2008 Woodie Awards
Sexuality: what's the big deal?
Brook Taylor
Issue date: 2/14/06 Section: Life
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I couldn't agree more with Sir Elton. In fact, this statement is so pivotal to human happiness and animal protection that I think it should be the 11th Commandment or something. The only problem is, why don't more people feel this way?
Why, in our society, is it more acceptable to abhor and criticize someone for their sexuality than it is to understand and respect them? We think it's wrong to discredit people based on their race or gender, but when it comes to the other non-optional trait of sexuality, our morals seem to fade away.
People who don't accept homosexuality have a bunch of motives to hide behind; the most prevalent being religion. Reading the Bible and only extracting that whole "not lying with a male as with a woman" thing as your reason is like reading a novel and missing the entire point. In a literature class, you will not pass if you are in the habit of simply re-telling the parts of a book in your essay. You are expected to look beyond the obvious, take the time to consider the piece as a whole, and discover the meanings as intended by the author.
Now, I'm not one for Bible theory, but I daresay that Jesus was way more into peace and acceptance than he was into disapproval and condemnation. I don't know why Christians would rather preach damnation instead of love, but it happens. All I'm saying is that God loves gay people, so you should too.
And no, not just the lesbians. When I began talking and writing about sleeping with a woman, I couldn't believe the amount of positive feedback I was getting from straight men, (including a few conservative Christians). I'm not even trying to deny that chick-on-chick action is hot, because it definitely is. Even straight girls jump on the lezzboat (using alcohol as an excuse, of course). I'm just trying to come to terms with why our society has a lot less of a problem with lesbians than with gay men.
I think I can pinpoint the reason: it's all about the butt sex. Straight guys love to have anal sex with their girlfriends and wives and enjoy whacking off to it in porn vids, but heaven forbid two men do something like that! I'm guessing maybe the thought of it hits too close to home, because you know how touchy those breeder boys are about their asses. Maybe they start to freak because they imagine themselves being pounded by a leather-bound homosexual or something. I don't claim to know why, but that's my theory, and I'm sticking to it.
Even thought straight people take the rap for being closed-minded about sexuality, that kind of thinking is definitely present in the queer world. Shockingly so, I might add. How can people that want the freedom to practice their own sexuality possibly rag on anyone else trying to do the same?
You would be surprised. It's not uncommon to find a big rift between gay men and lesbians. Some would say that the only thing the two have in common is being gay. Well I have another similarity: both tend to raise a lot of hell about bisexuals. No one wants their lover to leave them for someone of the opposite gender.
I've heard it said by some gay men in my life that bisexuals just need to pick a side. You know, the whole "you can't eat your cake and have it too" deal. In theory, "bisexual" may seem like a term to describe people that are sexually insatiable and will lay anything and everything that comes their way. Of course people like that exist, right along with those claiming to be bisexual but never date someone of the same gender. However, for some people, it is impossible to choose. And why should they have to?
Sexuality is a very fluid thing for everyone, and trying to label or restrict it is just plain ridiculous. I say we all shut up about it and just do what feels right. Be a breeder or a carpet muncher or a pole rider if that's what gets you off. Besides, what's the point of having cake if you can't eat it too?
Brook Taylor's sex column, The Erogenous Zone, is in its second year.
Any comments or questions can be submitted via e-mail to TheCarolinian_Mistress@yahoo.com.
