America's War on Sex

In Alabama, it's illegal to sell vibrators, but legal to buy a gun. In South Dakota, the governor won't allow Columbia University's teen sexuality information website on library computers. In California, the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, "The Color Purple" is banned from a high school library due to sexual content. These are just a few examples of attempts to govern or control Americans' sexual knowledge and activities. At the same time, courts regularly decide child custody disputes based on the sexuality of one or both parents. Nationwide, the heated fight against homosexual marriage continues. And the academic front is not immune to attack. Members of Congress recently attempted to stop funds for all sex research in the U.S. In all 50 states, battles rage on political, legal and social fronts regarding legislation and other actions focused on sex, sexuality and sexual education. The author, an internationally known therapist, focuses attention on the power and injustice of America's 'War on Sex'. He sees this 'war' as part of a process in U.S. public discourse whereby religion and emotion are replacing science and pluralism. A coalition of political, religious and civic leaders are using the issue of sex to frighten, misinform and bully citizens, passing laws restricting sexual expression, health care, entertainment and education. Aided by a sensation-seeking mass media, this 'unholy alliance' is deliberately inflaming Americans' anxiety about out-of-control sexuality - sex crimes, teen pregnancy, 'porn addiction,' infidelity and the 'homosexual agenda.' The resulting fear has made Americans vulnerable to dramatic new sex-negative public policies. But when public policy is driven by fear and propaganda the results poison, rather than protect.