Lol, but of course, taxonomically speaking, humans are a species of ape. There used to be more apes in our line, most recently Neanderthals, Densisovans, Florensis, etc. This is not a controversial idea among biologists, who classify humans as apes because of deep knowledge of our genetics, ancestry, the fossil record, and more. We are, indisputably, apes.

But ... Little more than apes? Your friend's opinion on that subject is ... odd at best. We couldn't be a "little more" than apes, because how do you become more than what you are? We 100% ape, so we can't be more (or less) than what we are.

I guess he's making a distinction between us and other species of apes like chimpanzees, orangutans, or gibbons. Indeed, we differ from them in important ways, like the use of sophisticated tools and like language.

It's possible that chimpanzees use rudimentary languages among themselves, but no other ape has mastered language like humans. The ability appears to be wired into us. A few natural (not planned) experiments have occurred in which human children raised in isolation of language have developed their own language, spontaneously, without assistance.

Maybe what your friend is referring to mostly is human culture. While chimpanzees and gorillas definitely display behavior rooted in culture, that seems rudimentary compared to human cultures and to our ability to create culture.

And there's the thing!

When your friend expresses reluctance to be respectful of other queer people, he is attempting to create or enforce culture. He's expressing his disapproval of culture created by other queer apes in the human line.

That's his choice, but it doesn't have anything to do with his being an ape, which all of us definitely are.

Of course, human cultures are at their best when they create values that transcend our biology to advance wellbeing and even happiness. If your friend wanted to, he could participate in that process.

Doesn't sound like he wants to.