Monday, May 02, 2005

Sweet home Alabama: Shakespeare, sodomy, and sexual misconduct

Here's a story to make your skin crawl: Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen has tabled a bill in the legislature that would prevent public libraries and other state institutions from purchasing works by gay authors or about gay characters (is Stewie Griffin gay? so long Family Guy!) or that somehow violate, or rather endorse violations of, Alabama's strict sex laws. Says Allen, "I don't look at it as censorship. I look at it as protecting the hearts and souls and minds of our children". Sure, and that Nazi book-burning was all about keeping warm during those long Prussian winters. Allen's view: "Dig a hold and dump them in it." Thankfully, there were not enough state representatives present when the bill came to a vote (i.e., no quorum), but we might not have seen the end of it.

PolySciFi Blog examines the issue here. The key language of the bill:

  • No public funds or public facilities shall be used by any state agency, public school, public library, or public college or university for the purchase, production, or promotion of printed or electronic materials or activities that, directly or indirectly, sanction, recognize, foster, or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of the state of Alabama.

By the way, "the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of the state of Alabama" include the following:

  • DEVIATE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. Any act of sexual gratification between persons not married to each other involving the sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another.

So it's not just homosexuality. It's also oral and anal sex between unmarried heterosexual partners. I'm not sure what happens if an "act of sexual gratification" involves "the sex organs" of more than one person. I'll look into that and report my findings here at The Reaction.

In response, another good blogger, Julie Saltman, is asking readers to "list our five favorite 'printed or electronic materials or activities that, directly or indirectly, sanction, recognize, foster, or promote a lifestyle or actions prohibited by the sodomy and sexual misconduct laws of the state of Alabama'." In that spirit, here are mine:

  1. Plato, Republic: No, not because there's any pedophilia (don't buy into that myth), but because a lot of it's about sex and nudity and men and women training together and close relationships between men and...
  2. Pink Floyd, The Wall: Allen would have both the double CD and the DVD to toss into his hole of shame. There isn't much in the way of homosexual behaviour, but the movie certainly wouldn't be acceptable (think "Young Lust"), and, generally, I'd be honoured if my favourite band were banned in Alabama.
  3. Milan Kundera, The Unbearable Lightness of Being: Trivia question: What is main character Tomas's favourite part of the female body? Hint: that part of the body, male and female, isn't legal in Alabama. (Answer at end of post.)
  4. Gunther Grass, The Tin Drum: Well, it's anti-Nazi, for one, but there's also a famous scene (that caused the film version to be banned across the U.S. when it was released) that certainly wouldn't be acceptable. Alabamans do not -- repeat, do not -- engage in cunnilingus (especially minors). Ever.
  5. Aldous Huxley, Brave New World: For all the drug use, of course. But perhaps I should instead suggest Woody Allen's Sleeper. One word: orgasmatron. Alabamans do not -- repeat, do not -- have orgasms. Ever.
Also, anything by Shakespeare.

Celebrate these works as much as you can. They're not safe.

Any other suggestions?

(Answer: What is the anus, Alex?)

Bookmark and Share

14 Comments:

  • What is it with those Christian right-wingers and their obsession with anal sex?

    Ironic how they make such an effort to think of every way the term "sodomy" can be applied. On the other hand, you can't say they're not a creative bunch of people...

    Other books you can rule out:
    Michael Ondaatje's works (I have "In the Skin of a Lion" in mind), Robertson Davies' "Fifth Business". Throw in "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy.

    I guess I don't even have to mention "Lady Chatterley's Lover" by D.H. Lawrence.

    At the rate they go, after interpreting it, they could probably burn every book they wanted.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:36 AM  

  • Gerald Allen needs to get fucked. Hard. In the ass. Preferably by a barnyard animal.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 10:20 AM  

  • If that last reply is a metaphor, then I'm all for it. If not, I'll consider it an exercise in free speech.

    I cannot explain the Christian right's obsession with anal sex. Indeed, with sodomy in general. Perhaps because it's so obviously not procreative intercourse. There is a powerful strain of bodily self-denial that runs through post-puritan American Protestantism -- which is more or less what we're talking about here. These moral crusaders are obviously afraid of the unleashing of bodily desire, yet their fixation on what they consider deviant behaviour is interesting. Most secular hedonists spend far less time thinking about, say, anal sex, I would imagine, than these crusaders do.

    By Blogger Michael J.W. Stickings, at 12:13 PM  

  • Don't forget "Last Tango in Paris" and the butter or "Pulp Fiction" and the gimp.

    Although I commend you for recognizing "Unbearable Lightness of Being". When you are describing Tomas' favorite part of the female body, you say "that part of the body, male and female, isn't legal in Alabama". That must create a lot of potential problems.

    Perhaps you meant 'sticking something in that part of the body, male or female, isn't legal in Alabama'. However, Kundera never makes any allusions to Tomas partaking in anal sex, only that he enjoys a little bit of finger exploration. What does the law have to say about that?

