Is Hugging, Cuddling, and Holding Hands 'Gateway Sexual Activity'?

by SodaHead News Posted 2012/05/01 20:00:00

Related Topics: Teen Sex, Tennessee, gateway, sexual activity, hugging, Planned Parenthood, School, Mom, Teen Pregnancy, Memphis, Sexual, parents, High School, Teacher, Student, Sex, Teachers

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1,319 votes
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	Yes	320 votes	24%
	No	999 votes	76%

What's the best way to prevent teen pregnancy? That's up for debate, but according to Tennessee lawmakers, preventing teens from hugging might be a start. The state just passed a bill allowing the parents of students to bring charges against teachers who condone "gateway sexual activity," an unclear term which has been the subject of much criticism. Some suggest the law could bring charges against teachers for allowing students to hold hands, dance too closely, or -- worse yet -- hug.

Planned Parenthood took a stance against the bill, and the organization's Director of Education said, "If the state of Tennessee gets to create the [sex] curriculum, it has to create something that umbrella reflects everyone." However, Tennessee is unique in that teen sex rates are higher there than the national average. According to a 2009 study, 61 percent of Memphis City high school students and 27 percent of middle school students have had sex. But does that mean holding hands should be banned? And is it even a "gateway sexual activity" to begin with?

+46

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Watching closely 2012/05/01 20:39:14

Yes

+34
Yes! Add to that walking, talking, touching, seeing, breathing, and being human. I believe they are all gateways to sexual activity.
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More polls by SodaHead News

Mike 2012/05/02 08:33:10

Yes

It could lead to that with someone or other.

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☆GrayBear☆ (Ursus Americanus) 2012/05/02 07:22:44

No

.... but one can always hope....... LOL

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Beat Magnum True Hero 2012/05/02 07:12:57

No

+6
Dear America,

Please stop making the human body and all forms of physical touch a taboo. You're creating more of the problems that you're trying to stop.

Sincerely,

The rest of the world.

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Grammar... to Beat Ma... 2012/05/02 10:30:21
Diana to Beat Ma... 2012/05/02 12:44:42

You mean "Dear Tenessee", right?

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Jiorgia 2012/05/02 07:00:04

No

Not if you dont count breathing, talking and looking at eachother.

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jackie 2012/05/02 06:53:04

No

+2
Reminds me of what our superior told us. "HOLDING HANDS LEADS TO SEX". Im like wtf? If people want to have sex they arent going to begin by holding hands.

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Michael... to jackie 2012/05/02 07:43:42 (edited)

+1
People do begin usually by holding hands, exchanging warm embraces and whispering in each others ear, at least in the traditional Western culture I grew up in.
Note, this does not mean that they will always continue on to sex. Even though alcohol is the gateway drug that leads to heroin, not everyone who drinks alcohol become an addict.

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jackie to Michael... 2012/05/02 07:55:11 (edited)

so to have sex people hold hands? I usually thought it begain with taking clothes off. or in order to have sex we need to hold hands.

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Michael... to jackie 2012/05/02 17:40:27

Most people at least in America and Europe hold hands for some time before they move on to first sex experience.

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jackie to Michael... 2012/05/02 18:29:14

that doesnt mean it causes sex.

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jackie to jackie 2012/05/02 19:53:37

so it doesnt leads to it

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Michael... to jackie 2012/05/03 06:55:19

True, desire for sex does that.

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Pele Emerging 2012/05/02 06:52:21

No

+2
Birth and normal growth and development are gateway sexual activities. It's part of the human life cycle. It's too bad that life is considered shameful in the US.

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Inquisitve Kat 2012/05/02 06:23:37

No

+1
No more so than smiling, winking, or sweet-talking...

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Meng 2012/05/02 06:23:13

Yes

+2
And there's nothing wrong with that. It's strange how Americans have made physical intimacy so taboo. Are you really afraid of your own body? You know how many teens will stop having sex because of this bill? None. And how many pregnancies will this stop? None. Teens are horny, plain and simple. They're going to fool around. You can't stop that. Let them fool around, make free condoms available, sex ed, the whole deal. This is a huge step backwards.

