WTF for the Day: “All Pornography Is Homosexual Pornography”
By Dr. Charlie Glickman • Sep 22nd, 2009 • Category: BlogAs you may have heard, Michael Schwartz, the chief of staff for Republican senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, has announced that the best way for parents to keep boys from looking at porn is to tell them that it’s “homosexual.” He figures that this makes sense because “boys at that age have less tolerance for homosexuality than just about any other class of people,” so it’s the best way to shame them for their curiosity.
First off, Mr. Schwartz, thanks for using intolerance and hate to foster sex-negativity. You’ve won the erotophobia trifecta! There’s nothing like reinforcing your prejudices and fears by inflicting them on a new generation. Good for you!
But sarcasm aside, what I find more interesting about Schwartz’s comments is this quote from Jim Johnson, an “ex-gay” friend of his:
He said, ‘all pornography is homosexual pornography because all pornography turns your sexual drive inwards.’
First off, I’m not entirely sure what he means by a “sex drive turned inwards” but it sounds like some sort of allusion to narcissism. There have been many folks over the years who have claimed that homosexuality is narcissistic. For example, there’s this gem:
Of course, there are homosexual narcissists, just as there are heterosexual narcissists. And in a world that pathologizes and demonizes queers, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear about research showing a higher rate of mental health issues among queers, just as racism has a negative impact on health. But that doesn’t make homosexuality the cause of it, any more than being Black causes hypertension. It’s the social context, which is influenced by homophobia and racism, that does it.
There’s also the fact that there’s nothing inherently wrong with having your sex drive turn inwards. Yes, it’s likely to be a problem if it’s entirely turned inwards, but it’s just as likely to be a problem if it’s entirely turned outwards. As is often the case, healthy sexuality (if I can use such a loaded term) is one that meets both internal and external needs and desires. It helps us connect with ourselves AND with other people, whether they’re sexual partners or not. It explores our relationships with our bodies, psyches, and hearts, as well as other peoples’ bodies, minds, and hearts. So not only don’t Mr. Schwartz and Mr. Johnson understand homosexuality, they don’t understand sex. And yet, Mr. Schwartz considers himself an authority who can offer sex and parenting advice.
So for all of these reasons, I’d like to offer Mr. Schwartz my official WTF of the day. SRSLY.
Dr. Charlie Glickman >> Dr. Charlie Glickman has been working at Good Vibrations since 1996, when he joined the staff at our Berkeley store. Currently, he is our Education Program Manager and (among other things) runs our in-store After Hours workshop program, our Off-Site Sex Education Program, trains our Sex Educator-Sales Associates and writes copy for our website. In 2005, Charlie received his doctorate in Adult Sexuality Education from the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, Ohio. In addition, he offers classes on sexuality for psychotherapists and workshops on teaching for sex educators.
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Absoultley on the money Dr.
I cannot believe people still harbour these foolish and ignorant beliefs.
Instead of using the fact that “younger boys of that age have less tolerance for homosexuality than just about any other class of people,” as leverage to stop them watching porn, shouldn’t we instead be educating them about being tolerant and understanding of other human beings sexual orientation?!
[...] A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about Michael Schwartz, the chief of staff for Republican senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, and his proclama… [...]