Sexuality’s Advocate

“Creating a Flexible Pluralism of Intimate Relationships for Our Internet-Connected ‘Global Village.’” Poster presentation with Robert T. Francoeur at the 2006 Conference of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), November 11, 2006, Las Vegas, NV.

“Ethics and Issues in Teaching about Culturally Sensitive Sexual Topics: Lessons from The Continuum Complete International Encyclopedia of Sexuality.” Continuing Education session presented at the 2005 Conference of the Eastern and Midcontinent Regions of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), November 6, 2005, Atlanta, GA.

“Lessons from a Decade of Cross-Cultural Sexual Research in 60 Countries: Summary and Future Directions.” In Robert T. Francoeur, Suzanne G. Frayser, & Raymond J. Noonan (Chairs), Lessons from a decade of cross-cultural sexual research in 60 countries. Symposium conducted by the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) during the XVII World Congress of Sexology, July 14, 2005, Montréal, Québec, Canada.

“Female Sexuality Today: Challenging Cultural Repression,” by Robert T. Francoeur, Raymond J. Noonan, Beldina Opiyo-Omolo, and Jakob Pastoetter, an article in the Fall 2004 “Flesh and Spirit: Essays in Sexuality” issue of CrossCurrents, the journal of The Association for Religion and Intellectual Life in New York City.

Read Dr. Ray Noonan’s September 11, 2002, commentary on this Nation’s disgraceful official response to the destruction of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, which persists today: Let Us Forget: The Twin Towers and Bin Laden’s New York.

“Sexuality and Space: Theoretical Considerations for Extended Spaceflight,” was Dr. Noonan’s first presentation of the results of his dissertation research at New Horizons: The 71st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) in Houston in May 2000. Dr. Noonan completed his doctorate at New York University, making him the world’s expert on this topic. An abstract, the table of contents, and the preface of his dissertation, A Philosophical Inquiry into the Role of Sexology in Space Life Sciences Research and Human Factors Considerations for Extended Spaceflight, the first comprehensive analysis of the issue of sex in space, can be found at this link. In addition, you will find links to ordering information from University Microfilms (UMI).

“Sex in Space: An Interdisciplinary Synthesis for Present and Future Studies,” was his presentation of these results to sexologists at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in November 2000 in Orlando, Florida.

“Philosophy and Sex: Foundations and Analysis in Sex Research,” was a synthesis of Dr. Noonan’s work in the philosophy of sex at the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) in November 2000 in Orlando.

Dr. Noonan continues to delve into other cutting-edge critical issues in sexology, including his work on heterophobia and its impact on heterosexual relationships, sexuality and the Internet, the effects of excesses in social constructionist perspectives on public policy and the social sciences, and the historic alt.sex.conferences.

“Heterophobia: The Evolution of an Idea,” a workshop at the 1999 Joint Annual Meeting of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS) and the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) in November 1999 in St. Louis. Although Dr. Noonan, as a sexologist, regards the issue of heterophobia as more broadly based in its manifestations, Professor Daphne Patai provides a focused look at one particular aspect of it in her important book, Heterophobia: Sexual Harassment and the Future of Feminism—highly recommended.

“From Columbine to Fashion to Virtual Reality: Toward a Holistic Sexual Ecology I & II,” a two-part presentation at Healthy Sexuality in the 21st Century, an AASECT New York City Metro Section conference at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT/SUNY) in October 1999 in New York City.

“The New Media: Reflections of Our Sexuality from the Internet,” a presentation at the 1998 Joint Annual Meeting of SSSS and AASECT in November 1998 in Los Angeles.

“The Social Construction of Sexual Harassment and Heterophobia,” in “Alt.sex.conference II: A Follow-Up Symposium on Controversial Unaddressed Issues,” a presentation and symposium at the historic second alt.sex.conference, at the 1998 Joint Annual Meeting of SSSS and AASECT in November 1998 in Los Angeles.

“The Sexual Health Initiative (SHI): Toward a Sane Sex Perspective,” a presentation at the historic first alt.sex.conference, held during the 1997 Joint Annual Meeting of SSSS and AASECT in November 1997 in Arlington.

“Realizing Sexual Potential Through the World Wide Web,” a presentation in A. Cooper (Chair), Sexuality and the Internet—Surfing into the Next Millennium, a symposium conducted at the 105th Annual Conference of the American Psychological Association (APA) in August 1997 in Chicago.

Also available at this site: Dr. Noonan’s often-cited master’s thesis, Sex Surrogates: A Clarification of Their Functions, for those who always wanted to know what surrogates really do! Be sure to visit the Web site of the International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA) for additional information about sex surrogate therapy.

Read Dr. Noonan’s Commentary on the National Crisis and Sexual Health: Sexuality in the Age of Bill Clinton, Monica Lewinsky, and Kenneth Starr.

To read online excerpts from the revised second edition of Dr. Noonan’s book, Does Anyone Still Remember When Sex Was Fun? Positive Sexuality in the Age of AIDS, detailing some of his innovative ideas, which are developed further in the third edition above, follow these links:

Survival Strategies for Lovers in the 1990s Synopsis: “Survival Strategies for Lovers in the 1990s” continues to have relevance in the 21st Century. It discusses general guidelines for the satisfying and healthy expression of sexuality that are particularly relevant to our lives today as we enter the new millennium—during what hopefully will be the closing years of the age of AIDS. They will be vital in the aftermath of AIDS that will probably occur in the opening years of the 21st Century—if we allow it to occur.

The Politics of Sexuality and AIDS: Psychosocial Aspects and Other Theoretical Considerations Synopsis: “When you have sex with someone, you’re having sex with everyone else they’ve had sex with,” is just one of the popular myths that are debunked by Dr. Noonan, making this his most important chapter—and the most controversial in the book. In it, he introduced his Sane Sex Alternative to contemporary misinformation about sex and AIDS, as well as his concept of AIDS-Related Fears and Anxieties (ARFA), a generalized, misdirected fear of sex and intimacy that plagues many people because of the misuse of AIDS and other potentially negative aspects of sexual expression as instruments of terror by those who wish to impose and enforce their own highly restrictive and narrow views of sexual morality. Included is a discussion of the concept of relative risk and how our perception of risk is distorted in sexual and other matters. A more accurate assessment of sexual risk is then presented. A must-read for everyone!

Older online articles by Dr. Noonan are also available at this site: “Evolving Marriage: The New Sexualities in Perspective” (a paper presented at the IV World Congress of Sexology in the Symposium, “The Validity of Marriage,” on December 17, 1979, at the Centro Medico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico); “Assessing Right-Wing Opposition to Sex Education” (a paper presented at the IV World Congress of Sexology in the Plenary Session, “Sexology, Religion, and Politics,” on December 19, 1979, at the Centro Medico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico); “Sex and the Mind I” (an early article on the Philosophy of Sex that originally appeared as: Noonan, R. J. (1974, Summer/Fall). Sex and the mind. Philadelphia Review, 1(2), 8-9); and “Sex and the Mind II” (a follow-up article defending the concept of Philosophy of Sex that originally appeared as: Noonan, R. J. (1975, Spring/Summer). Sex and the mind. Philadelphia Review, 2(1), 6).