http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/sexuality/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-name-is-neil-watkins-and-i-am-a-sex-addict/ Neil Watkins is a sex addict and an acclaimed performer. His play – The Year of Magical Wanking – has been called beguiling and poetic, intense, funny, and astonishingly brave. “I am Neil Martin Watkins and I am a sex and love-addicted innocent.” That’s how I begin my autobiographical monologue about my sexual shame as a result of growing up in Catholic Ireland. Of course, it was all just the norm then. An altar to Mary and Jesus on the window sill. A holy water font in the hall. Our mother anointed us every morning before school. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-name-is-neil-watkins-and-i-am-a-sex-addict/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/my-name-is-neil-watkins-and-i-am-a-sex-addict/#item7916 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are/ People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/come-out-come-out-wherever-you-are/#item7763 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-and-masturbation-evil-get-your-hand-off-it/ Nothing inspires murderous mayhem in human beings more reliably than sexual repression. Denied food, water, or freedom of movement, people may lash out at what they perceive as the source of their problems, albeit in a weakened state. But if expression of sexuality is thwarted, the human psyche tends to grow twisted into grotesque, enraged perversions of desire. Unfortunately, the distorted rage resulting from sexual repression rarely takes the form of rebellion against the people and institutions behind the repression. (If it did, perhaps we’d be reading of abused priests rather than priests as abusers.)  Instead, the rage is generally directed at helpless victims sacrificed to the sick gods of guilt, shame, and ignorant pride. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-and-masturbation-evil-get-your-hand-off-it/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/sex-and-masturbation-evil-get-your-hand-off-it/#item6661 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/old-school-feminists-need-to-respect-womens-choices/ Imagine you are a woman in your mid-twenties with the world at your feet. You believe that as a grown woman in Australia, you have the right to express yourself emotionally and sexually. Now imagine that you are hounded and berated for your honesty. You’re constantly insulted for being yourself and standing on your own two feet. Your chosen career is the catalyst for threats and bullying; you are subjected to abuse and scathing remarks. Whether you want to believe it or not, this is the reality many women - including those in the sex industry - face today. And sadly enough the attacks are not solely from men. A lot of the time they are from women - with most of it derived from outdated feminist views. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/old-school-feminists-need-to-respect-womens-choices/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/old-school-feminists-need-to-respect-womens-choices/#item6721 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/miley-cyrus-beware-the-smiley-siren/ Beware of Miley Cyrus. She might look oh-so-sweet with those dewy kewpie doll eyes blinking as she tries to come off as just another all-American girl - but don’t be fooled. She might only be 18 years old, but Miley represents a threat. In only a couple of years, Cyrus has gone from Disney star and global tween phenomenon to wannabe adult strumpet. It’s been an uncomfortable ride. She has clumsily whipped out every cliché in the starlet playbook: the muscle-bound boyfriend, a handful of tatts, the occasional bout of cage-dancing and the odd photo scandal, while much of the world politely averted its eyes. She has crudely tried to shape a grown-up persona that involves barely-there pants, all the while mimicking the strutting and thrusting and occasional girl-pashing of the Britneys and Christinas of this world. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/miley-cyrus-beware-the-smiley-siren/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/miley-cyrus-beware-the-smiley-siren/#item6124 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-sex-apparently-sexier-than-straight-sex/ Should we allow the depiction of homosexuals in the media? Well of course we should, shouldn’t we? The answer is pretty self evident. But then I have to ask – are depictions of homosexuals “sexier” than straight sex? You may have seen the news.com.au report that the Adshel company has pulled the “Rip and Roll” advertisements for HIV awareness for same-sex couples.  UPDATE: The CEO has just reinstated the advertisements, saying the company had been targeted by the Australian Christian Lobby’s orchestrated campaign, rather than a series of individual complaints as first thought. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-sex-apparently-sexier-than-straight-sex/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-sex-apparently-sexier-than-straight-sex/#item5980 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Kids-with-two-mums-are-Weet-Bix-kids-too/ Same-sex parents are no different than other parents in wanting the very best for their children. We know that removing legislative inequality is a very significant step in lessening the discrimination and social exclusion experienced by these parents and their children. All children, irrespective of the family units into which they are born or live, deserve the full protection of the law. That’s why I’m proud to have chaired a year-long Social Development Committee Inquiry into same sex parenting for the South Australian Parliament, and why I’m prouder still of the wide-ranging reforms aimed at providing greater legal protection for children of same-sex parents recommended to Parliament yesterday. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Kids-with-two-mums-are-Weet-Bix-kids-too/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/Kids-with-two-mums-are-Weet-Bix-kids-too/#item5865 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sluts-protest-too-much-methinks/ Embrace your inner (or outer) slut, reclaim the word, reclaim the night, take to the streets. But watch out for the unintended consequences of the planned SlutWalk rallies. Passionate protestors too often get caught up in their own hype and do themselves and their chosen issue an enormous disservice. Last week a father who just wanted access to his children instead earned the wrath of a city after his one-man protest closed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and left irate drivers stuck in traffic for hours. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sluts-protest-too-much-methinks/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-sluts-protest-too-much-methinks/#item5848 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-open-letter-to-gay-people/ Hi, gay people! How’s it going? Don’t tell me… just super, right? That’s what you people say isn’t it? Not that I would know, not being gay and all. I’m sorry if that sounded like an odd thing to say. I don’t normally declare my sexual persuasion so abruptly. But I’ve heard you like to convert normal people with your gay agendas and your corrupting lifestyle choices, and since I’m being so open and friendly I didn’t want you getting any funny ideas about recruiting me. I also heard that gays are pretty upfront and brash most of the time, so I’m pretty sure you’ll appreciate the candour. Just so long as you promise not to get turned on by it. Unless of course you happen to be lesbians. But only the hot ones that look like normal women. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-open-letter-to-gay-people/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/an-open-letter-to-gay-people/#item5649 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pray-away-the-gay-app-a-sign-of-deeper-bigotry/ “Homosexual tendencies (are) one of many conditions that beset fallen humanity.” According to Exodus International’s policy statements, those who embrace “homosexual behaviours” have lives that are “sinful” and “destructive”. Rather than simply condemn non-heterosexual desire, Exodus International (A Christian organisation that condemns homosexuality) adopts what they refer to as a ‘redemptive’ approach – seeking to ‘reorient’ the ‘fallen’. penberthyd@newsltd.com.au (David Penberthy) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pray-away-the-gay-app-a-sign-of-deeper-bigotry/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/pray-away-the-gay-app-a-sign-of-deeper-bigotry/#item5426 Sat, 26 May 2012 20:00:40 +0000 People think I’m gay all the time. It could be the soccer or the lack of feminine wiles. A colleague once assumed I was a lesbian because I always wear purple. It’s a Teletubbies thing, apparently. Anyway, I’m not, and what happened at uni stays at uni. But if I was, I’d be out. I’m lucky in that I don’t think anyone I care about would have any sort of problem if I was gay. Well, except Bloke. He’d probably be upset.