The Second American Revolution and Other Essays 1976--1982 by Gore Vidal

Author:Gore Vidal
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2018-08-21T16:00:00+00:00

Sex Is Politics

“But surely you do not favor the publishing of pornography?” When you hear someone say do not instead of don’t, you know that you are either in court or on television. I was on television, being interviewed by two men—or persons, as they say nowadays. One was a conservative, representing the decent opinion of half a nation. One was a reactionary, representing the decent opinion of half a nation.

“Of course, I favor the publishing of—”

“You favor pornography?” The reactionary was distressed, appalled, sickened.

“I said the publishing of pornography, yes….”

“But what’s the difference? I mean between being in favor of publishing pornography and pornography?”

The conservative was troubled. “Whether or not I personally like or dislike pornography is immaterial.” Television is a great leveler. You always end up sounding like the people who ask the questions. “The freedom to publish anything is guaranteed by the First Amendment to the Constitution. That is the law. Whether you or I or anyone likes what is published is”—repetition coming up. I was tired—“is, uh, immaterial. The First Amendment guarantees us the right to say and write and publish what we want….”

Before I could make the usual exemptions for libel and for the reporting of troop movements during wartime and for that man or person who falsely yells fire in a crowded theatre (all absolutes are relative beneath the sun), the conservative struck. “But,” he said, eyes agleam with what looked to be deep feeling but was actually collyrium, “the founders of the United States”—he paused, reverently; looked at me, sincerely; realized, unhappily, that I was staring at the lacing to his hairpiece (half the men who appear on television professionally are bald; why?). Nervously, he touched his forehead, and continued—“of America intended freedom of speech only for…uh, politics.”

“But sex is politics,” I began…and ended.

I got two blank stares. I might just as well have said that the Pelagian heresy will never take root in south Amish country. Neither the conservative nor the reactionary had ever heard anyone say anything like that before and I knew that I could never explain myself in the seven remaining in-depth minutes of air time. I was also distracted by that toupee. Mentally, I rearranged it. Pushed it farther back on his head. Didn’t like the result. Tried it lower down. All the while, we spoke of Important Matters. I said that I did not think it a good idea for people to molest children. This was disingenuous. My secret hero is the late King Herod.

Sex is politics.

In the year or two since that encounter on television, I have been reminded almost daily of the fact that not only is sex politics but sex both directly and indirectly has been a major issue in this year’s election. The Equal Rights Amendment, abortion, homosexuality are hot issues that affect not only the political process but the private lives of millions of people.

The sexual attitudes of any given society are the result of political decisions. In certain militaristic societies, homosexual

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