A letter from the editor
Sex encompasses our lives. It is a natural passion that influences the decisions we make. It is a deep-rooted voice in the back of our heads that changes the way we look at things. It is the driving force of life. However, while sex contributes so much to our lives, many individuals feel that talking openly about it is, well, "in poor taste," and would rather silence discussion of one of the most important facets of existence than hear about it.
Orbis is delighted to bring to Vanderbilt an open discussion about sex and sexuality. Not only does this issue focus on these topics themselves, but it also examines the way sex and sexuality affect people. Sex can be the greatest expression of love, yet it can also be the reason for strong hatred. The way one chooses to view sex and sexuality is becoming more of a concern for both progressives and conservatives.
The Vanderbilt production of The Laramie Project exemplifies the consequences of closed-minded individuals who would choose to view sexuality as "evil" rather than a natural, beautiful part of life. The production examines the aftermath of the severe beating and consequent death of Matthew Shepard, a 21 year-old gay male. This terrible occurrence was the result of people's hatred of homosexuality.
While more people are becoming concerned with sex and sexuality, our society's beliefs still remain ambiguous on the issue. We live in a nation that fears talking about sex and in which homophobia runs rampant. Hopefully, this issue of Orbis can open the lines of communication.