Oglebay Opens Zoo for Gay and Transgender Animals

WHEELING - The Good Zoo at Oglebay opened the world's first zoo exclusively for animals in the LGBT community. The 65-acre zoo stands alone from the original, and is more than twice the size. Volunteers from the Good Zoo say that they feel like some of the animals felt out of place in their original homes.

"We had some wallabies that really felt like they were out of place," said 16-year-old Ashley Williams. "They were just so sad so we had to put them somewhere where they wouldn't feel marginalized."

Corey is a gay wallaby acquired by the zoo last year.

The new zoo, named Oglegay, features a 200 square-foot gay bar for homosexual wallabies.

"My favorite one is Corey," said Williams. "He was always picked on by the straight animals at the zoo. You should have seen his face light up when we brought him to his new home."

Also new is a shopping mall with over 20 gender-neutral stores and boutiques, where wallabies of various gender identities can shop for new clothes.

Dominique's original name was Wallace, before she came out
identifying as female.

"You would be surprised how many wallabies are actually transgender," said James Vega, another volunteer. "Many of them are scared to come out because wallabies always disown their LGBT joeys."

The transgender wallaby exhibit includes more than 25 specimens, including Dominique, the first ever wallaby to come out publicly.

"She was always pushed around by the cissexual animals at the Good Zoo," said Vega. "Lions and cougars are really bigoted animals. They always gave our wallabies a hard time."

This is another transgender wallaby at Oglegay. His name is
Bill, but his parents gave him the birth name 'Wynona'.

Unlike most zoos, every section at Oglegay is connected, allowing the animals to move freely among the various exhibits.

"It really helps out the bisexual wallabies," said John Shephard, 17. "It's also how we show unity, and that all wallabies are welcome in the gay zoo, no matter their orientation, L,G,B or T."

The zoo's hours are 10 at night until 3 in the morning.

"Gay and trans animals stay up late, especially when put in this kind of atmosphere," said Williams. "Last night all the wallabies just went to bed and slept, so it was kind of disappointing. They just need to get comfortable and settled in."