The word virus and sexual politics

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
1

Hasnt sexuality been infected by the virus of politics? Sexuality has become peopled not by personalities but by politics. I recently read a pamphlet thats being passed around southeast asia and despite the malthusian nightmare that exists there it strongly advises one that homosexuality is not very buddah. In fact it refers to homosexuality as the new pnuemonia implying that one can catch the queer just as one would catch a cold. If this isn’'t irony than I dont know what is. I would think a country as overpopulated as Asia would embrace homosexuality ( a la Burgess Wanting Seed).

  When one says that they are heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual it sounds a little like someone claiming to be bipartisan or democrats or even republican.  It seems as if everyone wishes to lobby on behalf of a sexuality and  deem who can love whom by their voter registration cards.  I personally believe that sincere people fancy who they fancy.  Some people may lean towards women more or some may lean towards men but all people are equal opportunity lovers not politicians.


 Ps.  Can anyone give me any insight on Foulcalts queer theory?
2

I was always under the impression that Foucault had nothing to say about matters of homosexuality (precisely because he was homosexual)

3

I don’t want to side track this thread, but has there ever been a time in history when sex wasn’t politicised? It has always been used as a ‘tool’ of power in the subjugation or elevation of individuals or groups. With rare exception, most cultures have made a political issue of homsexuality since day one.

That homosexuality isn’t being encouraged in Asia probably has more to do with trying to contain the AIDS epidemic than any governmental preference. It’s just that culturally they may not choose to speak as directly as we do in the West.

I suspect that your concern has more to do with public -vs- private issues. I would agree that there is more public discourse - scratch that - more public diatribe on the issue, and the polarization is much stronger than we have seen for decades, but the politicising of sex has always been there.

JT