The following Bill of Rights represents a rationalist approach to sexual ethics. Taking the Bill of Rights, either by giving different sections to different groups within a class or as a personal analysis, where do we find influences or  echoes from our major ethical theories (Kant, Natural Law, Utilitarianism, Situation Ethics, Virtue Ethics)?  In what ways exactly does a humanist part company with a Roman Catholic Natural Law theorist? Where are the areas of agreement?

It’s up to you to get what you want from sex and to avoid what you don’t want. Get to know yourself, and know your body. Know what you want out of the sexual relationship. What do you find sexually appealing? What feels good to you? What are your limits? Know what kinds of things you are willing to participate in and what things you won’t within a sexual relationship.

Example: A Sexual Health Bill of Rights

• I have the right to own my own body.
• I have a right to my own feelings, beliefs, opinions and perceptions.
• I have a right to trust my own values about sexual conduct.
• I have a right to set my own sexual limits
• I have a right to say no.
• I have a right to say yes.
• I have a right to experience sexual pleasure.
• I have a right to remain celibate.
• I have a right to be sexually assertive.
• I have a right to be the initiator in a sexual relationship.
• I have a right to be in control of my sexual experiences.
• I have a right to have a loving partner.
• I have a right to my sexual orientation and preferences.
• I have a right to have a partner who respects me, understands me, and is willing to communicate with me.
• I have a right to talk to my partner about incest/child sexual abuse/rape.
• I have a right to ask questions and receive accurate sexual information.

Sexual Responsibilities

Each person has the responsibility to:

• respect the rights of other people
• honour the decisions and choices of others
• respect his/her sexual partner
• consider the feelings of his/her sexual partner
• make personal choices and decisions rather than being talked into actions which cause guilty or uneasy feelings
• take and share the actions necessary for sexual health
• share the decisions and actions regarding birth control
• never pressure anyone into any sexual activity
• never use sexual experiences as a threat, manipulation or punishment
• never have sex with children