So why is sex such an enticing topic, and why is it so taboo?
Some say the West is uptight, and even European tourists to
Florida scoff at the swimwear required at US beaches. If sex
were actually taught (and practiced!) at school, would it become
as boring as algebra? This audio lecture from Alan Watts asks
such questions and explains why “Making Whoopie” makes
some people nervous.
Alan Watts – Sex in the Church from John Allen Bell on Vimeo.
Popularity: 10% [?]
Says Wikipedia,
“The term adult has three distinct meanings:
* Grown man or woman; mature person.
* Plant or animal that has reached full growth.
* One who is legally of age. Opposed to minor.
Adulthood can be defined in terms of biology, psychological adult development, law, personal character, or social status. These different aspects of adulthood are often inconsistent and contradictory. A person may be biologically an adult, and have adult behavioral characteristics but still be treated as a child if they are under the legal age of majority. Conversely one may legally be an adult but possess none of the maturity and responsibility that define adult character.
Coming of age is the event; passing a series of tests to demonstrate the child is prepared for adulthood; or reaching a specified age, sometimes in conjunction with demonstrating preparation. Most modern societies determine legal adulthood based on reaching a legally-specified age without requiring a demonstration of physical maturity or preparation for adulthood.”
Indeed, we are required to allow nobody under 18 in our club, for that is the boundary set by the credit card company and laws. “The legal definition of entering adulthood usually varies between ages 15–21, depending on the region in question. Some cultures in Africa define adult at age 13.
According to Jewish tradition, adulthood is reached at age 13 (the age of the Bar Mitzvah), for Jewish boys, for example, were expected to demonstrate preparation for adulthood by learning the Torah and other Jewish practices. The Christian Bible and Jewish scripture has no age requirement for adulthood or marrying, which includes engaging in sexual activity. According to The Disappearance of Childhood by Neil Postman, the Christian Church of the Middle Ages considered the age of accountability, when a person could be tried and even executed as an adult, to be age 7.
In most of the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom and China, the legal adult age is 18, with some exceptions.”
Culturally speaking, there is no official “coming of age” experience in the modern world, but a series of small indices of maturity. Drinking, driving … sex! These are the primary benchmarks popularized in the twentieth century. But these are simply external activities, events in life rather than actual personal maturity. Anybody can stick their penis in a hole. But does that make them an adult?
Regulation of penis-poking ensues as age restrictions penalize pokers who do not observe calendrical prohibitions. So, regardless of individual adulthood, a year (18) is chosen as a catch-all. If you are not adult yet, too bad. Society says you must be, so here you go. Ready or not!
What, then, if not hormonal capabilities or annual attainment, are the true indices of maturity?
“There are some qualities that symbolize adultness in most cultures. Not always is there a concordance between the qualities and the physical age of the person.
The adult character comprises:
* Self-control – restraint, emotional control.
* Stability – stable personality, strength.
* Independence – ability to self-regulate.
* Seriousness – ability to deal with life in a serious manner.
* Responsibility – accountability, commitment and reliability.
* Method/Tact – ability to think ahead and plan for the future, patience.
* Endurance – ability and willingness to cope with difficulties that present themselves.
* Experience – breadth of mind, understanding.
* Objectivity – perspective and realism.”
Men4Men.com® is for adults who seek more than just a relationship based on sexual encounters, grown men who prefer to make friends first and grope later, men who are not into tricks, games and juvenile decision making.
Other sites may encourage dangerous behavior: we question it. And we ask you to tell us what makes a man all grown up to you? Send your comments and tell us what characteristics you look for (or look out for) in the men at men4Men.com®
Popularity: 11% [?]
Another summer, another Pride Day.
We all know that Toronto Pride is one of the biggest LGBT celebrations in North America. And within the last few years, organizers have struggled with how to make the festival still relevant at a time when – thankfully – the queer community has won numerous battles in seeking equal rights. Many question: do we still need a Pride Day at a time when we now have more out gays and lesbians in the corporate world, in politics and entertainment? In Toronto, the “gay village” has changed so much in recent years that anyone from out of town wouldn’t even notice anything different about the neighbourhood that was once an important meeting place for queer folk… a place where they felt safe and welcome among others like them.
Woot woot! There’s more to Gay Pride than what you see in the parades.
I recently met up with Phil Wong, executive director of Community One Foundation – a non-profit organization that fundraises for numerous queer groups who have limited access to mainstream funding. Over the years, the foundation has doled out more than a million bucks since 1980 to support the arts, social services and other community projects.
Wong said that even though many people know about the AIDS/HIV groups and organizations backing equal marriage rights who have actively fought for funds and political attention, there are still issues out there that many even in the gay community don’t know about.
A look at some of the recipients of the foundation’s funding this year tells the tale:
Durham Pride Prom 2009 – The Youth Centre - to support the creation of an end of year celebration and graduation party for LGBTTIQ2 youth in Durham Region and HOPE Outreach – Halton Organization for Pride and Education (HOPE) – to support the creation of outreach materials to help target new and increasing demographic spaces i.e. business cards, display boards, note cards, t-shirts mugs, pens and key chains to give away as prizes at HOPE events and for general outreach. HOPE will also create a brochure with basic LGBTTTIQQ education information and contacts.
Q-SAY – Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP) to help ASAAP conduct anti-homophobia workshops and outreach in the South Asian community through the use of its film documentary which explores issues surrounding the South Asian LGBTQ youth community and Mpenzi Black Women’s International Film & Video Festival – to support the annual Mpenzi Black Women’s International Film & Video Festival screens films and video submissions from straight and Queer Black women, transgender, transsexual and intersex women and men.
Bateman QSA Outreach & Education – Robert Bateman High School Queer-Straight Alliance – to create a safe space and to initiate outreach to the Queer-trans community at Robert Bateman High School. The QSA will also identify and purchase appropriate books, videos and materials for the school library as a way of increasing knowledge and dialogue for both students and teachers.
Bring LGBT issues to palliative & bereavement services in Durham Region – Durham Hospice – to provide more learning resources and training for staff and volunteers and other agencies working in this field (i.e. cancer supports, senior’s centres, Long-Term-Care homes etc.) on the unique experiences of LGBT people and death/loss.
This is just a sampling of the need out there – issues affecting women, visible minorities, transgender and transsexual individuals, youth, and older gays and lesbians are still out there, particularly in smaller, rural communities where there are fewer services.
“Pride Week gives people a chance to gather,” says Wong. “Groups that are often invisible in our community can access Pride in a number of ways to build awareness around their concerns or interests. Marching in one of the parades, staffing a community information booth, or holding an activist meeting or dance party; Pride is a great time to bring people together.”
“Pride Toronto and the Community One Foundation partner every year to provide the Pride Access & Diversity Grants program to ensure smaller groups can participate in all the fun and mayhem.”
Because we can’t forget that Gay Pride is not just about a 20-something, buff, hip and out gay man who is as free to bring home his boyfriend to mom as anyone else now. The struggle for equality and understanding continues for many people who don’t fit neatly into that box. And as long as that struggle continues, we still need Gay Pride.
For more information about Community One Foundation, visit communityone.ca.
Popularity: unranked [?]
Popularity: 3% [?]
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