Reader: ‘When Vibrators and Dildos are Outlawed, Only Outlaws Will Have Vibrators and Dildos’

Every other year, things tend to get a bit silly in Texas. That’s when the Texas Legislature convenes, which means future-shaping decisions regarding education, immigration, abortion, guns, healthcare and more are made. And because this is Republican-controlled Texas, recent legislative sessions have introduced a whole new level of warfare aimed at the LGBTQ community.

Then you have a glut of bills that seemingly get filed for little more reason than to draw a bit of attention that might whip up some fervor of a legislator’s base. Oftentimes, the most attention-grabbing bills have little chance of making it very far, let alone get anywhere near passing. You might say that those bills aren’t worth giving press coverage to, and in many cases, we agree with that.

But there is something to be said for calling out such distractions during what should be a productive, urgent time for state lawmakers. Earlier this week, we reported on a bill authored by McKinney state Sen. Angela Paxton, yes, Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton’s wife, that seeks to require online sex toy retailers to verify a customer is 18 years old before completing the purchase.

Lawmakers who file these sorts of bills often say the goal is to protect children, but the opposition to this bill isn’t about letting children buy sex toys. For opponents it’s about an invasion of privacy and other related problems for those adults that wish to make such a purchase. Our reporter spoke to a sex educator about the damage that this bill could do should it find its way onto Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

“Requiring ID to purchase a sex toy sends the message that pleasure is something to be policed and surveilled,” said Dr. Shamyra Howard, a licensed clinical social worker sex educator for We-Vibe, a couples’ sexual wellness brand. “It pathologizes something that is completely normal and turns a private, healthy act into something shameful. This kind of legislation doesn’t protect people; it embarrasses them. It creates unnecessary barriers and reinforces harmful stigmas that many of us have spent years trying to dismantle.”

Paxton’s bill is but the most recent GOP-powered effort to keep Texans from getting busy in one form or another. Judging from the responses we received on Facebook and Instagram, plenty of our readers are put out with the conservative war on sex in Texas.

Barbie G. on Instagram:

Are the Paxton’s projecting?

Victoria H. on Instagram:

Angela: “If I can’t feel pleasure, THEN NOBODY ELSE SHOULD”

Extraverdely E. on Instagram:

Not to mention it’s already illegal in Texas to own more than 6 dildos 🙄 (which is BONKERS). So now they actually want to enforce this law? And I thought the republican party was the party of less government 😤😤😤

Ginni S on Threads:

Republicans are OBSESSED with sex & genitalia. Angela is telling on herself.

Jeff R. on Threads:

Because sex toys are a bigger risk to minors than guns. Got it.

Julia V. on Facebook

She needs to go away too! I’m sick of these people using our property and sales taxes for these nonsensical stunts! This isn’t about protecting anyone, it’s about playing to some imaginary base.

Abel T. on Facebook:

When vibrators and dildos are outlawed, only outlaws will have vibrators and dildos.

John F. on Facebook:

“The legislative attack on sex is the next chapter for dampening women’s rights.” This statement is accurate.

Kym M. on Facebook:

The truly important issues facing Texans.