    Propenents of free activity should recognize the liberality that they receive in Alabama, as I can imagine many, many deviant acts that do not involve the 'sex organs of one person and the mouth or anus of another'.

    I'll leave that to your imagination.

    By Blogger Chas, at 10:12 PM  

  • It's nice to see Conan O'Brien replying to my blog!

    Oh, fine, it's C. Trapunski, fellow blogger -- see link on my main page: funny stuff -- who just happens to look like a number of tall, lanky TV celebrities.

    You're right about Last Tango. Perhaps the most famous sodomy scene in the history of cinema. And Pulp Fiction would have to go, even though it's message is unduly conservative (family/religion as escapes from the nihilistic madness that is the human condition).

    Otherwise, I'm not sure about Alabama's legal opinion on the matter of manual/digital stimulation. I'm sure it's prohibited by one of its commandments.

    By Blogger Michael J.W. Stickings, at 10:24 PM  

  • From NEWSWEEK: Starbucks coffee chain has retreat­ed from a potential deal to sell Bruce Springsteen's new album, “Devils & Dust,” be­cause of the song, “Reno,” which deals in part about an encounter with a prostitute. The lyrics inlude a description of anal sex, including the price she charges for the act. Critics are generally hailing "Devils & Dust", which was released by Co­lumbia Records, a Sony Music label. It is the only Springsteen album to carry a parental warning (Adult Imagery) due, ap­parently, to the song, “Reno.” This appears to be the first time Starbucks has declined to stock an album because of concern over lyrics, notwithstanding the warning sticker.

    Wall Street Journal review of "Devils & Dust" stated, “An extraordinary intermediary, Mr. Springsteen, with his grainy voice, brings us time and again into his intimate stories and we feel the struggles and conflicts of his finely wrought characters,” Wall Street Journal said it was, "a mature, affecting album” with the “qualities of art that will deepen and grow richer in the fullness of time.” Other reviewers have singled out the song, Reno. The u.dailynews.com labeled it “totally unnec­essary.” Britain’s Guardian newspaper devoted the majority of its review to the song, describing Springsteen’s “sudden interest in sodomy…genuinely startling.” “Reno,” wrote the Washington Post, “will rip your heart out for sure, and the ballad sets the tone for an album chock-full of world-weary drifters, many of whom are lost far west of the Mississippi.”

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 5:45 PM  

  • Does this mean I have to boycott Starbucks?

    I haven't yet given the new Boss album a listen, but I intend to. Although I've never been a huge fan -- I own just a few of the albums and haven't seen him live -- I respect him immensely.

    And I credit for tackling a mature subject. After all, he does ADULT ROCK, not the shallow garbage that gets all the airtime these days. It may not be for children, but why should it be?

    By Blogger Michael J.W. Stickings, at 1:37 AM  

  • I am a Christian right-winger student currently attending UA in Tuscaloosa. Gerald Allen is just a dumbass in my opinion. He has very few good ideas for the state or our district. the gay book ban is in itself very gay. please do not think of Allen as a reflection of other Alabamians.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 7:15 PM  

  • nice site
    http://www.fitness-world.org/

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 2:36 AM  

  • what is it the point in American government banning a credit card payments made on an online poker game, for example, but not online sports betting? Slightly hypocritical no? I mean how can you allow someone to participate [with or without a credit card] in online horse racing betting, but not put any money on a hand of texas hold’em poker? both activities involve a large degree of chance, and neither are guaranteed to yield financial return.
    What really infuriates me is that the minority of irresponsible gamblers [those paying with someone elses money!] have now ruined the fun of online betting for everyone else - those like me who pay with money they actually have in their bank!!
    At least for the Americans there is always the free online poker games!

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 11:28 AM  

  • I think this is being Racist or against a particular group of people. Its not democratic. I don't think this bill would ever get a green signal or implemented. In case there is some matter that is objectionable, those books can the banned, not all books.
    ..........................
    Richard Arthur
    Addiction Recovery Alabama

    By Blogger rarthur, at 7:38 AM  

  • These moral crusaders are obviously afraid of the unleashing of bodily desire, yet their fixation on what they consider deviant behavior is interesting. Most secular hedonists spend far less time thinking about, say, anal sex, I would imagine, than these crusaders do.
    ----------------
    Pamban23


    Alabama Drug Treatment

    By Blogger Unknown, at 6:12 AM  

  • HI,
    Alabama State Representative Gerald Allen has tabled a bill in the legislature that would prevent public libraries and other state institutions from purchasing works by gay authors or about gay characters (is Stewie Griffin gay? so long Family Guy!) or that somehow violate, or rather endorse violations of, Alabama's strict sex laws.
    =================================kikimz

    Alabama Alcohol Addiction Treatment

    By Blogger Unknown, at 12:33 AM  

  • By Anonymous Anonymous, at 8:15 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home