[Rich]

Why is it that homosexuality and bisexuality are considered sexual orientations, with some legal protection even afforded for those identifying with these lifesyles, while other alternative sexual practices are not classified in this way? For example, is bestiality a sexual orientation? How about S&M or pedophilia? All of these supposedly are natural drives within the person who practices them (including homosexuality) bringing sexual satisfaction to the participant(s). However, coming out as an S&M participant would draw disapproval from many people in society, announcing you are a practicing animal sex participant would probably bring disgust, and stating pedophilic tendencies will land you on a sex offender list. So the bottom line is, why is homosexuality considered a sexual orientation, while none of the other ones are? By the way, I do not necessarily support any of the mentioned practices here, I'm just curious about the perceived disparity.

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Name : Rich, Gender : M, Age : 25, City : New York, State : NY Country : United States, Occupation : Technology consulting, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[Matthew21841]

I guess the bottom line is which ones are with consenting adults. S&M can be heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual... It is just the toys involved. Animals don't talk, children don't know. Does this help?

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[NJ-Smith]

Homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual sex involve two consenting adults. Rape, pedophilia and bestiality do not. If S&M is done with consent, it's none of my business. If it's done without consent, it's torture and rape. By the way, the vast majority of pedophiles in this country are white heterosexual men.

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Name : NJ-Smith, Gender : F, Age : 46, City : Akron, State : OH Country : United States, 

[Kerry]

I believe a lot of the issue has to do with consent. Sadism/masochism is a consensual practice, as are homosexuality, where bestiality and pedophilia are unverifiable as to consent. A child does not have the judgment to determine if he or she consents, and of course an animal cannot tell us if they consent. It really puts these people in a bind - they literally cannot get their needs met in a societally accepted way. The needs remain ... fantasy seems to be the only real way they could use this.

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Name : Kerry, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Bisexual, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Pagan, Age : 29, City : Ventura, State : CA Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[JimC]

It seems your question boils down to 'Why is homosexuality and bisexuality OK and not bestiality/S&M/pedophilia'. It comes down to the issues of consent vs. victimization. Relations between homosexuals/bisexuals are between consenting adults. Relations with animals or children are obviously non-consenting in the first case, and victimizing in the second. As far as I'm concerned, S&M activities between two consenting adults are their own business (although not my cup of tea), and like homosexuality and bisexuality, should not be an issue to government or society. Pedophilia and bestiality (along with a host of comparable predilections), however, cannot be mutually consenting, and create a victim/victimizer situation in which society and government do have a role in policing.

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[Ben S.]

I'll give you the benefit of my experience, coming from a background of having been a censor of Internet pornography. Homosexuality, bestiality and pedophilia are sexual orientations. S&M is usually considered to be more of a sexual practice or fetish - the attraction here is toward the enacting of particular scenarios, roles and the use of various pieces of equipment, whips, etc. The gender of the partner may or may not be an issue, though it usually is. The human being is such a diverse animal that the word 'natural' doesn't seem appropriate - any or all of these orientations/practices could be 'natural.' There is one fairly clear distinction, though: Homosexuality and S&M may arouse some feelings of disgust in some people, but these are orientations where the sexual activity involves partners who consent freely, and are not normally harmful. Therefore, these orientations are afforded some degree of protection. In the case of bestiality, apart from the revulsion many people feel, the reasoning is that the animal cannot freely consent to the activity. Similarly with pedophilia, the child cannot consent freely. It's a question of power relations and knowledge. It's assumed that the child, when involved with a more powerful and intelligent adult, is at much greater risk of having his or her wishes overruled, and of not understanding the full ramifications of his or her decision.

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[Natalie20081]

Pediophilia and S&M are fetishes, not sexual orientations.

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[Michael]

Here we go again with the explain why we shouldn't just lump gays, lesbians and bisexuals with the pedophiles & zoophiles... let me see if I can break this down for you. Sexual contact requires consent otherwise it is rape. Children are not capable of consent as they are too young to understand what is happening. Animals (sorry PETA folks!) are not sentient and therefore incapable of consenting. Homosexual activity (or bisexual) happens between consenting adults. So from a moral, ethical and just plain 'it's wrong' standpoint, we're talking apples & oranges. Oh -- one other thing: Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals have LIVES not lifestyles... and all crime is not hate.

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[Chuck A.]

