SEX + POLITICS
Sleeping with the Enemy
The national election divides the nation every four years, and this time the division is on steroids. From climate change to protests, not to mention arguing the appropriate response to Covid-19, the year 2020 inspired debate all around.
In regular times, political differences shouldn’t inspire forbidden love. But in well-ordered times, stores and shops don’t board up windows the evening before election night. The us vs. them mentality never felt more palpable in our democracy, but what happens when you’re waking up in the opposing party’s home base? How do you react to the discovery of a sign on their front lawn?
Sensory receptors, not emotions, stimulate genitals, so it’s possible to have sex with a person you don’t necessarily like or respect. But is it possible to agree to disagree, or are you just delaying an argument for another day? In other words, would you date someone whose political outlook differs from yours? Should you?
Dating someone with different values will inevitably lead to conflict, but that doesn’t mean others haven’t made it work. The close (platonic) friendship of Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg underscored that individuals can oppose each other’s politics passionately and still care for each other. Casual sex doesn’t carry the commitment of friendship or romance, so does voting even have to be a part of the dialogue?
If it’s a one-night-stand or the emotional comfort of a booty call, why bring the presidential candidates into the bedroom? Anyone actively enjoying sex during this time should accept the survivor’s guilt while resisting the human urge to ruin a good thing. Don’t ask questions that you don’t necessarily want to be answered, at least, not in the moment. Don’t follow them on social media if you can’t handle ignoring content that contradicts your own beliefs. More importantly, decide if they are a decent person.
It doesn’t make you less of a man to partner with someone who doesn’t second each of your decisions. It makes you confident and sexually more appealing to accept diversity and independent thinking. It’s possible to force another person to agree with you verbally, but this doesn’t mean that they do. If this reality shatters your relationship, the blame doesn’t fall on your counterpart.
Conversion therapy doesn’t work for sexuality or political party affiliation. There’s no trick to unconditional acceptance or convincing your hard-on that the naked person before them is not worthy. Either choose to live in the moment or embrace approaching sex beyond physical attraction. You can enjoy the best of both worlds with break-up sex.
For sexpert questions or advice, contact jamievalentino@provokr.com
