Homophobia, The Silver Ring Thing and Public Transport

So I picked up a copy of the student magazine on campus called Lot's Wife. I've never read it before, I always just glance at it, but today I decided to actually read it. It was all about sex and sex-related articles. Being queer (yeah, its acceptable to say that here), sexism, sex offenders, aphrodisiacs, lusty cocktail recipes and abstinence. I was reading this magazine on the train ride from the uni, its about a 42 minute ride. It gave me time to digest the infomation...

Which brings me to the topic of abstinance. I have no problem with people who choose to wait until their married to have sex. Its clearly a personal choice. I do however have a problem with how they are promoting and campaigning it like its some sort of cult. This one particular article I read about talked about two organisations in general: True Love Waits and and The Silver Ring Thing.

True Love Waits' advice to teens is only good in a world of absolutes. Your choices are either stay pure or have sex; lose your boyfriend/girlfriend, dignity and end up as damaged goods. Purity? Can you be damaged goods and have a pure heart? This organisation tells these kids to pray before dating, never to be alone with your partner and to go on group dates WITH OTHERS FROM THE SAME ORGANISATION. That's how you stray from temptation apparently.

The Silver Ring Thing is a european organisation with the same premises basically except you confirm your abstinence by buying a silver ring and have an "accountability partner" with whom you discuss any temptations. So in other words, if you have the irresistable urge to get laid you're supposed to discuss this with another person who probably feels the same way. I don't see how any good can come out of that. Ha!

According to several sources, these organisations have evil side...they basically scare people into joining by telling kids that half the heterosexual teenage population is HIV positive, that touching someones "genitals" can result in pregnancy, that you can get HIV though sweat and tears and that oral sex can cause cancer. Anyone who believes this filth is obviously not very educated about sex. Apparently some of this stuff was metioned in a congressional analysis and the Bush administration declared that the STATEMENTS WERE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT. Yeah, right.

Apparently this sort of abstinence pledging delays secual activity for about 18 months. After that, everyone goes on a rampage. Who knows whether these programs are actually reducing unplanned pregnancies and STDs or just creating a new generation of sexually ignorant, mentally immature and dysfunctional adults. These groups can sometimes promote homophobic attitudes, which brings me to my next point....HOMOPHOBIA.

This is something I just don't understand. Its clearly an irrational fear. Thinking that your gay neighbour wants to get with you just because he prefers men and you just happend to be a man is rediculous. People need to stop flattering themselves!. Its like saying just because I'm heterosexual and like guys, my lab partner automatically will want to sleep with me. Does anyone else see something wrong with this??????

(And by the way, on trains here, no one waits for you to get off before they start getting on. It annoys the hell out of me)