If you're anything like me, sex education didn't go so well. First, one of our neighbors at Willow Hill in Madison Heights, Karen Muethel -- married with three children -- took it upon herself to give me a talk about the "birds and bees" when I was 7. Unsure how to react to my newfound knowledge, my horrified parents -- who like most weren't capable of having the talk themselves but suddenly felt pushed into a corner -- handed me a hastily acquired picture book about sex as they left for the supermarket one Saturday afternoon, announcing: "Read this. If you have any questions, you can ask them when we get home."
I took a one look and did not like what I saw, so never mentioned it again -- going so far as to "lose" the permission slip for the sex education presentation at Hiller Elementary a couple years later rather than go through the humiliation of asking for my mother's signature. (I faked sick the day of the actual event, so I still don't know what a vulva is.)
Some 40 years later, my family was visiting our old neighborhood near Detroit and my stepfather wistfully blurted out as he was driving the rental car:
"I wonder if Kenny is the way he is because of what Karen Muethel did," referring to the unsolicited biology lesson.
My mother, brother, sister-in-law and Damian thought it over but couldn't reach a consensus. (You may recall I went as Karen for Halloween when I was 8, although I'm not sure it there's any correlation.)
So it seems fitting that a fellow gay guy would finally make a documentary addressing this uncomfortable topic, which I have to think is more painful for anyone born into the closet given the heteronormative nature of the beast.
The trailer for "Sexplanation" -- coming to TVOD June 7 -- looks cute, although my Sex Karen's absence does loom largely.
Learn more HERE.
1 comment:
I saw this movie several years ago. It's terrific. And the host is adorable.
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