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Beat Ma... to Meng 2012/05/02 07:13:53

+2
If anything, sex and pregnancy will go up. Rules like this are a force multiplier for sexual tension.

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Meng to Beat Ma... 2012/05/15 02:03:34

I don't know if pregnancy rates will rise, but safe sex will certainly be a scarcity, as sex itself will be treated as something clandestine.

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666_Maggots~PassionForGlory... 2012/05/02 06:22:34

No

Really? REALLY?!? Come on now....

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Mr. Basket 2012/05/02 06:06:53

Yes

+1
First is hand holding.. then next is sodomy!

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Steampu... to Mr. Basket 2012/05/02 13:06:07

You are an idiot.

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Mr. Basket to Steampu... 2012/05/02 15:50:33

Takes one to know one!

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Mr Marvin 2012/05/02 06:06:47

No

Not if that is as far as they go. A hug is always nice from someone you like.

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Bcounted 2012/05/02 05:58:28

Yes

Yes is the answer to the question posted, in addition, so is looking at each other. I certainly hope the law was more defined than “gateway sexual activity” if not, the law makers should be expelled for ignorance.
Bcounted.

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jackie to Bcounted 2012/05/02 06:55:13

+1
Maybe they are going to start putting blindfolds on them.

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Bcounted to jackie 2012/05/02 15:13:28

Shhhhhhh, don't give them any ideas.... lol
Best Wishes,
Bcounted.

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Miko Mikomiko 2012/05/02 05:54:18

No

+1
Oh suure put too many rules and laws that will sure help.

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Little Fawn 2012/05/02 05:47:04

No

Oh, come on!!

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Nai M. 2012/05/02 05:46:46

No

Hilarious because let me tell you I am a teen of this generation and teenagers will have sex weather they have held hands, kissed, or even poked each other....you may say as parents that yall will stop us but believe me.. teenagers always find a way lol! Plus state needs to stay out of family life unless there is sexual/physical/emotional abuse.

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Heisenberg 2012/05/02 05:35:41

Yes

+3
Yes I always cuddle 19 year old women in public before sex.

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beach bum 2012/05/02 05:21:01

No

kissing is

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DanC 2012/05/02 05:00:57

No

+3
Actually, it doesn't matter. There's something a lot more disturbing about this subject: the idea that sex (almost) necessarily leads to pregnancy and the idea that the best way to prevent pregnancy is to forbid/discourage sexual activity, instead of promoting sex education.

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Anariashki 2012/05/02 04:52:46

No

+1
Why don't they just outlaw any outward manifestation of physical attraction by this logic? Flirting? Smiling? Eye contact? Where does it end? Why does it begin?

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Danale 2012/05/02 04:44:18

No

+2
Really... Because I hug it will lead to sex... that is just absurd. Gov't should worry about the fact that kids are not getting a good education. Glad I don't live in Tennessee.

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Julian 2012/05/02 04:34:37 (edited)

No

+1
Preventing teens from holding hands or hugging in public leads to burqas. How's that for a 'gateway' theory?

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Gymnasticsgurl13 2012/05/02 04:24:36

No

I think that is stupid people should hold hands just because teeens hold hand doents mean they r going to do it

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The Mosher 2012/05/02 04:19:55

No

does it really matter

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YOMOMMA 2012/05/02 04:19:53

Yes

+1
BUT prohibiting is ridiculous! ain't gonna happen!

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big T 2012/05/02 04:19:25 (edited)

Yes

parents need to start growing a backbone. if someone messed with my daugher me and my 6 sons would beat their ass. As a warning

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Steampu... to big T 2012/05/02 13:07:30

Depending on how old she is, someone already might have. Just saying, most kids I know lose their virginity around age 14.

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