The Times of London takes an intriguing look at the love (and sex) lives of people with disabilities and their partners, which stands as an interesting companion piece to Daniel Bergner’s book on fetishes.
Clark talks frankly to disabled people, their partners, therapists and sex workers for her piece on what sex is really like for the differently-abled — and like sex for the rest of us, it pretty much runs the gamut. From Anne, who contracted polio as a child, and Norman — who have a son together and call sex “meaningful and passionate… sacred and not to be taken for granted” to “actress and disability campaigner” Julie Fernandez, who jokes that her brittle-bone disease makes her double-jointed in bed, the story is touching, funny and an exploration of what many of us some day might be dealing with due to age, disease or accident. And — despite what you might think before reading it — it doesn’t seem remotely grim.
There’s this, from photographer David Steinberg who photographs disabled couples during sex:
“Probably the most significant thing I’ve learnt is that people can be wonderfully sexual in many ways. And that being fulfilled sexually is not particular to any one sexual act or sexual way of being. I’ve seen looks of unmistakable ecstasy on the faces of people who many would consider severely limited in what they can do sexually. And looks of profound love from people who cannot perform sexually in ways that most people consider absolutely essential to sexual happiness.”
That actually sounds pretty hot.
Then there’s the story of Andy and Michelle, who met after his wife left him after he became an amputee. They became friends and then more and Michelle now says that her husband’s disability means that they have to be more open about what feels good… which leads to better sex.
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
