What the FAQ?! 

Well, because they prefer other rams over ewes. Breeders typically test a suspected gay ram via a “pen test” to assess the ram's libido by putting him in a pen with other males and a female to see how he reacts. If he is not interested in the female and prefers a same sex partner, his performance on the farm will be severely affected.

One ram is expected to impregnate 40 ewes in just over two weeks, so the willingness to mate with the opposite sex is crucial to a farmer's yields. So, for a ram bred to breed, failure to mate typically leads to the ram being sent to the slaughterhouse.

We have bought gay rams from breeders across Germany – in bidding processes against butcheries.

When temperatures reach 5°C or higher, it becomes very warm for the sheep under their wool. That's why shearing is extremely important for most domestic breeds. To ensure that the process itself is not too stressful for the animals, our farmer personally and calmly conducts it. You can see for yourself that the shearing process is animal-friendly: Every spring, Michael hosts a shearing festival.

All products have undergone a multi-step, elaborate manufacturing process, with a lot of manual work and fair labor costs. It was important to us to produce sustainably in Europe. The prices of the products reflect this high quality and complexity. Our products are therefore not mass-produced, but the result of loving and careful craftsmanship:

• shearing: The sheep are carefully shorn by Schäferei Stücke to obtain the valuable wool in an animal-friendly way. 

• washing and drying: The raw wool is carefully washed and gently dried on the farm. 

• manual carding: Also on the farm, the wool is carded by hand to untangle and fluff it up. 

• combing and shaping the yarn: The combed wool is sent to Barcelona, where a professional manufactory carefully spins smaller quantities into fine threads. 

• dyeing: In Spain, the wool for the patches and caps is given its colorful splendor through high-quality dyeing. 

• winding onto bobbins: The spun and dyed threads are wound onto bobbins in Spain. 

• shoelace production: A special process is used in Spain to produce particularly fluffy shoelaces from the threads.

• patch production: Back in Germany, the wool for the patches and caps is embroidered by hand in Munich to a high standard. Each embroidery takes at least 20 minutes per motif. The resulting number of pieces is correspondingly small and not geared towards mass production. The wool is then cut out by hand, as lasers could damage the delicate wool. 

• packaging and shipping: The finished products are carefully packaged and shipped in Germany. 

We donate all profits from the collection to the LSVD⁺ and its Hirschfeld-Eddy Foundation, which campaigns against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity with the aim of promoting human rights, diversity and respect for the queer community. The program of the LSVD⁺ and the foundation includes pending legislative adjustments for full equality of LGBTQIA+ people, education in all parts of society and a refugee policy that offers both protection and opportunities to persecuted queer people, as well as a development policy that promotes the strengthening of the human rights of the LGBTQIA+ community at EU and global level.

• Changing the German and European asylum law and what is considered safe countries of origin
  In Georgia, queer people are coming under increasing pressure. In Ghana and Senegal, homosexual acts are prohibited and punishable by several years in prison. 
  These countries are not safe for queer people. The LSVD⁺ is actively campaigning for them to be stripped of their “safe country of origin” status so that LGBTQIA+ refugees are spared summary proceedings without access to specialist advice and appropriate legal protection. 

• Support for African LGBTQIA+ organizations
  As a marginalized and often prosecuted minority, queer people lose their jobs faster than others in crisis situations and often have no family support. They are commonly made scapegoats for crises, epidemics and viruses. The result: increasing hatred and even more violence. The LSVD⁺ works together with various African NGOs to provide help quickly and unbureaucratically. 

• Queer emergency aid Uganda 
  Uganda is considered one of the most dangerous countries for LGBTQIA+ people. In May 2023, Uganda massively tightened the criminalization of queer people. Since then, the death penalty can be imposed for so-called aggravated homosexuality. The LSVD⁺ is fighting for humanitarian visas for Ugandan queers and safe escape routes.  

• Queer emergency aid Ukraine 
  Since the beginning of the war, the LSVD⁺ has been supporting queer organizations in Ukraine that provide help for refugees (money for petrol, travel tickets, food, etc.) and offer accommodation (medicine, food, evacuation) to people who are unable to flee. 

• Hirschfeld-Eddy-Stiftung (HES) 
  With the Human Rights Foundation, the LSVD⁺ strengthens human rights defenders in the Global South and East. In its new project, the HES imparts knowledge about the effects of colonial history on the situation of LGBTQIA+ people today. The project aims to help ensure that the issue of criminalization, discrimination and stigmatization of queer lifestyles is included in the reappraisal of injustice and violence during the colonial era. 

• Anti propaganda laws 
  More and more countries are enacting Russian-inspired laws that prohibit education about LGBTQIA+ lifestyles and equality in schools and/or the public sphere. Denying children and young people age-appropriate access to education about LGBTQIA+ has been proven to lead to psychological pressure for queer children and young people. The LSVD⁺ therefore calls on committees and governments to take a stand against these laws and internationally for the protection of human rights. The association shows solidarity with activists on the ground and has, for example, successfully protested with Polish activists against “LGBT-free zones” in Poland. 

• Selbst.verständlich Vielfalt
  In this project, the LSVD⁺ promotes the rainbow competence of professionals and associations. As part of the “Selbst.verständlich Vielfalt” competence network, creative educational formats are developed to counter the shift to the right and hostility towards homosexuals, trans* and intersex people confidently and effectively.

The money from the sheep sponsorings ensures that the animals are provided with food and health care. We also use the sponsorings to rescue more gay rams from the slaughterhouse and add them to our flock.

Yes. Scientists have documented more than 1,500 species showing same-sex sexual behaviour. Here you can find one of many scientific articles about the topic. Moreover, there are intersexual, gender fluid, and sex-switching species. In nature just like it is for us humans, gender is a non-binary, natural and diverse concept.

We are aware that human relationships are more complex than animal’s sexuality. Still, we believe that, together with our gay sheep, we can make a point for more diversity, open-mindedness and respect for the international queer community.

We accept PayPal, credit card, Apple Pay, Google Pay and purchase on account.

Shipping within Germany costs 4,49€. Shipping costs for international deliveries abroad might vary.

Shipping abroad is possible. The shipping costs might vary.

Returns or exchanges are possible within two weeks of receipt of the goods. Just send us an e-mail with your order number: service@rainbow-wool.shop