Hard to believe, right? New research out of China shows Fruit Bats are one of the few mammalian species to engage in oral sex. Those other mammals don’t really know what they’re missing, huh? What’s fascinating are the possible reasons — turns out fellatio is kinda like the swiss army knife of bat sex:

Bat penises contain erectile tissue much like our own. It gets stiffer if it’s stimulated, so females could use oral sex to prolong their encounters with males, by maintain their erections or lubricating it for easier entry.

While many of us might nod sagely at the need for longer sex, Tan suggests that for the bats, it could mean easier transport of sperm to the oviduct, or more secretions from the female that are conducive to fertilisation. It could also be a way of hogging a mate, keeping him away from rival females.

Alternatively, the antiseptic properties of saliva might help to strip the male’s penis of bacteria or fungi, and prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. The fact that males lick their own penises after sex supports this idea.

Now, for more serious things.

Elsewhere…

Maine – Next week’s same-gender marriage vote may come down to the slimmest of slim margins, according to new poll data reported by the Washington Blade. Despite being out-spent, and funded largely by the Catholic Church and the National Organization for Marriage, the “family values” camp may just beat the forces of equality. But, there’s still time to pitch in! Pro-equality campaigners No on 1 don’t need your dollars, just your voice and your phone. From anywhere in the country, you can call supporters of same-gender marriage to encourage them to get to the polls on November 3rd — in this election, every vote counts!

Meanwhile, anti-gay Christians are going to surround the state’s places of government this Sunday with human chains of the hateful, praying that the ballot measure striking down Maine’s same-gender marriage law will pass. (The Washington Blade, JMG)

Quebec – According to researchers from McGill University in Montreal, vaccines tailored to an individual’s particular strain of HIV, and designed to boost the body’s immune response to a pre-existing HIV infection are showing promise. (POZ Magazine)

D.C. – The Service Member’s Legal Defense Network isn’t too chuffed with the Secretary of the Army for suggesting that lesbians, gays, and bisexuals could be segregated into separate units if the congress repeals the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy. (SLDN)

NYC – The New York Times reports on how, for many homeless youth, selling sex is their main means of survival. As About.com’s LGBT Youth blog points out, as many as 40% of homeless youth are LGBTQ, kicked out of their homes after coming out to their parents. (NYT, About.com)

Teh Internets – Just in time for Halloween, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics releases a report saying many of the most popular makeup kits have levels of lead, nickel, chromium, and cobalt that are harmful to children.