What's the big deal with SEX ? Over the last few months we've seen a new style of zine, one's that are prepared to take risks and to tackle previously unsafe issues. Zines like Charred Remains, Real Overdose, Shag Stamp and recently Nosebleed to name but a few, who have had the guts to try something different in the guise of sex based issues. I heartily congratulate them on their issues as it is so refreshing, let's face it the punk/underground is supposed to be the forum for debate, risk-taking, non-censorship and basically to act as a direct reaction to the mainstream press who tie themselves to preordained policies and buttlicking.

So why will these zines' mailboxes be plagued by PC half-wits moaning about the sex in their zines ? I don't understand the problem, how is writing about sex i) disgusting; ii) sexist; I ask this because if you read any fictional novel or watch any TV programme/film you will be confronted by sex whether you like it or not and like that particular book, zine or programme you can choose to NOT read or NOT watch it - you DO have a choice! Also the above mentioned media have restrictions and policies to uphold, similar to the mainstream press - so effectively if zines cannot confront issues because the PC brigade say so then we are in fact no better an alternative to the multi-billion pound industry that in effect appears to take more risks than we do. Also how is writing about sex being sexist ?

Sexism is a term used to describe something that discriminates against someone's gender, yet sex issues deal with both sexes whether it be heterosexual or gay. So where is the sexism in sex except for the first three letters ?

I suggest that the problem that people have with these zines and in fact, for that matter talking about sex in general is that they are uncomfortable about confronting their own emotions and feelings. After all there's not many of us who can stand up in a room full of strangers and say "Last night I had a great shag with my partner..." or discuss openly personal fantasies because we FEAR what people will think of us and we FEAR that the people in the room don't do the same things we all do.

The problem with sex is that it is one subject that is not openly discussed in this country, it is swept conveniently under the carpet and that is why the press have a field day with ever little affair and sex orgy that they print stories about. Political Correctness has only made matters worse and has hit the underground scene with more morals than a Christian Evangelical priest. Writing about sex is not degrading and doesn't invade your space or grope you. In fact if everyone were honest, they'd admit that reading sexual prose and dialogue is more of a turn on than looking at pictures, as it leaves more to the imagination.

We are by biological circumstance a being that needs to have sex to procreate. Why shouldn't we enjoy it without feeling guilty or feeling sinful? Our embarrassment comes from our childhood and from a long line of Christian based Victorian morals that have tarnished our very species with stereotypes of what is male and female. Like Orwell's Animal Farm and the revolutionary cry of "two legs bad, four legs good" the issue speaks for itself as the power of sexes reigns on.

This should not be the case in the underground, we are effectively in control of our own destinies and therefore should have the intelligence to debate and write about issues that relate to us all, like sex without having to receive a mountain of hate mail consisting of people who at the end of the day have a hang up with themselves or are following what they see as the 'in' issue to jump on.

Sex is not dirty or degrading, it is fun and very enjoyable and after all it's one of the first things you want to discover at puberty. What I think alot of people have problems with are the stereotypical attitudes that people have like the macho man or the bimbo woman but at the end of the day they have little to do with actual sex, they may fuel fantasies but then so can anything from a shoe to a certain type of fabric. I also presume that some people see male zine writers writing about sex fosters degrading attitudes towards women ? Well again if a guy is straight and writes a sex issue he's hardly likely to rave on about how he'd like to get it on with Henry Rollins is he ? and the same goes for a girl who does an article on the inadequacies of the male organ or some such thing.

What I think has happened is that in fear of treading on someone's toes or being classed as sexist, the subject of sex has been ignored and hoped it would go away. But it remains and is unlikely to go away, we need to see the difference between these points and not slag the first person down who writes that he or she got it on the other night, it's part of life and therefore a subject to write about. We all indulge in sex in our lives, it hasn't become some outdated useless past time so we should be able to talk about it if we want. The final clause shall be inserted here to those who maybe ready, pen poised and insults in-gear to write me a stack of hate mail - don't bother.

(Sex here is defined as sex occurring between consenting adults and not sick perverts with child/animal or other mentally impaired sexual practises, also rape is not sex it is violence - Clause ends.)

Well that about wraps it up for another rant, if you think you can do better and you probably can, send us in your rant and we'll be happy to print it - who knows you could do a regular column.