Thursday, February 14, 2013

Caliente! (Hot!)

People with different minds and disabilities have sexuality and sex.

"Being born without arms and legs was not God's way of punishing me. I know that now. I have come to realize that this "disability" would actually heighten my ability to serve His purpose as a speaker and evangelist," says Nick Vujicic, who was born with tetra-amelia syndrome, a rare disorder characterized by the absence of all four limbs, in his book Unstoppable The Incredible Power of Faith in Action. Nick is married to Kanae Loida Vujicic-Miyahara. Yesterday, February 13, 2013, Kiyoshi James Vujicic was the first child born to Nick and Kanae.

Disability rights activist Ed Roberts is paralyzed from the neck down. When he was a young person beginning to express interest in sex, some told him to give up on his dreams. But Ed turned his dreams into reality and now has a son conceived through sexual intercourse.

David Ring also did not listen to those who told him he wouldn't get married, have kids or preach because he has cerebral palsy. Ring got married, has four children and has preached to more than 6,000 churches internationally.

Sex researcher Alfred Kinsey found people enjoy expanded physical prowess under the influence of sexual arousal. Kinsey discovered that a stutterer loses his stutter. A person with cerebral palsy gains greater control of their muscles.

Some do not have God-sized thinking when it comes to empowering those with different minds, the disabled and others to live their dreams. Margaret Sanger was the founder of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). As an activist in the birth control and population control movements she advocated for the reduction of births among blacks, other people of color, the disabled and those of limited financial means. Planned Parenthood today is the largest provider of abortions to blacks, other people of color, the disabled and those of limited financial means. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a July 2009 New York Times interview says, "Frankly I had thought that at the time Roe was decided, there was concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don't want to have too many of. So that Roe was going to be then setup for Medicaid funding for abortion."

Let's shift the focus from eliminating people to eliminating poverty and other obstacles to victorious living. Read my article, "Faith, Fear and Japanese Americans."

Our thinking can be the biggest barrier to bold, bountiful living. Ask God to totally take over our thought processes, emotions and our total person. Small-mindedness is a slippery slope to stagnancy. Everyone is disabled to some extent; we all have some inabilities. Cry out to God for the disabled like the father did in response to Jesus recorded in Mark 9:23-24 New Living Translation Bible, and expect to receive miracles: "What do you mean, 'If I can'?" Jesus asked. "Anything is possible if a person believes." The father instantly cried out, "I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!""

Christian, former U.S. four-term President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was disabled, and he fought to have the technology necessary to live the best possible life. Since he could not use his legs due to paralysis from polio, Roosevelt used hand controls to drive.

James Anderson DePreist was a black conductor of international renown, made more than 50 recordings, published two books and received numerous honors, including the National Medal of Arts given to to him by President George W. Bush in 2005. The National Medal of Arts is the highest honor for artistic excellence in the country. DePreist also had polio, used a motorized wheelchair and refused to let disability or blackness stop him from believing and achieving. DePreist died February 8, 2013, and lived as the husband of Ginette DePreist for 32 years. He had two daughters, Tracy and Jennifer, from his first marriage and two grandchildren. Being widowed or divorced does not have to mean we are done living.

As an American culture we think of people with different minds and disabilities as being either asexual, or the topic is taboo. Taboos can sometimes be a territory that Satan dominates. Strip Satan. What are some things we may not know about sex and sexuality in the different minds and disability community?

Fear is a contributor to wrong and limited thinking on sex and sexuality. For much of American history it was illegal for people of different races to be married. It wasn't until 1967, which just happens to be the year I was born, that interracial marriage in America was legal. Before it was legal Fred and Ann Jealous were a white and black couple. Benjamin Jealous, their son and a Rhodes scholar, is currently the president of the NAACP, the oldest civil rights organization in the country, which just had a birthday on February 12.

Ignorance is also an issue in wrong and limited thinking on sex and sexuality. It wasn't that many years ago that my son, Rafael Damani Fowler, who has autism, and I were in an auto shop and a man expressed aversion to Rafael as if he could catch autism like a communicable disease. And yes, Rafael, has single sexuality that he celebrates within balanced, beautiful, Biblical boundaries. Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, encouraging border states to outlaw slavery, helped push through Congress the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which finally freed all the slaves nationwide in December 1865, led the United States through the American Civil War preserving the Union and battled periods of depression, has some good advice: "I don't like that man. I must get to know him better."

Instead of a holiday honoring multiple presidents on one day, what about a separate Federal holiday recognizing Lincoln whose birthday is February 12, 1809?

An abundant, enjoyable, full, overflowing life is for whosoever is willing to live in the ways of God. Disability does not have to stop someone from living a delightful, dynamic life. Read my article "Disability and a Dynamic Life." God welcomes all people to delightful, dynamic living. We can too. Christian, African American Marian Wright Edelman says, "When Jesus Christ asked little children to come to him, he didn't say only rich children, or White children, or children with two-parent families, or children who didn't have a mental or physical handicap. He said, "Let all children come unto me.""

If we are disabled or in a group some don't want too many if any of, God wants us all and gave us sexuality, sex and the right to life and reproduction for our joy and good.

While we may not want to have autism, depression, tetra-amelia syndrome, cerebral palsy, polio, paralysis or something else, God allowed it. On Orpah's OWN network Vujicic, who does not have arms or legs, said to everyone, "You are beautiful just the way you are." He also said, "You can be angry for what you don't have, or be thankful for what you do have." What a spicy, sex secret now revealed that when it's practiced is guaranteed to thwart body-image problems that create barriers in the bedroom and other areas of lovemaking. Read my article "Sexual Dissatisfaction."

God created sex and sexuality. What God creates is good, very good. Gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, who is victorious over homosexuality, sings in his song, "I'm Walking," "I'm walking in authority, living life without apology. It's not wrong dear. I belong here. So you might as well get use to me." Christ confidence is another spicy sex secret now revealed.

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