Structured Love is Within Our Capacity
Dear Rose Woman Community,
It's #pridemonth, where we bring some focused attention to human sexuality and gender diversity, with a focus on LGBTQIA* rights, where we might question and redefine what the culture previously considered 'normal' or 'conforming.' We exist on a continuum.
The diversity in nature makes it enchanting, functional, and balanced. The same principle applies to human society. The myriad forms and expressions of human identity contribute to the breathtaking panorama of life. Gender identity, sexuality, and sexual preferences are no different. They are diverse and should be respected and appreciated, included, and celebrated.
The idea of conformity in sexual relationships – for instance, the traditional narrative of intimacy only between a man and a woman – dismisses the true diversity and richness of human sexuality.
Sex, as we understand, serves both pleasure and procreation, and these are not mutually exclusive. Renowned author Margot Anand wrote about the magic of intimate and sexual connection, arguing that it is one of the most profound ecstatic states humans can experience. Great sexual connection is a peak, drug-free, altered state of consciousness that once was part of religious ceremonies.
Unfortunately, many power structures, such as churches and governments, have sought to regulate and monopolize these ecstatic states, subverting the beauty of human sexuality. The taboo has been so great that in many places, one can be killed for having a different sexual expression.
Letting go of preconceived notions and judgments can also bring a sense of grief. If we personally suppress a range of desires or identities, it can be heartrending to realize that we've expended so much energy trying to fit into certain molds that society deemed inviolable, only to find out that those molds were never truly universal. This grief can be even more poignant when we see others now embracing the freedom to express their identities authentically. Who might we have been?
I believe in us, and I believe in a world that works for everyone.
Love,
Christine Marie Mason
Founder, Rosebud Woman @rosebudwoman
Host, The Rose Woman Podcast @the.rose.woman
*Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, (questioning), intersex, asexual, and (agender)