Sex & World Peace

I am a father to 9 children. The definition is a little loose for one of them who calls me a "father figure," because I am not their biological father, but I love them all the same. The mother of the other 8 was a consenting partner of mine. In fact, she still is. Even though I got a vasectomy several years ago, I still ask for her consent before sex.

One of my children was born at home. I delivered that child in the tub of our master bathroom where I was pouring warm water over my partner's birthing body. There was a midwife in the kitchen eating a snack while I caught our child underwater. We nicknamed them "Fish Tacos," for obvious and other culinary reasons.?

Another child was born on the side of the road early on a misty Spring morning. I was so glad I had seen several other births and had received some other very basic training in the process. I had read about lotus births, which calmed my nerves about what to do with the umbilical cord. That child has several nick names and is also working through several pronouns. We probably should have gone back home rather than continuing to our original destination, the hospital.?

So yeah, I have some experience. BUT I will never know what it is like to get pregnant, be pregnant for 9 months, or give birth. My experience gives me a lot of respect for women. It is puzzling to me why my body and my reproductive rights are so safe. I can hardly imagine being raped by a woman. It is hard for me to imagine being legally prohibited from getting a vasectomy. I know many people reading this probably think I waited too long for that, but I believe in families and loving Heavenly Parents who set an example for us.?

So who am I to question, criticize or control a woman's body or their reproductive rights? I'm just not qualified. So I listen to women. They are the experts here. And fortunately, I am surrounded by them. Approximately 50% of the people I know present themselves as females to me.?

After seeing my partner’s sacrifice, I can hardly imagine someone who would take advantage of an intimate situation by not using adequate physical protection. I can hardly imagine not voting for laws that offer other forms of protection for all genders and their intimate interactions. I can hardly imagine lawmakers who don’t support these seemingly basic levels of protection and healthcare.??

As for the unborn, I believe that God’s love encompasses all and can make all people and all things whole in the grand scheme of things.?

I know I have many privileges, including access to quality healthcare and unrestricted reproductive choices. I want the same for everyone.?

PS - One of the women I listen to is Bonnie Ballif-Spanvill. She wrote a book with the same title as this post that has a lot of amazing data and research on this important topic. Thank you Bonnie and countless others who are talking, writing, posting, and taking action.