A gay Irish bull facing slaughter has been saved following a worldwide appeal backed by the co-creator of The Simpsons.
Benjy, a Charlerois bull, was being fattened up for an abattoir after he failed to impregnate any heifers this year at a County Mayo farm in western Ireland.
Vets had determined he was fertile, but was more attracted to the bull that replaced him.
On learning of his fate, activists launched a social media campaign to raise £5,000 to send Benjy to the Hillside Animal Sanctuary in Norfolk, which is home to about 2,000 unwanted farm animals and horses.
Sam Simon, co-creator of The Simpsons and philanthropist, has now put up the all the money needed to buy Benjy and transport him to the sanctuary. His transfer is expected to take place in time for Christmas.
About 300 other donors also contributed to the fundraising drive led by the online magazine TheGayUK.
Mr Simon, who is battling colon cancer, has been giving away much of the fortune from his television career and is a leading donor to animal welfare causes.
He said he heard about Benjy's case through friends at the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pressure group.
"All animals have a dire destiny in the meat trade, but to kill this bull because he's gay would've been a double tragedy," Mr Simon said.
"It thrills me to help PETA and ARAN (Ireland's Animal Rights Action Network) make Benjy's fate a sanctuary rather than a sandwich."
ARAN campaigns director John Carmody said Mr Simon and other donors were buying the bull "a one-way ticket to freedom".
http://news.sky.com/story/1375676/simpsons-creator-saves-gay-bull-from-slaughter 