Your question indicates a failure to differentiate between one's sexual orientation and one's sexual behavior. Sexual orientation is a morally neutral indication of whether one is inclined toward romantic relationships with members of the opposite sex (heterosexual), same sex (homosexual) or either sex (bisexual). It does not indicate whether sexual activity has taken place or will take place; it merely indicates how your brain is wired to respond sexually to males or females. On the other hand, the sexual behaviors you have identified (namely sadomasochism and pedophilia) involve specific sexual activities that take place regardless or one's sexual orientation. I would also like to point out that there is a big ethical distinction to be made between a loving, nurturing relationship between two gay people, as opposed to the deliberate sexual victimization of children.

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[Rick29873]

Many people do accept S&M as a lifestyle. Basically, what goes on between consenting adults is nobody's business. Animals and children cannot be considered 'consenting,' nor are they adults. They are victims. That's the difference.

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[H.]

I thought it was strange that you asked about homosexuality and not heterosexuality. How is heterosexuality (or homosexuality) different than the fetishes or behaviors that you listed? Sexual orientation does not have anything to do with particular lifestyles or behaviors. Instead sexual orientation just describes which sex an individual is attracted to romantically and physically. It is an innate characteristic like sex, handedness, or eye color. People who are gay can fall in love with and be attracted to certain individuals of the same sex. People who are hetero/straight are attracted to people of a different sex, and people are bi can be attracted to someone of either sex. By contrast, sadomasochism describes a type of practice unrelated to sexual orientation or sex or race. Bestiality and pedophilia as behaviors are condemned because they are really more like rape than sex. They do not involve sex between consenting adults. One other point. I noticed that you said that there are protections for gay people and their families. However, in the US, most states do not yet have laws protecting gay people and their families from discrimination based on their sexual orientation. Many laws, including marriage laws in most states and countries, still unjustly and arbitrarily discriminate against gay couples while giving economic and other legal benefits to hetero couples. The sex (i.e. the shape of the genitals) of someone's spouse should be irrelevant to the legal recognition of his or her marriage.

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[Jenna]

So, Peiophilia and S&M are just fetishes eh? so Fetishes are something you like and find 'moving' so If a man likes another man that is his own fetish same as a women to another women or even a man to a women it is ALL fetishes. just b.c some are accpected doesn't mean that they are not a fetish like the rest of them. The ARE sexual orientation just as much as anything is. they are all the same the ONLY difference is, is how socity accpects them and treats them that is all nothing more nothing less.

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[Sampo Syreeni]

'Sexual orientation' as a term concerns itself with gender. By itself it isn't enough to comprehensively describe a person's sexuality, as our three examples attest. S&M can be a lifestyle, but it's orthogonal to sexual orientation. S&M play can dominate one's sexual practices, but to most S&Mers the play is an added flavor to vanilla sex of one's preferred kind. It usually doesn't stand on its own, and even when it does, S&Mers remain gender sensitive in who they're willing to play with. There are usually separate scenes for S&Mers of different orientations, for example. The law has its history and biases, but obviously it needs to make special concessions to issues of consent in the case of paedophilia, and perhaps to public health and/or animal rights in the case of beastiality. S&M seems well on its way to not being an issue of law, at all.

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[Jessica]

The reason for homosexuality being considered a sexual orientation, while none of the other ones are is because those sexual practices are being participated in by two loving adults where as pedophilia is about one being forced into submission and feelings of shame, pain and abuse of an innocent child. Beastiality isn't regarded as a sexual lifestyle choice because the animal has no choice in the matter, essentially a degree of molestation going on here as well. S and M however is a MUCH practiced and ACCEPTED sexual lifestyle. There are small degrees of SM, i.e. a bite on the neck, various piercings, etc. and than there are handcuffs and whips. Take a look aroound, but SM is also about a choice being made by TWO people, NOT one sexual adult and one very unwilling, frightened, innocent and in pain individual. Be it a child or aan animal.

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[Cheyenne]

Pedophilia IS a sexual orientation. To take your wording: 'It does not indicate whether sexual activity has taken place or will take place; it merely indicates how your brain is wired to respond sexually...' The acting out of pedophilia is child molestation. Neither are accepted in our culture. *opinion time* However, it would be a better world if pedophiles could 'come out' much as gays do and no longer be afraid. At least then, we'd know who they are, and get rid of the double standard.

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