In 1969, the country decriminalized both homosexuality and bestiality. It is not clear why these two acts seemed related or whether the country would countenance acts of bestiality or “animal rape” as activists have called it in Germany. Under the existing law, sex with animals was only punishable if the animal was severely injured.
What is interesting is that the re-criminalization of bestiality is opposed by a zoophile group called ZETA. Lobbyist Michael Kiok estimated that there are more than 100,000 zoophiles in Germany. Kiok lives with his dog Cassie and says that he fears the state will now separate them. He insisted “Mere morals have no place in law.”
The last point is familiar to many civil libertarians who oppose morality law from criminal adultery law to criminal fornication law. Kiok however misses the point. Animals cannot give their consent to such acts. The mistake of Germany was to equate bestiality with homosexuality in the first place — a connection drawn in the past by Justice Scalia.
Source: Daily Telegraph