Sexual Fetishes vs. Sexual Orientation: A Primer

Yesterday, I pointed out that the far-right blogosphere is woefully ignorant as it pertains to the term "sexual orientation." When the US House of Representatives voted to add sexual orientation to existing hate crime laws, people who really dig disparaging gay people got really upset. And in order to strengthen their case for opposition have resorted to willful ignorance--or perhaps lying.

Today, while listening to The Ron Reagan Show on Air America Radio, I heard Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) going at it again, lumping in pedophilia (and all sorts of more obscure 'philias) with sexual orientation, claiming that a pedophile would be included in protections from hate crime laws. Reagan let King go on far too long in that vein, before finally setting the record straight (after the Congressman was off the air).

But if you don't know the difference, here is a handy-dandy guide for you on just what sexual orientation is. Hint: it isn't a list of fetishes and kinks, which can be practiced by any orientation.

Source: Good as You