Dr. Marty Klein was given an award for his recent book America’s War on Sex: The Attack on Law, Lust and Liberty at the AASECT conference in June. He is definitely passionate and knowledgeable about the subject.

While not everyone would agree with his perspective, it’s obvious that America is confused and hypocritical.

“And so while there’s an enormous increase in the number of people who have oral sex or use sex toys, there’s also a huge increase in the number of people complaining about sex on TV. More Americans have sex before marriage than ever before, but support for teaching abstinence-only in school is at an all-time high. Americans are watching more porn, going to more swing parties, and engaging in more anal sex than ever before. At the same time, groups like Morality in Media, Parents TV Council, and Focus on the Family are at their most influential, and municipalities are spending more than ever attempting to shut down strip clubs and adult bookstores.”

Sexology, I am taught, is the study of what people do and how they feel about it. Klein suggests that what people think about what others do is an important component: “What people do, how people feel about what they do, and how people feel about what others do are three separate issues for many Americans.” After all, if I engage in a certain act and feel quite comfortable with it, but think it’s disgusting that someone across town does it — what does that say about me?

Sexuality is subjective. Sexual “normalcy” varies from family to family and from continent to continent. If you grew up in a home where everyone was always fully dressed (as in you never even saw your mother without her make-up on and her hair done), then you would be shocked to discover that your partner grew up in a much less modest house and thinks nothing of sleeping/eating/watching TV in the nude.

I would be shocked to hit the NC beach next month with the family and see nudity. However, if I grew up in a culture where that was “normal” I wouldn’t think twice about it. So is public nudity “right” or “normal” or “healthy” or “moral”? It all depends on who you ask.

Everyone thinks it’s everyone else who has the problem. I suppose this is where that “dreaded” word tolerance comes up. It’s so much easier to be self-righteous.