Entry: Ecosexuality
Serena Anderlini-D’Onofrio,
PhD
Ecosexuality is a new sexual identity and the cultural trope
that is likely to galvanize a movement of movements that places love and its
infinite modes of expression at the gravitational center of cultural formation,
dynamics, and organization. As a sexual
identity, ecosexuality denotes a desire to organize practices of love around well-being,
care, and ecosystemic health rather than any given oppositional rhetoric. As a catalyst for cultural transformation,
ecosexuality offers a new interpretation of love that aligns sexuality with
ecology and inspires a cross-pollination of the ideas and metaphors contained
within these two traditionally distinct discourses.
The term “ecosexual” initially emerged in the personal ads
as an environmentally conscious correlative to "metrosexual." Regardless of sexual orientation, an ecosexual
date connotes as somebody who would likely enjoy a visit to a farmers market or
a raw-food meal. Ecosexual have been
described as an “environmentally conscious person(s) whose adherence to green
living extends to their romantic and/or sexual life.” Ecosexuals made their appearance at a time
when sexual fluidity and amorous inclusiveness were largely accepted in
open-minded online dating forums, and when “eco-living” was rising in
acceptance and popularity. In the
capacity of a tool of discernment in the current dating system, the practice of
ecosex helps to guide consumers toward practices of love and products thereof
that respect the ecosystemic balance of the human bodies engaged in them. Sexecology is a correlative that “seeks to
make environmental activism more sexy, fun, and diverse and to involve the
LGBTQ community” in such activism.
As a trope of cultural transformation, ecosexuality galvanizes
action in the arts, activism, theory, and practice to effect change in the
metaphors by which we humans interpret the relationship with our hostess Gaia:
the planet who, thanks to four billion years of symbiotic processes that began
with bacteria (our first ancestors), has evolved a biota capable of sustaining
the life of our species. How do we
imagine this relationship between Gaia and our species? Are we friends or enemies? When we see nature
as an enemy to be controlled, we produce the exact opposite of what we want,
because, as Gaia science explains, the Earth is sovereign and its powers are
supreme. All species are subject to
being welcome in Gaia’s existence.
 |
| EcoSex Flag, by Cindy Baker |
But then suppose we want to be friends: suppose we do have a
desire to align with Gaia’s power, to second her will, as in all styles and
practices of the environmental movement.
That’s when metaphors for this relationship become significant. Is our relationship with Gaia based on
kinship or is it elective? When we say
“mother Earth” we inadvertently endorse the assumption that terrestrial
resources are available to us ad infinitum and no cost. Mothers are our kin: they don’t choose us and
we don’t choose them. We are all too
often culturally programmed to simply exploit them with no price tag or
return. When we imagine Gaia as a lover
we begin to realize how much we have been taking for granted. Are we humans a respectful partner in the
relationship or an abusive one? If our
behavior is abusive, wouldn’t Gaia do well to end the relationship? And what would that scenario look like for
us? Life on Earth started with
bacteria. In Gaia science, the existence
of these simple, fun loving microorganisms also marks the beginning of
consciousness, choice, love. In this
perspective, we humans as a species are just a new kid on the block: we could
very well be the first one to go. Gaia
is a Latin word that literally means gay.
The Earth is sovereign and happy to exist in and of herself. As a cultural trope, Ecosexuality brings awareness
to the possibility that life could very well happily continue to thrive after
we, as a species, are gone.
To be continued . . . . . come back next week, same time.
Sending
much love and all good wishes to all of you and your loved ones.
Thanks you for listening and opening up. Stay tuned for more coming.
With all good wishes for a happy spring and summer.
Thank you!
Namaste,
SerenaGaia
Namaste,
SerenaGaia
Serena Anderlini-D'Onofrio, PhD
Author of Gaia, Eros, and many other books about love Professor of Humanities, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez
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