Author, sexologist speaks on ‘America’s war on sex’

Anna Schilawski

“It’s not about pharmacy rights or state’s rights. It’s about sex,” Dr. Marty Klein said in his lecture to a large audience Tuesday night in the Indiana Memorial Union’s Alumni Hall.

Klein was chosen by the IU Health Center’s Health & Wellness Department to speak on his most recent book, “America’s War on Sex: The Attack on Law, Lust and Liberty,” which focuses on America’s current outlook on public policy and sexuality.
Not only is Klein an IU alumnus, he is a renowned sexologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist and certified sex therapist who was the featured speaker of the
“Sexploration at IU,” which runs the rest of the week.

“‘America’s War on Sex’ was perfect because Election Day is next month,” said Katie Wilkinson, office and outreach coordinator for Health & Wellness Education.
She said she thinks some of the sexual politics gets overlooked because of politics and the war on terror.

Klein began his lecture with a PowerPoint presentation showing many images of men and women of all ages and races who have been charged with criminal acts associated with sex.

He raised the question to the audience about how these issues are related and said each crime had an enormous range of punishment.

“People that watch network news constantly say there’s more sex,” Klein said. American media are overstating the amount of sex, violence and sex danger, which results in a “sexpanic,” Klein said.

Klein discussed many controversial topics such as abortion, the HPV vaccine, which can protect women from cervical cancer, birth control and sex education.

“Condoms are a modern miracle,” Klein said.

But he said America’s narrative on sexuality today is that it is dangerous and people need to be afraid of it.

“There’s a desire for people to control sexuality,” Klein said. “We have a real political problem.”

Klein discussed topics ranging from the politics of fear to Janet Jackson’s nipple exposure during the Super Bowl to the Declaration of Independence.

Klein concluded his formal lecture with lessons about civics and discussed the U.S. Constitution.

“Our constitution says that people have rights,” Klein said.

He also said adults can do whatever they want because those are their rights, and no one wants those rights to be compromised.

The lecture ended with a question-and-answer session lasting about half an hour, and Klein said people should not view opinions as right or left wing, but as factual and not factual.

Americans need to learn how to frame the problem in order to come to a solution.
Sophomore Hannah Meckes said she attended the event for her human sexuality class.

“I really enjoyed it,” Meckes said. She said it gave her an overall different perspective and helped her to recognize there is a problem going on in America.
“I was really surprised of the criminal acts associated with sex,” Meckes said. “I never realized they existed until now.”