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Liz Michael for United States Senate

Biological Exuberance : Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity
by Bruce Bagemihl, John Megahan

Most scientists have thus far studiously avoided the topic of widespread homosexual behavior in the animal kingdom -- sometimes in the face of undeniable evidence. Bagemihl begins with an overview of same-sex activity in animals, carefully defining courtship patterns, affectionate behaviors, sexual techniques, mating and pair-bonding, and same-sex parenting. He firmly dispels the prevailing notion that homosexuality is uniquely human and only occurs in "unnatural" circumstances. As far as the nature-versus-nurture argument--it's obviously both, he concludes. In fact, Bagemihl reports, scientists have sometimes been afraid to report their observations for fear of recrimination from a hidebound academia.

Sexual Freedoms

Freedom to Define Family

I support the rights of sexual minorities, and I support the rights of all people, regardless of orientation, to civilly marry whom they choose and love whom they choose. Why? Because I believe in the supremacy of individuals and individual rights. I believe in the right of people to orient their personal, romantic, and sexual lives as they see fit, so long as others are not harmed.

I oppose measures such as Defense Of Marriage Initiatives. They are statements by some, based on their own religious interpretation, that the state should insert itself into YOUR family, and define YOUR family as valid or invalid. I wholehearted reject this concept.

Domestic Partnerships and Civil Unions

I go on record as stating I support domestic partnership arrangements. I support the rights of sexual minorities to adopt, and support the freedom of all people to orient, define, and arrange their families in whatever manner they as individuals choose. I support allowing cities and counties to issue marriage certificates which are "gender neutral". And I support the right of gay couples to have any tax benefits heterosexual married couples are entitled to. I also support the right of those who for religious reasons refuse to submit their marriage for approval by the state.

Sexual Liberties

I will work for the repeal of all state and federal laws regarding consentual sexual relations between adults, including prostitution, pandering, sodomy and solicitation, and the cessation of state oppression and harassment of sexual minorities. Nuisances such as street prostitution should be banned on a local level under nuisance and zoning ordinances. If a legal venue for buyers and sellers of sexual services is allowed somewhere, that it will be easier to rid these things in areas where it is not desired.

Gays In The Military

If I were the President, I would immediately issue an executive order barring discrimination against service members due to their sexual orientation, and would forbid the military to invoke any investigation of any service member based on speculation over their sexual orientation. Moreover, someone's sexual identity, orientation or lifestyle should not be held against them so long as it does not influence their job in an administration position.

Pornography

I will work for the repeal of all laws regulating or prohibiting the possession, use, sale, production, or distribution of sexually explicit material among adults unless they involve the abuse of minors or compulsion, independent of "socially redeeming value" or compliance with "community standards".

I do not personally support porn: I see most pornography as a corruption and distortion of real sexuality which is counterproductive to the promotion of healthy sexuality. However, who is it that should determine what is "healthy", what is "acceptible"? And even if someone is distributing material that is clearly perverse, does that individual deserve to be imprisoned for doing that? Not unless he has compelled someone, killed someone, or victimized a minor: not in a free society. I reject the concept of "if it is wrong, it should therefore be illegal".

Moreover, I do not subscribe to the American moral ethic on nudity that is unique to this nation. I personally am not offended by nudity, nor do I believe mere nudity is an unhealthy thing. I do not believe that sex is such a disgusting thing that having it seen is something which should be subject to prosecution and imprisonment. I believe that this puritan aversion some of us in America seem to have toward all things sexual is itself somewhat unnatural, and opens the gate for various perversions of sex.

The Right to Define Gender

I believe the right to define one's gender rests with the individual, and I believe the state has no interest in defining the gender of its citizens, on documents such as drivers' licenses, birth registrations, marriage certificates, etc. Just as discrimination on the basis of gender should not be legal, why should the state have an interest in defining gender at all, except in very narrow circumstances?

Why should we legislate the lifestyles of others?

I have good friends: a lot of them are libertarians of some stripe. They are somewhat square people with traditional heterosexual families by any way you want to slice it. I have a lot of other friends....not a whole lot of openly gay friends, but many more bi and alternative sexual lifestyle friends. Now when statist conservatives say they want to "support the family" by "enforcing their morality", they're not just acting against my gay or bi friends, but against all my friends. Even my straight married friends. Why?

My straight friends with traditional families will almost to a man and woman say that they simply are choosing to live and love that way: it doesn't make them "normal", it doesn't make them "right", it's just what they are. Don't be deceived into thinking statist conservatives stop at sexual orientation: they seek to regulate whatever particular quirk in people's lifestyle....be it religion, be it the woman not being "subservient" enough, whatever characteristic that they do not condone. The statists are not just aiming at a handful of gay people, but at most of humanity. They are trying to establish a theocracy. And a theocracy is not just an abomination to freedom, it is an abomination to the Creator.

A Freedom Issue, Not a Morality Issue

Whether or not a given manner of sexual activity or thought is moral or not is not relevant. A free society dictates that the force of law not be used merely to enforce moral standards. I am myself very religious, and probably know scripture as well if not better than most, because I have an understanding of the Greek and Hebrew languages.

Other Victimless Crimes

Because only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes, I favor the repeal of any law creating "crimes" without victims.