Fielding questions on topics ranging from political (the gay-marriage hot button) to risqué (elderly and mascot fetishes) to the physical (detailing the mechanics of female ejaculation), sex columnist Dan Savage of the syndicated Savage Love\ spoke Monday night at the Wisconsin Union Theatre as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.
With a pitcher of Rathskeller beer and a soft pretzel in hand on stage, Savage answered write-in and ""live"" questions for the entirety of the lecture.
""We need to get sex education out of schools,"" said Savage, an openly gay father of an adopted son. ""I don't want anybody talking to my kid about sex.""
Savage explained this sentiment, claiming, ""When we advocate for sex ed., we get abstinence education. If that.""
""Reproductive biology"" is a better name for current sexual-education programs at schools nationwide, Savage said, comparing the classes to a driver's education class in which the students only learn how the internal combustion engine works.
""Sex education needs to be the rules of the road,"" Savage said.
Savage also said he remains optimistic for gay marriage in the United States.
""Marriage is going to lose here in November,"" he said of the state decision to put gay marriage on the ballot during the 2006 election season. ""And the United States will be the last, like we always are, but we'll get it.""
Audience members said they enjoyed the speech.
""I thought it went very well,"" said Josh Moss, UW-Madison freshman and Distinguished Lecture Series member. ""And he was definitely the funniest speaker we've had all year.""
""In all honesty, he was a lot more frank than I thought he would be,"" said UW-Madison alumna Jessie Moss, noting Savage's satirical style in his weekly column. ""But when you talk to him in person, he seems to be a person who is very careful with what he says.""
When asked what he plans to do in the future, Savage declared he would run for U.S. senator.
""No, no, I'm just kidding. Can you imagine?"" he said. ""No, I'll be like Ann Landers—you'll have to pry my column from my cold dead fingers.""
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