RIP Sphen: trailblazing gay penguin dies, leaving behind his lover Magic

If you’re already feeling a little fragile, we sincerely recommend exiting this story and forgetting you ever read the name of Sphen the famous gay penguin. You have been warned. For those with the strength to go on: it is our sad duty to inform you that Sphen, a longtime resident of a Sydney aquarium, has passed away. He is survived by his gentoo penguin partner, Magic, and two chicks, Sphengic and Clancy.

Sphen makes the journey to the rocky, sub-Antarctic beach in the sky at the age of 12 (a fairly average lifespan in captivity). More importantly, it’s been six whole years since Sea World staff first noticed him building an ice-pebble nest with Magic, and furnished the budding couple with their first foster egg.

Since then, Sphen and Magic have become symbols – dare we say icons – of same-sex parenting, helped along by the fact that gentoo penguins share domestic responsibilities equally. So progressive. Together, the pair starred in the Netflix comedy Atypical, inspired a float at their city’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade, and generally brought joy to anyone who laid eyes on them.

Tragically, Magic will “soon prepare for his first breeding season without Sphen,” says Rachel Dilly, general manager at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium. Gentoo penguins are monogamous, but are known to find new mates after several breeding seasons together.

That doesn’t mean that Magic will move on easily from his lover, by any means. According to aquarium staff, the winged, waddling widower was taken to see Sphen’s body after he died earlier this month, and immediately started singing in grief. The other 45 penguins in the colony then joined in the chorus, in a beautiful and moving sendoff to the departed. It’s all too much, really, isn’t it?

“We want to take this opportunity to reflect and celebrate Sphen’s life,” Dilly says, “remembering what an icon he was, the unique bond he shared with Magic and the positive impact he made in the world.”

RIP Sphen, you’ve earned your place in the gay animal pantheon, and you will be dearly missed.