Attempts to ban talk of birth control, homosexuality reveal conservatives' deepest sexual fears
Right-wing sexual pathos
Attempts to ban talk of birth control and homosexuality from classrooms reveal conservatives' deepest sexual fears
By Tracy Clark-Flory
http://www.salon.com/2012/05/05/right_wing_sexual_pathos/
Imagine a high school teacher having to separate a smooching pair outside the classroom door to protect herself from being sued for condoning gateway sexual activity. Envision a sex education class where the mention of homosexuality is forbidden by law and discussion of contraception, or even puberty, is deemed unnecessary.
Thats the world that would be created by a recent raft of abstinence education bills in Tennessee, Utah and Wisconsin. These initiatives are frightening but, viewed the right way, they shine light on extreme conservatives deepest, darkest fears about sex. Theyre veritable inkblot tests for right-wing sexual pathos.
This week saw the passage of a Tennessee bill that has the usual aim of abstinence initiatives to exclusively and emphatically promote abstinence until marriage. But the bill ultimately goes above and beyond the usual. It allows parents to seek damages in court if a teacher promotes gateway sexual activity to their child. Its unclear what exactly gateway sexual activity is because the measure defines it vaguely as sexual contact encouraging an individual to engage in a non-abstinent behavior. Critics of the bill have suggested that this could include everything from hand holding to french kissing. The bill also proscribes implicitly promoting or condoning gateway sexual activity (the latter could mean simply turning a blind eye to it, hence the example above).
The potential legal implications here are whats most important, but understanding the philosophy behind this view of gateway sexual activity is crucial, too. The thinking here is transparent: Premarital or extramarital sex, even physical affection, is like a drug all-consuming, addictive and life-destroying. Sen. Margaret Dayton, a co-sponsor of the bill, actually said, as the Salt Lake Tribune paraphrased, Teaching children about contraception is comparable to telling kids not to do drugs, then showing them how to mainline heroin. Here we have that fundamental fear of sex, of the power it holds over us, and of the possibility of losing ourselves (or our kids) to it.
Mopar151
(9,980 posts)From "Jersey Shore", "Desperate Housewives", and online porn? Oh, yeah, that'll work........
glowing
(12,233 posts)God forbid u know what sex is.... WTF is wrong with these idiots... They just want a bunch of kids with std's and young ladies knocked up... Dumb asses.
NewJeffCT
(56,828 posts)If facts show that abstinence-only education sucks it's not because of the failings of abstinence-only education - it's because of the decaying morals of society as a whole (led by liberals, of course) corrupted their efforts and that they need even more authority to enforce their moralistic views.
glowing
(12,233 posts)to places like Planned Parenthood (a major reason why in my rural area of VT, many young women could get birth control and other things without the family Dr knowing and was affordable)... Or those who come from very conservative upbringing who do it anyway and don't use protection.
Once of my friends was knocked up by the Preacher Kid's son at a church teen "sleepover"... You know the place for teens to hang out who are "committed to God and waiting"....
no_hypocrisy
(46,083 posts)the Supremes for being vague and ambiguous. Not that Scalia and Thomas don't agree with the premise, but they're sticklers for language.
RC
(25,592 posts)When will people realize laws such as these are put forth by pathologically damaged people that, instead of being elected to political office, need mandatory professional help just for living their day to day lives. This is a serious mental health issue.
elleng
(130,865 posts)Thanks
Lil Missy
(17,865 posts)It's creepy.
Zoeisright
(8,339 posts)They weren't allowed to drink, smoke, have dances, go to movies, or play cards. He asked what they did for fun. She said, "we had sex."
MemeSmith
(188 posts)They are placing conservatism in contest with a teen's libido.
Game over.
Let's welcome an entire generation of new, young liberals, growing up in the conservative heartlands.