German Parliament Outlaws Bestiality

Animals: 1, Zoophiles: 0. The German Parliament’s upper house voted on Friday to criminalize bestiality for the first time in the country’s history. Individuals who are caught “using an animal for personal sexual activities” can now be fined up to $34,000. Although the bill was passed in the lower house back in December, it faced many debates to get where it is today. The bill, really an amendment to an animal-abuse law already in place, was stuck between zoophiles and animal rights advocates, with little discussion of sexual appropriateness. The compromise? The crime is only a misdemeanor.