Approaching the anniversary of our country’s freedom, what’s the state of our own sexual freedom?
There are many external restrictions on our erotic expression such as the criminalization of abortion, attempts to eliminate adult pornography, and the censorship of both school and adult libraries.
But there are many internal restrictions we place on our own sexual expression–and these prevent us from using the sexual rights that we do have.
Charlie Kirk was so effective at arguing his position, he became dangerous. He lied, he inspired conspiracy theories, he wanted the Bible to rule America.
And no matter how dangerous he was, killing him is even more dangerous.
Having already demonized the Democratic opposition and professional judges as lunatics, radicals, and traitors, Trump now pledges to silence all voices who criticize the government—TV shows, college professors, bureaucrats.
The Trump administration now promises
Criminalizing surgical abortion and abortion pills, demonizing fertility treatments like IVF, limiting contraceptive access and the Morning After pill—many media call this a War on Women.
No it isn’t.
As I first described in my 2012 book, it’s a War On Sex.
Framing this as a War on Women is a political mistake. It’s why there hasn’t been sufficient outcry from men about these various limits on THEIR rights.
More than half of all Americans live in states that now (or by year’s end) will require them to prove they’re adults in order to access most legal porn sites.
How can you prove you’re a grownup? By uploading your driver’s license, passport, mortgage or employment record.
Raise your hand if you want to share that kind of data with the government—in the context of watching porn, no less.
Americans enjoy more sexual freedom than ever, with major cultural changes in just the last 20 years.
But we still need more options for expressing our sexuality, with less interference both from well-meaning conservatives and well-meaning progressives.
Each group would dictate what we can say and what we can do–and both are unacceptable.
Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine, died this week at age 91. He was extraordinarily innovative and influential, and he was reviled by a lot of people for exactly those reasons.
When the 27-year-old Hefner started Playboy in 1953, America was a sexually sick country.