This holiday season, sponsor a gay ram whose wool is used to create fashion products that support the global 2SLGBTQI+ community…
Located in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia is a place like no other. Schäferei Stücke farm, run by Michael Stücke, is a refuge for 21 homosexual rams who can live their truth and express their sexuality in a safe and peaceful environment. In recent months the farm has gone viral on social media with the launch of Rainbow Wool, the world’s first fashion collection made from the wool of gay rams.
Same-sex behaviour has been documented in over 1,500 species and studies show about one and 12 rams are gay. In farming, a ram displaying homosexual tendencies is considered worthless as it cannot fulfill their primary role as a breeder. “If he [the ram] is not performing, then that ram is sent to the meatworks typically,” says Andy Wyeth, managing director at Serviceplan Group, an advertising agency helping bring Rainbow Wool to life on a pro bono basis.
The identification process of homosexual rams involves a ‘pen test.’ “If there is a ram who’s suspected of not being interested in females, they’ll bring females into that pen and isolate them,” Wyeth explains. “If the ram is only interested in jumping on the males it is put aside and not sold, but sent to the butcher.”
Not wanting these animals to be killed based on their sexuality, an outreach program to breeders in Germany and The Netherlands was conducted to find gay sheep. Once identified, the farm entered a bidding war for them. “For the first 21 sheep, we needed to bid against butchers,” explains Nadia Leytes, client strategy director at Serviceplan Group. “It was us against the butcher houses, but now breeders are calling us and we have a waiting list of gay rams wanting to be rescued.” Leytes also notes how some breeders visit their former rams on the farm.
While the sheep graze and live a calm life, they are also helping support 2SLGBTQI+ humans globally with their wool. Every year, the sheep are shorn and their wool is turned into fashion products (patches, caps, shoelaces) described as “super sexy, super supportive and super gay.” Proceeds from all purchases are donated to LSVD+ (Federation Queer Diversity), the largest non-governmental LGBT rights organization in Germany, which helps projects in countries where it is not safe to be queer.
The brand currently does not ship outside of Europe, but has developed a sponsorsheep program to allow the global community to support the first flock of gay sheep. “This is one of the nicest parts of the project. It’s a world first, where you can adopt a gay animal…or a sheep in our case,” Wyeth says. “We wanted to create an easy way for people to support.”
People can sponsor one (or more) of the 21 rams, each with a unique personality. With various denominations to choose from, individuals can sponsor Wolli Wonka, a Bentheimer Landschaf with a pink nose and a mischievous grin; Horny, a devilish looking ram who is an absolute sweetheart; Madonna, an attention-grabbing diva; or Piccolo, a sheep who takes things very seriously, especially around helping the queer community, and who is sponsored by Drag Race Germany co-host Gianni Diamanto Jovanovic. Rainbow Wool also offers corporate sponsorsheeps, which Leytes encourages organizations to reach out about.
“The money keeps them fed, healthy, and supports their entire lives on the farm…” Wyeth explains who notes one Euro covers the cost of one happy day on the farm. “A million people in theory could sponsor one sheep…It’s really endless.”
The money generated is also used to grow the flock by purchasing rams from the waiting list. This not only ensures more homosexual sheep can live their lives, but means there is more wool to create more products, which generates more money to help 2SLGBTQI+ individuals around the world.
So for those in search of a unique present this holiday season, consider sponsoring one of these rams. We can’t think of a better gift than letting 21 homosexu-wools live their baaah-chelorette free life on what is essentially the Fire Island of gay sheep.
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