The following letter appeared in the Spirit of Jefferson newspaper on June 21, 2023
I am writing about the new ordinance that prohibits performances for children that depict nudity or sexual conduct.
First, this is a common sense ordinance. Are the opponents of this ordinance saying that it is acceptable and good to depict nudity and sexual conduct for children?
I also want to discuss the June 14 column in the Spirit of Jefferson, “One man’s journey with Christian faith, politics and the LGBTQ+ community,” by Stewart Acuff quoting from John Mason extensively.
First, I am very sorry to hear about his sexual abuse as a child. I think more focus should be given on preventing sexual abuse of all types. Married families with a father and mother are the safest place for children. For instance, children living with a mother and her boyfriend are 11 times more likely to be sexually, physically, or emotionally abused than children living with their married biological parents.
Although about 2.5 percent of the male population is homosexual and almost all child abuse is by men, one third of all sexual abuse is against boys. That means the small percentage of the population that is homosexual men commits one-third of all child abuse involving boys.
Regarding “Jesus is a mystery”, the Bible makes clear in Genesis 1: 27 that God created us male and female. Also, trying to say that Matthew 19:12 promotes gender fluidity is a stretch, to say the least. Traditionally, this verse is taken to mean that most people should marry rather than burning with sexual desires as a single person.
I would also like to address the argument in the editorial, and also given by others testifying before the county commission that this law violates the spirit of the state motto of “All Mountaineers Are Free”.
No, it does not. Freedom requires responsibility. Just because we are free to concealed or open carry a firearm in West Virginal does not mean that we can shoot it any time we feel like it. Carrying a firearm requires utmost responsibility. Likewise, the use of our sexuality requires utmost responsibility. Just because humans are capable of public displays of sexual behavior in front of minors does not mean that it is acceptable to do so.
I would like to make one more point about those who have non-traditional sexual proclivities. The first legally recognized “non-binary” person in the United States, Jamie/James Shupe said “it’s not about gender identity; it’s about abnormal paraphilic sexual desire.” Paraphilic means having sexual desires that “are persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or behaviors of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even situations that are atypical in nature.”
So, in Shupe’s case, identifying as transgender was a ruse for his paraphilic sexual desires.
In conclusion, the law championed by Commissioner Krouse is a good one. We should focus more on preventing sexual abuse of all kinds. Sexual displays in front of children can be seen as one type of abuse.