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What Is
Man/Boy Love?
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Man/Boy Love: Propaganda versus reality
To explain man/boy love today, one must first explain what it is
not: It is not what you view on television or read in newspapers. It’s
not what you hear on Oprah or
Geraldo, nor is it the propaganda put out by police and politicians.
It’s the love of a man for a boy, and of a boy for a man. Enjoyable,
consensual, beautiful.
The Love that Dare Not Speak Its Name
The "Love that dare not speak its name" in this century is such a great
affection of an elder for a younger man as there was between David and
Jonathan, such as Plato made the very basis of his philosophy, and such
as you find in the sonnets of Michelangelo and Shakespeare. It is that
deep, spiritual affection that is as pure as it is perfect. It dictates
and pervades great works of art like those of Shakespeare and
Michelangelo, and those two letters of mine, such as they are. It is in
this century misunderstood, so much misunderstood that it may be
described as the "Love that dare not speak its name," and on account of
it I am placed where I am now. It is beautiful, it is fine, it is the
noblest form of affection. There is nothing unnatural about it. It is
intellectual, and it repeatedly exists between an elder and a younger
man, when the elder man has intellect, and the younger man has all the
joy, hope and glamour of life before him. That it should be so, the
world does not understand. The world mocks at it and sometimes puts one
in the pillory for it.
~ Oscar Wilde, playwright
Who We Are
As never before, our society is beginning to recognize the value and
richness of human diversity. The manifold nature of our humanity
appears in the emotional, spiritual, and physical attractions between
people. Attractions between men and boys can be found in every
society, crossing lines of race, age, temperament and occupation.
They form a sure basis for mentoring and friendship traditions the
world over. Man/boy love is exceptional only for the degree to
which it is still misunderstood in cultures derived from Northwestern
Europe. Most man/boy relationships are based on mutual respect
and affection, and strongly desired by both partners. Such
relationships do not harm anyone, and often entail many benefits for
both man and boy. Boy-lovers and boys alike respond to the needs
of those they love — needs for affection, understanding, and
freedom.
Who we are is perhaps best understood from Dr. John Money’s
account of two boys, who speak about how they view their adult lovers:
Andy – “Just as normal as anybody else. He is like a second
father to me.” Burt – “He’s neat; and he’s nice, and gives me
more respect than anyone ever has ... he treats me like an adult,
not like my parents treat me. To me, he’s my best friend.”
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Copyright ©
NAMBLA, 2008
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