The Story of Sphen and Magic, the Gay Penguins

By Francis Ali & Janel Lopez

The story of Sphen and Magic is a heartwarming and bittersweet story from their beginning to their end. Their story starts in 2018, before the mating season when their owners at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium noticed them seemingly inseparable. As breeding season heated up, so did these two as they collected pebbles to create their nest in their claimed area. (It’s stated on Sea Life’s website they had the most pebbles out of all the penguins!) With this, the staff at Sydney Aquarium gave them a false egg to look after and develop baby care skills, and once found ready, they replaced it with a real egg, and there came baby Sphenic.

From their firstborn, they had mated for every season since, and had a second baby named Clancy Carpenter/CC! They have received substantial recognition for their LGBTQ appearance and even showed up on many things, such as shirts, plushies, and even parade floats. They were icons to be remembered for their deep pairing and in-touch care with one another and their children.

Sphen & Magic; Aquarium in Sydney

Sphen may be gone; however, the stories he left will never fade, and he will always remain in our hearts. Sphen and Magic's impact on society is profound. In addition to appearing on shirts, plushies, and parade floats Sphen and Magic also graced a children's book cover. The title of said children's book is "Sphenic." Sphenic tells the story of the same-sex penguin couple in a simple way that children can understand. Having the story geared toward an inclusive audience makes the book informative and inspiring. There are many benefits to having children included in this audience. Exposing children to different family dynamics, like that of Sphen and Magic, allows them to spark a better sense of belonging while also teaching them empathy and respect for others. Ultimately, the story of Sphen and Magic can make young people more comfortable connecting with diverse individuals.  

The Gay Penguin Couples; Aquarium in Sydney

However, Sphen and Magic's impact is not only limited to children; they have touched the hearts of many. These gay penguins have taught the lessons of empathy, tolerance, and understanding. Some of those who may not have understood LGBTQ+ before have a more concrete understanding of these concepts now. Thanks to the wonderful couple Sphen and Magic, gay love has reached the homes of many homophobic households and has changed their hearts for the better. Speaking from personal experience, I have a friend who has spoken up about how Sphen and Magic helped their 60-year-old grandpa understand that love is love, and there is nothing wrong with a type of love that many people seem to feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable discussing. Sphen and Magic helped their grandpa love them, and for that, they love Sphen and Magic.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Sphen and Magic celebrate their third anniversary!" VisitSealLife.com, Nov. 2021, p. 1.

https://www.visitsealife.com/sydney/information/news/sphen-and-magic-third-anniversary/ 

"One half of world-famous gay penguin couple dies in Sydney aquarium" cnn.com, Aug. 2024, p.1. https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/21/travel/famous-gay-penguin-dies-sydney-intl-hnk/index.html