Any debate that involves sex is sensational, visceral, and seemingly endless. On the one hand, you see people who support an extremely sexually reserved worldview. On the other hand, you see people who support an extremely sexually diverse worldview, where all sexual behaviors are allowed.
The sexual conservative lifestyle starts out with a virgin male or female. The virgin male or female may choose to be permanently celibate or to marry at some point in life. Marriage breaks the temporary vow of celibacy, because consummation of marriage means sexual intercourse with a partner of the other sex. Children result. They grow up and leave the nest. Then, the whole cycle starts over. Any sexual intercourse outside of a heterosexual marriage is unacceptable.
The sexual liberal lifestyle starts out with a virgin male or female. However, virginity may not be valued and may in fact be discouraged. Because of this, any kind of sexual activity can begin at any age and should be embraced wholeheartedly. People have sexual needs, and they must feed those sexual needs by acting on the sexual feelings. Failure to act on the sexual impulses is unacceptable.
One fact about conservatives is that they prefer familiarity. The conservative brain is fundamentally different from a liberal brain not only in the political arena, but also in life. The conservative is quick to sense danger and threats lurking at every corner, so he builds a high wall to shield himself from harm and sticks with ancient, tried-and-true routine. The liberal, on the other hand, fails to see any danger behind the wall that the conservative has built and may even knock down the useless wall to pursue novel experiences.
Why does this matter?
In controversial sex topics, the two worldviews collide. People go to extremes or moderate versions of the extremes. In regards to interpersonal relationships, the extreme worldview of either side is disastrous. Extremely anti-gay businesspeople may refuse services to openly gay customers, because the businesspeople do not want to support their customers' "homosexual lifestyle". On the other side of the spectrum, extremely sexually active people may have sex with just about anyone and claim that whatever sexual desires they have should be mainstream and acceptable. They completely overlook the inherent problems with promiscuity and the lack of commitment in relationships. Because the extreme examples are counterproductive to society, there must be a middle ground.
I believe that there is a middle ground. The middle ground is that homosexuals are treated equally and fairly. I believe that homosexuals deserve the ability to form romantic relationships, marriages, and stable home environments; to have access to quality healthcare, housing, employment; to have protection from hate crime; to have the ability to serve in the military; et cetera. If people who have homosexual inclinations believe that homosexuality is wrong, then they should be free to choose celibacy, without the toxic rhetoric from gay advocates that they should just give into their sexual desires regardless of traditional beliefs.
Gender dysphoria is listed on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The placement of gender dysphoria in the DSM-5 is controversial, because it, like homosexuality, implies that transgenderism is a mental disorder and stigmatizes the transgender population. However, one legitimate reason on behalf of transgender people is that these people can benefit from the legitimate status as a mental disorder to access affordable healthcare (sex reassignment surgery) that can be covered with health insurance. Therefore, the middle ground is that gender dysphoria should be listed on the DSM-5.
The middle ground for polyamorous relationships is that the relationships must focus on compassion and commitment, not on sex. There is evidence that suggests that couples that wait to have sex are more likely to have longer, more fulfilling relationships than couples who have early sex. Although the studies I've seen are focused on heterosexual couples, I conjecture that the same advice of pre-marital celibacy can be given to polyamorous people, trans people, gays, lesbians, and bisexuals.
I believe that the written viewpoints support a middle ground between the extremes. Sometimes, I wonder why the two sides just can't see eye to eye and end the debate once and for all. Perhaps, a thirst for political power and dominance is getting in the way?
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