The Beastiality Proscription: In Search of a Rationale

Addressing a taboo rarely discussed in scholarly works, this Ar­ticle analyzes frequently advanced arguments supporting prohibitions on bestiality. Though on a superficial level the ar­guments seem appealing, upon closer inspection the standard justifications break down under internal inconsistencies. A dif­ferently constructed theory may not only provide a rationalized, consistent basis for regulating bestiality, but also lend greater coherence to laws regulating sexuality in general. Part II of this Article explores arguments related to consent; Part III dis­cusses bestiality impermissibly using animals as a means; Part IV examines public health arguments, largely relating to those diseases that can spread easily from humans to animals and vice versa; Part V explores arguments analogizing zoophilia to either pedophilia or homosexuality; and Part VI offers a new rationale for justifying prohibitions on bestiality.