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A new documentary explores a growing body of scientific research documenting the wide range of gender and sexual diversity found in the animal kingdom, from pregnant male seahorses to matriarchal monkey troops. Second Nature, directed by queer filmmaker Drew Denny, is narrated by Oscar-nominated actor Elliot Page, who says he joined the project because “I was so moved by it and found it so affirming as a trans and queer person.”

Learning about animal life beyond binary concepts of sex and gender was life-changing, Denny shares about her inspiration for the film. “I finally felt in my body, for the first time, that I belong here on Earth, just like anybody else.” Featuring interviews with evolutionary biologists and eye-opening footage of the natural world, Second Nature is now showing in major cities across the United States.

This is a rush transcript. Copy may not be in its final form.

AMY GOODMAN: This is Democracy Now!, democracynow.org, The War and Peace Report. I’m Amy Goodman.

“Everything you didn’t learn in high school biology.” That’s the tagline of a remarkable new documentary challenging some of our most deeply held assumptions about biology, gender and sexuality. It’s called Second Nature, narrated by the Oscar-nominated actor, the author Elliot Page, and directed by Drew Denny. The film explores a growing body of scientific research documenting the extraordinary gender fluidity and sexual diversity found in the animal kingdom, from same-sex penguin parents to sex-changing fish to pregnant seahorse fathers to primate societies where traditional notions of dominance and gender roles simply don’t apply. This is the film’s trailer.

ELLIOT PAGE: There are approximately 8.7 million living animal species on Earth. For centuries, we have been told that when it comes to gender and sexuality, all of these millions of species follow a certain set of rules. But what if this narrative fails to capture the full spectrum of life’s diversity? PATRICIA BRENNAN: Homosexual behavior in nature is one of the best-kept secrets. It’s absolutely everywhere. JOAN ROUGHGARDEN: Not only do many species illustrate homosexuality and gender multiplicity, they also illustrate sex transition. JOSEPH GRAVES: Biologists now know sexuality is fluid, and that all of that is normal. FRANS DE WAAL: I don’t know any species where homosexual sex or gender-nonconforming is a taboo or cannot be done, except when it comes to humans. JOSEPH GRAVES: There have always been scientists who have been willing to stand in opposition to the existing worldview, and there are consequences for that. PATRICIA BRENNAN: I was completely unprepared as a scientist to deal with this. AMY PARISH: We learned what we learned in school, and we want to believe that it’s true. And it’s messy to now say, “Oh, it wasn’t really that way?” JOAN ROUGHGARDEN: I realized it can’t be the people who are defective; it’s got to be the science. MARCELA BENITEZ: If we understand same-sex behavior better, we’re also going to understand different sex behavior better. We’re just going to understand the sexual lives of animals better. ELLIOT PAGE: There is endless diversity in nature. And the old stories we’ve been taught deserve a second look.

ELLIOT PAGE: There are approximately 8.7 million living animal species on Earth. For centuries, we have been told that when it comes to gender and sexuality, all of these millions of species follow a certain set of rules. But what if this narrative fails to capture the full spectrum of life’s diversity?

PATRICIA BRENNAN: Homosexual behavior in nature is one of the best-kept secrets. It’s absolutely everywhere.

JOAN ROUGHGARDEN: Not only do many species illustrate homosexuality and gender multiplicity, they also illustrate sex transition.

JOSEPH GRAVES: Biologists now know sexuality is fluid, and that all of that is normal.

FRANS DE WAAL: I don’t know any species where homosexual sex or gender-nonconforming is a taboo or cannot be done, except when it comes to humans.

JOSEPH GRAVES: There have always been scientists who have been willing to stand in opposition to the existing worldview, and there are consequences for that.

PATRICIA BRENNAN: I was completely unprepared as a scientist to deal with this.

AMY PARISH: We learned what we learned in school, and we want to believe that it’s true. And it’s messy to now say, “Oh, it wasn’t really that way?”

JOAN ROUGHGARDEN: I realized it can’t be the people who are defective; it’s got to be the science.

MARCELA BENITEZ: If we understand same-sex behavior better, we’re also going to understand different sex behavior better. We’re just going to understand the sexual lives of animals better.

ELLIOT PAGE: There is endless diversity in nature. And the old stories we’ve been taught deserve a second look.

AMY GOODMAN: That’s the trailer for the new documentary........

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