The issue at hand.

As the U.S. presidential election ends, we at the Humanist take a break from politics by turning to sex. But this is no escapist diversion. In the grand scheme of things, sex is the more important of the two. Politics and politicians may come and go but sex is always with us--a major engine of evolution, one of the central causes behind the very existence of the political animals we are, and a major source of life's satisfactions.

So then, what's new on the sexual scene? Enough to motivate Humanists to craft a replacement document for the New Bill of Sexual Rights and Responsibilities, published in the Humanist back in 1976 and signed by a number of that decade's leading sexologists. Toward such a new statement, Robin Jacobs and Roy Speckhardt critique the old one, drawing attention to issues never contemplated by its creators. Also, British journalist Sally Feldman explains "Why I'm Glad My Daughter Had Underage Sex," no doubt shocking some of her country's conservative crusaders--and perhaps a few American Humanists in the bargain. Valerie Whites look at polyamory may have a similar effect. But the Humanist is out to foment dialogue, which sometimes requires exploring new territory and shaking things up. Less controversial is American Humanist Association President Mel Lipman's radical call for the repeal of laws in twenty-four states that criminalize adultery.

Some traditional religious groups, of course, will disagree with almost everything Humanists propose regarding sexual values, having doctrines on the subject so outdated as to make the 1976 Humanist statement still seem revolutionary. And even some newer groups, like the Unification Church, preach antiquated ideas. One thing that makes all this so problematic is that some of your tax dollars are paying for it.

This is because conservative religious leaders and programs are among the beneficiaries of President George W. Bush's faith-based initiative--which should be no surprise given that so many conservatives, including the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, demonstrated a strong interest in the initiative when it was first proposed. Now the man who directs the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives for the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal entity, is a Unificationist. And the Reverend Jerry Falwell, who initially opposed the initiative out of fear that government funds would go to groups he considers "cults," has stopped complaining and his charity, Operation Blessing International, has received $500,000 from the Department of Health and Human Services. So, whether religions are old or new, they can get tax money for advancing "traditional values"

The administration's faith-based initiative, then, appears to be less about faith and more about advancing outdated moral systems. This reactionary effort gives special privileges to those who oppose progressive thought, particularly in the area of sexuality. Thus American Humanists who wish to advance a cutting edge sexual morality have their work cut out for them.