Objectum Sexuality

(I hope my blog pops up on Google when someone searches for this term...)

Hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of people saw the episode of Good Morning America last week about Erika Eiffel, the woman who is in love with (and had a commitment ceremony to) the Eiffel Tower. I did not see this episode, but heard about it the next day on The Bert Show. I have tried to remain calm about it. I have tried NOT to judge these people. I have struggled to keep an open mind...but I just can't. Objectum-Sexuality is a load of crap. I don't know anything about these people other than the fact that they love inanimate objects, so much that they consider them their husbands, wives, life partners, etc. Some people are suggesting that objectum-sexuality is a new sexual orientation, just like homosexuality or heterosexuality. Erika Eiffel, in her interview with Bizarre Magazine said, "Simply put... OS, is an orientation just as hetero and homo sexuality are orientations of one's innate sexuality. Replacing the term hetero with object will most accurately describe Objectum-sexuality. But my personal definition is to be emotionally and physically attracted to objects."

When asked, "Could an Objectum-Sexual also find a human being physically attractive, or indeed have a relationship with one?" Eiffel responded, I can find a person aesthetically attractive, but more than that... the answer is no. I just do not feel
anything more than friendship with people. I tried to have mainstream relations with people in the years that I rejected my OS because of societal pressure... but each time was a failure and caused me much pain." Sounds to me like a sexual orientation right? She's tried to be "normal" by society's standards but failed miserably. Now she is happy and healthy with her husband, the Eiffel Tower.

Lets go into the psychopathology of objectum-sexuality. Is it a fetish? No. A fetish is a psychosexual disorder in which a person cannot achieve orgasm without the presence of their fetish object (feet, latex, whips, chains, food...) It causes significant distress in their sexual functioning because they cannot have normal sexual relationships with other people. Is it a paraphilia? (Sexual arousal in response to sexual objects or situations which may interfere with the capacity for reciprocal affectionate sexual activity. OR: Any of a group of sexual fantasies, urges and behaviors that are considered deviant with respect to cultural norms) Examples include, masochism, sadism, (until the 70's, homosexuality), transvestitism, and pedophilia. With the exception of pedophilia, all of these things can be completely healthy and cause no negative effect. It is only truly considered a paraphilia if it causes significant distress for the person experiencing it. So if a person likes to be tied up and whipped, that's fine as long as it doesn't interfere with their ability to function normally. So is objectum-sexuality a paraphilia? No.

The question burning in all our minds is, are these people crazy? Certifiable, ought to be locked in an institution, danger to themselves crazy? Probably not. A little touched in the head? Much more than a little...Yes, I am making snap judgments. No, I do not care. One therapists experience shows that many people who identify as objectum-sexuals have autism or Aspberger's syndrome. That certainly explains these people's lack of connection with other people. Some have been sexually abused. Which would also explain some things. But as for Erika Eiffel, she neither suffers from autism nor was she sexually abused as a child.

Because of her love for objects, she became a world-class archer, and an officer in the air force. Consequently, it also caused her to be medically discharged from the air force. So has it negatively affected her life? Yes and no. Does it cause her distress? No. Does she feel that it negatively affects her sexual functioning? No. Is being objectum-sexual causing any danger to herself or others? No. So does she have a psychosexual disorder? The answer is debatable. Most would say yes, but when you break down the criteria, the ultimate answer is no. Psychological disorders are a matter of personal experience.

Educational opinion aside...THESE PEOPLE ARE RIDICULOUS! It is shit like this that is going to prevent LGBTQ Americans from being able to marry our partners and have equal rights under the law. This is the exact argument that people use against us. "If we let gays marry, then people will want to marry their dogs, little kids, and hell...even their cars!" WHAT THE FUCK? I am furious at all the publicity these whack-jobs are getting. Yes I believe we should be accepting or at least tolerant of other people's lifestyles..but this is crossing the line. These people are tearing down any progress that the LGBTQ community has made! This is bullshit!

(For more information, you can visit Objectum-Sexuality Internationale.)