I May be Some Time...

I've been a bit rubbish at regularly posting as of late, and I'm afraid I am going to have to do a bit of a Stephen Fry (of sorts). I've got a book due out in the Autumn and I'm hopelessly behind with it, plus I'm tied up with other projects at the moment. Consequently, in order to retain some degree of sanity I'm going to take a bit of a break from this blog. I'll probably still post the odd thing from time to time but I'm not even going to attempt anything more regular. I'll still be tweeting and writing random things on Facebook so you're welcome to follow me on there. See you all very soon.

Teaching Law and Sexuality

As you probably know, this blog was originally set up to support two modules I teach on the Law undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at Sunderland Uni. Those modules have both now finished for this academic year and I thought I'd try something different - what do you, my blog readers, tweet followers etc think I should be teaching on those modules (Law and Sexuality/Gender, Sexuality and Law)? To get a bit more of an idea you can check out the official module descriptors that set out the aims/broad topics on my academia page available here. Just choose 'teaching documents' on the left hand side menu and then post your suggestions on this blog via 'comments'

Italy and the Freedom to Marry

I was recently sent details about the campaign to ensure the freedom to marry for same-sex couples in Italy. The campaign website states: 'On 23rd March the Italian Constitutional Court will decide whether several articles of the Civil Code (art. 93, 96, 98, 107, 108, 143, 143-bis, and 156-bis) restricting civil marriage to “husband and wife” rather than “spouses” discriminate against same-sex couples, and infringe upon the principles of equality and non-discrimination protected by the Constitution.

Legally speaking in Italy there is neither a legal “definition” of marriage nor an express restriction on the marriage of same-sex couples. Moreover a requirement that the parties must be of opposite sex is not specified.

Therefore, during 2007 two Italian associations, Certi Diritti and Rete Lenford, jointly launched the national campaign called Affermazione Civile (Civil Affirmation). The aim of the campaign is to bring an end to the exclusion of committed same-sex couples from civil marriage.

Gay people have the same mix of reasons as non-gay people for wanting the freedom to marry, and the law should not discriminate against committed couples or deny them civil marriage licenses with the same responsibilities, same rules, and same respect.'

They've launched a petition, and full details can be viewed here.

Suburbia and the Sex Dungeon

I'd like to be one of those people who endlessly praises the work of the police but they don't make it easy do they? The Daily Mail (is that a boo I hear?) has a story today about (deep breath) a 'sex dungeon' in a 'sleepy village'. Now then, when the Daily Mail says sleepy village, it's code for 'normal', 'nice', 'conservative' and sexless. Oh yes, and children. The land of the immaculate conception. So we learn that Police officers tipped up at a home in Lee Mill, Devon with 'battering rams' but were let in to the property after a plain clothes policeman knocked. According to the story: 'Officers were alerted after neighbours reported 'unusual behaviour' and 'strange sounds' coming from the four-bedroom semi in Lee Mill, Devon.'

So be careful, bit of a scream and before you know it you'll have the Police turning up with a battering ram. Mind you, I get paranoid when I channel flick and end up with the Islam channels blasting out. Such is the collective bonkers like state of society today that I'd probably get raided on suspicion of being a member of Al-Qaeda. I fly a few channels ahead and you hit the kids channels - oh hell, paedophile, click a few more and end up settling on something nice and safe, Sky Arts perhaps. Oh no, somethign on porn, back to beign a perv. What are these standards we should be following and who sets them?

The Daily Mail story goes on to report that:

'The sex 'dungeon' was found in a converted first floor room filled with hundreds of items including whips, gas masks, wooden bats, handcuffs, clothes pegs and shackles.

Police also discovered bondage chairs with straps, straight jackets, sex toys, gimp masks, S&M outfits, shackles, cattle prods and car batteries used to power the toys.

The dungeon was also stuffed with 'various electrical vibrating' items and a recording studio complete with computer equipment and mixing desk.'

I have this image of one of the Police Officers returning home to another 'sleepy village' unable to look at a clothes peg again. Detective Sergeant Stuart Gilroy of Devon and Cornwall police said: 'It's fair to say we were not expecting to find a masochistic dungeon in sleepy Lee Mill. You don't expect to find this sort of thing anywhere.' Is he being serious? Stuart - you need to get out more. Then we have one neighbour saying: 'I've seen traffic jams caused by people trying to go there. It's disgusting. We just want them out and have a nice family move in.' Traffic jams? TRAFFIC JAMS? Do we think this neighbour might be exaggerating a wee bit? It's disgusting to see people drive up and go in someones house? What is disgusting? What has affected this neighbour? What on earth is this 'nice family'? Someone who has 'normal' rows, screaming kids? The family is cast as the great saviours - by which this local means straight people with children.

As much as I joke and mock in this post, there are real people at the centre of this. People who are humiliated and reduced by this sort of action. The prejudice of a society quick to condemn, a police force quick to act and slow to think, and a press all too keen to feed this circle of ignorance and prejudice. It seems at all costs, we must protect the illusion of Suburbia.

Read the full story here. Should you think that my post sounds sensible, consider lending your support to the Consenting Adult Action Network (CAAN) here.

Out and About

When I started this blog back in 2007 I wasn't sure if it would last the month but with the growth of Facebook and the emergence of Twitter I've had the privilege to interact with more and more of you. Whilst this blog was also designed principally with my students in mind, I'm very much aware that they make up a tiny fraction of the growing number of readers today.

It's for that reason that I thought it might be useful to give you all a heads up on my 'out and about' plans over the next few months. Burglars beware - I'm leaving a house-sitter and fierce ninja cat in charge so don't go getting excited.

So, if you're in the vicinity or plan on attending these events give me a shout. I'd like to meet and interact with as many of you as possible. I'm down in Cambridge 28/29 March for the Association of Law Teachers Annual Conference before dashing off to Bristol (University of the West of England) 30-1 April for the Socio-Legal Studies Annual Conference and then flying home to pretend I'm not turning 30 that weekend.

I'm then over in Chicago 25-31 May for the Law and Society Annual Conference. I'm making a visit to London for a few days at some point to use the Hall-Carpenter Archives at the LSE and heading over to San Francisco for a week (probably June) to do some more research for my public sex book.

This trotting about has been kindly funded by the new Centre for Research into the Experience Economy at the University of Sunderland. Read more about last week's launch here.

Don't forget, you can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook and interact via clicking 'comments' at the bottom of every blog post.