Sexuality in the 1990s

The documents in Peiss on Sexual Identities, Family Matters and Border Crossings were so touching and interesting.  The Sharon Kowalski Case, of 1991, was probably the most distressing to me because of the tragic accident she endured in a car accident, but the worst to me is that she had to live secretly as a lesbian with her partner because of society condemnations on Lesbians.  Also, the most disheartening was that her father would not accept her partner into the family even though they supposedly were not aware of her relationship.  I cannot believe that her family never questioned the fact that she never married or had children, it seems that Sharon's mom and dad were very religions and would never accept her sexuality because according to the bible it would be a sin and act against God's Will.  It was very tragic to me that the courts did not accept the truths about this women by the word of her lover, but because of her medical condition Sharon was not able to speak up and reveal to the world, that she was a Lesbian.
The document of the risk of mail marriage was also a sad reality of the consequences that many immigrant women face to become US citizens.  It almost reminded me of what is occurring now with the dangers of women meeting men through the Internet , such as Facebook, or Craiglist.  However, in 1996, the explosion of social networking was not visible so many women would correspond innocently through the mail to men they had little background information about would eventually victimize them sexually because they have the upper hand, there male, us citizens, and know that these women will sacrifice anything to stay in a economically stable country. I have heard many ugly stories of Filipina women struggles, and the abuse they endure to flee there impoverished lives in Asia.
The Chicano Men and Women document was so revealing about the patriarchal domination that is still event in today's Latino families.  Also, how your sexual identity and behavior is shaped according to your Latino family and the acculturated Anglo ideologies.  It is through these men and women's autonomy and exile from the Latino culture that they are able to express their true sexual identity.  They are truly caught between two worlds, tradition of "La Familia" and assimilating to a more accepted sexual freedom through Anglo customs. Because Latino Culture is so heavily influenced by patriarchal domination I believe it is more difficult for a gay Latino to be accepted for what he is by his dad, mom and the rest of the family, Latinos are very religious and homosexuality is perceived as a sin and not accepted in God's eyes.
The Starr Report on the Impeachment Trial of President Clinton was interesting to read because it brought back memories about the televised proceedings in which I vaguely remember.  I do still have that vivid picture of the ex President Clinton proclaiming, " I did not have sexual relations with that women".  In the eyes of most America's he did not have an sexual relations with that women, although, he lied under oath about having fondled Monica Lewinsky, touching her breast, kissing her, and even touching her vagina, he stood his ground about any other sexual contact with her.  He never had sexual intercourse with her, it was more like she gave him pleasure through oral sex, and phone sex.  He said, " A man could regularly engage in oral sex and foundling of breasts and genitals with a woman, yet not have a sexual relationship, with her".  Oral sex did not constitute for sexual relations, and that is what he was being accused of primarily.  The president because of his executive status and privilege did not have to testify right away after being subpoena by the courts, this bought him allot of time to figure out how this case could be won, but made the accusations less credibility.  It was also said that the president and Monica had planned to both lie under oath about their sexual relationship or encounter, because he would lose his reputation in the White House, and with his family.  Their deceptions also had to do with his other lawsuit that was brought against him for sexual harassment while he was the governor of Arkansas, with Mrs. Jones.  His impeachment trial would seem less relevant than the other case of sexual harassment, which was never proven.  President Clinton brought many hope to the American people when he was elected, just like the current President Obama, he passed many laws that benefited many, such as, family medical leave, and amnesty  to immigrants, he was very well liked and hated by the Republicans that knew about his sexual life.  Although, I do not condemn is actions about sexual harassment to his staff, I feel that his personal life should have never been publicized the way it was during his impeachment trial in 1998.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

The documents in Peiss were insightful to read because it gave me a clear picture about how sexually transmitted diseases were viewed in the 1950s and late 1990s.  I had heard about the Tuskegee Syphilis Study in the past because there was actually a movie made depicting the events that occurred during this time.  It seems to me by reading this document and from the movie that the black farmers who were sick with syphilis in 1953 were used as guinea pigs by the US government, they were given high hopes for treating the diseases but were deceived with placebo drugs, little money, and were drawn in by pitching that there burial services would be covered, its like they gave them a death sentence without helping them succumb the disease.  The document from President Clinton was heartfelt but, of course, a little to late for the government to finally admit to the unjust racism and lack of health care provided to these unfortunate black men.
The other document that was great was the on of the theater in New York that was being closed down because of the sexual activities being conducted, i.e. fellatio, and the high rise of HIV/AIDS that was reported by the Department of Public Health of New York.  The statistics are breathtaking because there was no treatment available during this time and many people who contracted the disease were dying. I was glad that the Dr. submitted a court order to close the theatre because most people did not know the dangers of unprotected sex and the fact that it is not just a homosexual disease, it is transmitted to women and children too!  It is and was the most devastating sexually transmitted disease in my opinion.

Sexual Revolution

The documents in Peiss regarding the Sexual Revolution were so interesting to me not only because of the the ways in which young women and men conducted themselves in regards to their sexuality, but my own personal knowledge from watching TV shows or movies relating to the 60s and 70s.  The young man (Jefferson Poland) who was whipped by his dad because he was wetting his bed and had to leave his home with his mom was an interesting topic.  This man would eventually leave home after attending 20 different schools before going to college, he truly had a ruff childhood.  He eventually leaves his mom and begins traveling on his own (hitchhiking) and attending different schools again!  I felt kind of sad to hear that he had sex with a man just because he gave him a ride on one of his many travels, he stated that although he enjoyed the expereince he felt ashamed.  I also believe that because of his feelings of shame he wanted to accept and also tell others during this time of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights movement that it was totally exceptable to be free to love men or women alike, and not to be ashamed of nudity in public places, freedom of speech (profanity) because these were natural and God given rights as human beings.  Although his movement of the Sexual Freedom League did not succeed I do believe that the efforts he and his colleagues protested helped shape the way in which the society viewed sexuality in a more liberal and acceptable nature.  The signs of many protesters carried that read, "Let's Make Love, Not War", have become so famous in America's knowledge via movies and magazines, it was the sign of the times! However, because of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement the Sexual Freedom beliefs of nudity in public, multiple sex partners, sex before marriage, gay and lesbian rights were not in the forefront of the media.

The other document I found interesting was about how young Latina girls in Southern Texas were victimized sexually by the "gang banging" in their impoverished community.  The girls that came from strong Catholic and Patriarchal homes were never allowed to experiment let alone speak about sexual relations before marriage, it was considered taboo.  Also, it was heart wrenching when I read about how the "pachucas" were subjected to gang rapes because of their affiliation with the street gangs, and how their lives were cut short either by drugs, or rule of the patriarchal domination of the gang itself. The one girl who was in a gang that rescued another girl from getting gang raped was so good to read because it should the alliance women have for one another as sisters protecting each other from the hands of the sexual violence preform by men.