Sexual Rights

We know that knowledge is power and ignorance is NOT bliss. We all need knowledge to make informed choices, but when it comes to sex and sexual relationships, people with disabilities are given the message that they don’t need this information; this isn’t for them. But we all have the right to learn and become informed; when we aren’t, we may suffer. 

This right is very specific about what knowledge people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) want and need. They are asking people to go beyond friendship, meeting partners, and wondering what a healthy relationship is. They are asking for access to information about sex, such as “what is sex?” And they are wondering how to have a safe and healthy sexual relationship and reproductive health.

We all want to be accepted for who we are. If you fit into what most people see as typical (cisgender, binary, and heterosexual), you are, in some ways, automatically accepted. On the other hand, self-advocates who are also part of the LGBTQ+ community say they often feel unaccepted and have to advocate to be accepted, acknowledged, and appreciated. 

As a society, we have a difficult time discussing sexuality and relationships in general, but when the topic of the right to sexual pleasure is talked about, some people can feel really uncomfortable. Let’s back up a bit and focus on the word pleasure. Do we as a society encourage pleasurable experiences? We often feel guilty or undeserving of pleasure, but why? Not only do we get messages about sexuality as a negative, but also pleasure in general as negative, all work and no play. We need to change that because learning what gives us pleasure and not just sexual pleasure helps us all live fulfilling and satisfying lives. 

Privacy is a human right. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) laws give us this right regarding our health information, but when people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) receive services, others, or even ourselves, may forget about this right. Self-advocates state that if anything is going on in their lives regarding sexuality, everyone knows about it and talks about it. If they mention wanting privacy with a partner, “a team meeting is called,” and they suddenly have no privacy regarding their personal information.

Autonomy is to self-govern or to determine what you want in your life. It’s about being in charge of your life, body, mind, and relationships. It’s about having the ability to make informed decisions without others pressuring, manipulating, or forcing you to make a different decision. 

I want to explore the topic of sexual rights. There are many lists online of what sexual rights are, but what I found most useful was this Sexual Rights Statement that was developed by the Sex Education Implementation Oversight Committee in their efforts to support implementation of the new Illinois law: Public Act 101-0506. 

The committee (including self-advocates) compiled what they believe are the rights, and then the self-advocates and the Illinois Self-Advocacy Alliance (https://selfadvocacyalliance.org/) created Easier-To-Understand Sexual Rights statements that fit under the various rights. They have also been translated into Spanish, Simplified Chinese, and Polish (the most common languages other than English, which are spoken in Illinois).