Opinion: Sex Magic and Collective Shame

As a gay man who has enjoyed a rich and varied sex life, I can tell you that this was certainly not the first time that someone has tried to slut-shame me, but it was the first to do so in a book review. (So, give them points for creativity, I suppose.)

Boy Scouts Poised to Weaken Ban on Gay Leaders

IRVING, Texas –On July 27, the national executive board of the Boy Scouts of America is expected to ratify a new policy regarding adult leaders. If passed, it will clear the way for adults who identify as homosexual to volunteer in the organization at all levels — with significant exceptions carved out for religious objections. Such a move would bring the organization’s rules more in line with an underlying philosophy that the Boy Scouts is not an appropriate place to discuss, nor engage in, sexual activity. Back in 2013, the Boy Scouts agreed that sexual orientation should not be a barrier to participation by boys themselves. This most recent move was in response to pressure from both within and without, and a recognition that the current policy forbidding volunteers based on sexual orientation is not likely to survive all the court challenges it faces.