve been a double tragedy. It thrills me to help PETA and ARAN make Benjy’s fate a sanctuary rather than a sandwich.”

Campaign director, John Carmody, spoke fondly about efforts to save the gay bull. He says Simon and other contributors were buying Benjy a “one-way ticket to freedom.”

“The response from around the world has being so very encouraging, but to now hear that Sam Simon, co-creator of the world’s most popular animated sitcom is stepping in, is just icing on the already well-baked cake. What could be better than to present Benjy with a Christmas gift that will literally last a lifetime, by giving him a one-way ticket to freedom.”

The Inquisitr previously reported on this bittersweet story. At the time, the gay breeding bull faced certain slaughter for its “sexual orientation.” The writer emphasized that, unlike humans, animals don’t often have the rights of protection. Thanks to Simon, one does.

[Image via Western Morning News]