Has Texas accidentally banned marriage?A constitutional amendment in Texas designed to ban gay marriages may have inadvertently banned all marriages in the state, according to a lawyer and Democratic attorney general candidate.
Life / Society / Sex & Relationships
Beenie man is a product of entrenched homophobia in Jamaica
Beenie, the Jamaican DJ just dropped from the Big Day Out, may be a phenomenal talent. But he has, at various times, been openly, flagrantly — almost murderously — homophobic.
Gay marriage: an issue of both the legal and the spiritual
If there is a God, surely she wouldn’t have intended for Australia to let gay and lesbian people and their families to feel so ostracised from the church, writes Steve Dow.
Why do good boys do bad things?
One of the big questions that underlies all the debates on university colleges, male sports teams and other forms of hooliganism, is: why do some groupings encourage thuggery? Eva Cox explores.
Nookie in your nineties: when are you too old for sex?
At age 71, Jane Fonda declared her sex life ‘better than ever’. But admit it: plenty of people in their 60s actually find sex rather a bore. All those positions? With arthritis? No thanks.
No sex education in China = 13 million abortions
A new found sexual liberalism is occurring behind closed doors and under the sheets of students in China. Unfortunately, sex education hasn’t developed as quickly, resulting in a whopping 13 million registered abortions every year.
The failed partnership of work and families
Gaby Hinsliff was political editor of the Observer, the Sunday sister paper of The Guardian, until she finally gave up MP interviews to be a full time mother. An honest look at the work/life balance mess that parents — even those in exciting, fulfilling careers — are struggling to cope with.
The private life of the Obamas
Barack and Michelle Obama are known for having one of strongest and most sickly sweet marriages in US political history. Just think of their date nights! NY Times Magazine is running a 10 page indepth feature on the Obamas’ marriage. Go on, you know you want to.
The sex diaries of the city that never sleeps
Thanks to Craigslist, GPS enabled social-networking iPhone apps and a host of other technological developments, sex has gone digital and nowhere more so than in NYC. NY Mag examine their anxiety filled Sex Diaries series to find what Sex in the City really means.
Anaphrodisiacs: foods that kill your sex drive
So everyone knows what foods are supposed aphrodisiacs — oysters! chocolate! — but what foods are rumoured to stop sexual desire? It’s not exactly scientific, but the list does make sense: corn flakes aren’t raunchy.
Why Islam needs a sexual revolution
German-Turkish writer Seyran Ates reckons what Islam needs is a good sexual revolution: young Muslims are too sexually repressed, and parents consider their daughters’ in-tact hymens as “capital”.
Memo to the British Press: "husband" isn’t a dirty word
Gay boy band star Stephen Gately, who married in 2006, died this week. But why doesn’t the media refer to his husband as his husband? The language involving same-sex relationships is a political minefield.
Boris Johnson: Let’s profit from other people’s misery!
London has been labelled “divorce capital of the world”, but look at the bright side, says mayor Boris Johnson: zillionaires suing each other over divorce settlements is a boon to the local economy.
Why smart men should find a well-educated woman
We’re always hanging on for the next big breakthrough in health: a cure for cancer, diabetes, schizophrenia… But the next big breakthrough has already come, says Melissa Sweet: it’s education.
Keysar Trad: My humble contribution to the polygamy debate
Decriminalising polygamy and removing its social social stigma will further guarantee the rights of women, argues Keysar Tradin response to Shakira Hussein’s piece in yesterday’s Crikey.
237 reasons women have sex
A pair of US psychologists spoke to 1000 women around the world about their sex lives, and have come up with 237 reasons ladies choose to get down and dirty in the bedroom, including weight loss and to boost self esteem. Oh yeah, love features in there somewhere, too.
Mothers are the only parents that matter, right?
When it comes to parenting, it’s mothers that score the brunt of the criticism, the longer jail terms for neglectful parenting and the media scorn. What, because men have traditionally been absent, expectations are low?
Bill Hayden: Australia’s gay rights shame
Gay rights in Australia have come a long way from when police used to raid parties and fire shots in the air. But, equality still doesn’t exist. Why isn’t Labor changing that? asks Bill Hayden.
Hitchens: A global perspective on Polanski’s child rape
The West’s “Hollywood exceptionalism” that has seen many give Roman Polanski a pass for having sex with a 13-year-old is vile, but it’s still better than countries like Yemen, where being married by that age is the norm, says Christopher Hitchens.
Songs for kids with two mummies
Canadian musician Kate Reid is making an album for children of lesbian parents. But wouldn’t my son rather listen to songs about trains than who his parents are? wonders Dana Rudolph
That icky little thing called sex
Oh no, our children are wearing “shag bands”?! Further proof of child sexualisation. Except… those bands have been popular for generations. Rachel Hills writes on teenage sex hysteria.
Coming out: how young is too young?
They’re here, they’re queer… they’re still in primary school. Kids are coming out of the closet at younger and younger ages. Is it a sign society is becoming more open to homosexuality, or too much to deal with at such a young age?
Jamaican me crazy: gays pray in the closet
Jamaica has an unfortunate reputation as one of the least gay friendly countries, with wide reports of homophobic violence and killings. But a secret church aims to break down the closet door.
I’m sleeping with my mother-in-law. Help.
Playboy’s advice column — last seen advising men how to save money at a strip joint — doles out a pithy response to one man’s affairs. Playboy, it is all about the writing after all.
Maureen Dowd: unhappiness is a woman’s lot
This weekend opinion piece from Maureen Dowd is the most emailed story on The New York Times website right now. Her question: Did the feminist revolution end up benefiting men more than women?
