Kort's Korner
June 2009
 
My latest book, Gay Affirmative Therapy for the Straight Clinician received an Honorable Mention last month from www.AASECT.org! 
Joe Kort & Associates
25600 Woodward, suite 218
Royal Oak, Michigan 48067

WOULD THE SMALL CHILD YOU ONCE WERE LOOK UP TO THE ADULT YOU HAVE BECOME?
Greetings!

Joe Kort professional photo 2009I hope you like the new format of my newsletter. I am constantly trying to find new ways to communicate with you regarding the things I learn regarding my specialties.
 
This month I am exploring the benefits and dangers or pornography and erotica.
 
Is it really as dangerous as many believe it to be? Can it be useful? Helpful? Does it degrade women and promote/tolerate sexual violence as some researchers say it does?
 

What about gay porn? Power imbalance does not exist in most mainstream gay porn thus eliminating the argument that all porn promotes domination and violence.

In fact, many women and even lesbians watch gay male porn because of the absence of social power imbalance. So the argument that pornography includes watching the victimization of a partner is not always true. 
 
Is it always cheating? Can it be used to help couple's remain monogamous? Is it always addictive?
 
These are some tough questions. I don't think there is a generalized answer one way or the other. Read this month's Kort's Korner and see what you think.
 
I am hoping that after reading this newsletter you will go to my blog, Outside the Kort Room  and let me know what you think.
 
This month is also Gay Pride Month. I will be doing a book signing in Lansing, MI. See where I will be in the Books section of this newsletter.
 
Sincerely,
Joe Kort, LMSW
Prescribing Porn to individuals with low testosterone?
 
An article which came out last week by Tony Dokoupil of Newsweek Online in which he explores the issue of medicating for low-testosterone and shares researcher and biological anthropologist Helen Fisher's recent recommendation published in Esquire magazine that watching pornography would be a better way of boosting testosterone than taking a prescription drug.
 
I agree with Helen Fisher that this could be a good idea and have prescribed pornography and erotica for some clients--both individuals and couples.
 
I also understand that for those who suffer from sexual addiction this is not a good idea and I would never prescribe pornography to them.
 
Helen Fisher is best known for her expertise at www.Chemistry.com as well as her books:

Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love
by Helen Fisher by Holt Paperbacks
Paperback ~ Release Date: 2004-12-09
List Price: $15.00
Our Price: $4.82
Buy Now

Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage, and Why We Stray
by Helen Fisher by Ballantine Books
Paperback ~ Release Date: 1994-01-03
List Price: $14.95
Our Price: $6.47
Buy Now

Why Him? Why Her?: Finding Real Love By Understanding Your Personality Type
by Helen Fisher by Henry Holt and Co.
Hardcover ~ Release Date: 2009-01-20
List Price: $25.00
Our Price: $10.00
Buy Now

Lesbians Who Enjoy Gay Male Porn and Why!
 
An article on the unlikely population of lesbian woman who enjoy watching male on male pornography was written for a magazine which is now out of print titled
In The Family Magazine.
 
The title of the article is:
 
Hot Man on Man Action (And the Lesbians Who Love Watching It)
By Elizabeth F. Stewart
Summer, 2000.

To read it click here


I want to hear from you about your feelings regarding the use of porn!

Go to my blog and write in your beliefs, judgments and feelings about the use of pornography.
Sex Smart Films

At my recent presentation at www.AASECT.org I met Mark Schoen, Ph.D. who owns and operates a website dedicated to helping individuals and couples enjoy sexual health.

The website is
www.SexSmartFilms.com.

He writes:

Join Us in Promoting Sexual Literacy
SexSmartFilms preserves, archives and showcases films addressing sexual health issues. There are classic and contemporary films. They all have a common theme,  providing accurate sex information. There is content appropriate for all age groups. Subject, age group and content are used to categorize the films.
What if Porn is a Problem?

Wendy Maltz has written an excellent book for those individuals for whom pornography has become a problem. She believes that the user of porn gets focused on the strong graphic images and the porn actors instead of being tuned into his or her own body and sensuality and the sensual/emotional experience with a partner.

While I understand her concerns and don't disagree that this can occur for many people, I take issue with the thought that this is true for most people.

However, for those who do struggle with porn addiction, this is the book for you!

The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography
by Wendy Maltz by Collins Living
Hardcover ~ Release Date: 2008-04-22
List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $13.65
Buy Now

The Men In the Mirror:
Understanding Gay Men and Their Porn

I wrote this an article in 2000 regarding the benefits and problems of pornography and gay men. 
 



Joe's Books
(2003)(2006)(2008)(2008)
 
 I am excited to announce that my second book, 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do To Find Real Love is going into its 3rd printing and will be out by the end of June.
 
This is very important to an author because it means the book is selling well enough to achieve more printings.
 
It is especially important to me as the first two printings of this book contained numerous errors which were never satisfactory to me. Alyson Books has made the corrections in this 3rd printing.
 
If you are interested in purchasing any of these books you can click on any one of them above or go to  my website and purchase autographed copies from me personally.

I will be signing books for Gay Pride Month at Everybody Reads in Lansing Michigan on June 26, 2009 and talking about Gay Marriage and Positive Gay Relationships.