Incest, Bestiality, and Pedophilia... Oh My!

So let's talk a bit about the three mentioned above, as it seems that Rick Santorum (among others) think that the above are the reasons, the "slippery slope," as it were, that gay marriage should never be legal, as it will eventually lead to those above becoming legal. Or, as one blogger I read put it, "Once you accept one sexual deviancy, you accept them all." Yes, reader, I, too Guphaw'd at this, but be that as it may, we must refute the idiocy if the idiocy is ever to learn. Apparently, some straight people think that since they figured out how some of their tabs and slots fit together, they own the market on "non-deviant" sexual relations. So to refute the hair-brained ideology, let's begin, shall we?

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1. Incest:
Defined: Etymology: Middle English, from Latin incestuous sexual impurity, from incestuous impure, from in- + castus pure -- more at CASTE
: sexual intercourse between persons so closely related that they are forbidden by law to marry; also : the statutory crime of such a relationship
Problem: Sexual contact between persons who are so closely related that their marriage is illegal (e.g., parents and children, uncles/aunts and nieces/nephews, etc.). This usually takes the form of an older family member sexually abusing a child or adolescent.
Incest is considered by many experts to be a particularly damaging form of sexual abuse because it is perpetrated by individuals whom the victim trusts and depends upon. In addition, support can also be lacking and pressure to keep silent powerful as fear of the family breaking up can be overwhelming to other family members.
Exceptions: There are, however, different cultural expectations and rules about incest. For instance, in some areas of the Arab world and southern India it is estimated that as many as 50% of marriages occur between first cousins. In addition, in southern India it is still common to see a maternal uncle (the mother's brother) marry the first daughter.
My Thoughts: First off, huge ick factor. But I feel as long as they are both consenting adults and acknowledge the facts that children may be damaged emotionally or mentally, I don't see any reason why two consenting adults can't engage in a long-term, sexual relationship. Although I think sharing in-laws could be creepier when you are all actually related... But again, eww!
References:

• Main source of information at Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
• Ethical Relativism and Absolute Taboos: Incest, Suicide, and Race by Dr. Sam Vaknin
• Frequently Asked Questions About Incest by Douglas Larsen
• BEHIND CLOSED DOORS: A report on SIBLING INCEST by Anthony Rogers

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2. Bestiality:
Defined: Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 : the condition or status of a lower animal
2 : display or gratification of bestial traits or impulses
3 : sexual relations between a human being and a lower animal
Problem: Um, not even the same species? Abuse of animals? Eww!
Exceptions: You'd have to move to Sweden, Belgium, or the Netherlands to practice bestiality legally... sick Europeans...
My Thoughts: Again, the ick factor is out of this world. One blogger (who shall remain slightly anonymous (i.e., I won't say who, but he is linked on this page somewhere...) said "Why would you need the consent of an animal to have sex but not to eat?" Silly argument, but I will answer. While I do enjoy the occasional steak dinner (medium rare), at least I am not repeatedly assaulting the animal while it is still alive. It's a quick, it's over, and hopefully done as humanly as possible (sorry, Ergo! I know how you feel about the term "humanely" when referring to animals! [Ergo is not the individual with the silly argument, FYI]). Sex, however? It's abuse, torture, and it happens over and over again, not like killing for food. In fact, quite a bit different. If this makes me some type of hypocrite, so be it. And while I'm sure you can train an animal to enjoy being raped (much like you can train an dolphin to do a triple somersault through a burning hoop), you certainly wouldn't see either being performed in the natural environment. Most animals experience a tearing of their "areas" and bleeding, as, and I would think this would be common sense, some tabs were not meant to fit in some slots.
References:

• Main source of information at Zoophilia from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
• Pet-Abuse.Com

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3. Pedophilia:
Defined: Etymology: New Latin
: sexual perversion in which children are the preferred sexual object
Problem: Impact of Child Sexual Abuse

• It is estimated that there are 60 million survivors of childhood sexual abuse in America today.
• Approximately 95% of teenage prostitutes have been sexually abused.
• Long term effects of child abuse include fear, anxiety, depression, anger, hostility, inappropriate sexual behavior, poor self esteem, tendency toward substance abuse and difficulty with close relationships.
• Clinical findings of adult victims of sexual abuse include problems in interpersonal relationships associated with an underlying mistrust. Generally, adult victims of incest have a severely strained relationship with their parents that is marked by feelings of mistrust, fear, ambivalence, hatred, and betrayal. These feelings may extend to all family members.
• Sexual victimization may profoundly interfere with and alter the development of attitudes toward self, sexuality, and trusting relationships during the critical early years of development.
• There is the clinical assumption that children who feel compelled to keep sexual abuse a secret suffer greater psychic distress than victims who disclose the secret and receive assistance and support.
• Adolescents with a history of sexual abuse are significantly more likely than their counterparts to engage in sexual behavior that puts them at risk for HIV infection
• Young girls who are forced to have sex are three times more likely to develop psychiatric disorders or abuse alcohol and drugs in adulthood, than girls who are not sexually abused.
• Among both adolescent girls and boys, a history of sexual or physical abuse appears to increase the risk of disordered eating behaviors, such as self-induced vomiting or use of laxatives to avoid gaining weight.

And that's just scratching the surface! Did you also know that 95%--95%--of all sexual crimes against children are committed by someone the child knows and trusts!!! 80% of the time it's a direct relative!!! (i.e., father, uncle...) And despite all all of that-- A CHILD DOESN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE OR MATURITY TO GIVE CONSENT. And, 92% of all men that commit pedophilia identify as STRAIGHT. Heterosexual. Gender of a child also has nothing to do with anything. Pedophilia is all about control and power, never gender.
Exceptions: None.
My Thoughts: I think I pretty much covered that. But let me just say, as a gay man, not only am I not more likely to commit pedophilia, I want a MAN. Not a boy or a girl. A MAN.
References:

• Main source PANdora's Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse
• Child Abuse: Statistics, Research and Resources by Jim Hopper, Ph.D.
• Tennyson Center for Children
• U.S. Dept. Health & Human Services

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Okay, after all that, what have we deduced? There is a line, fundies and ignoramus's... The line between consenting adults and children and animals which

1. Cannot give consent
2. Experience much physical and psychological harm
3. Are usually not willing participants

Now, you may argue, what about polygamy? Consenting Adults.

My philosophy? You have the right to a consensual, adult relationship as long as it harms no one and doesn't infringe on someone else's right to life and liberty. How hard is that to fathom?

Sorry this got to be such a long post, but hey, someone had to say it, right?