Are we living in a Porn Nation? Find out at UCI
Former sex addict talks to students tonight about obsession with pornography.
By MARLA JO FISHER
The Orange County Register
IRVINE ? A man who says he lost everything due to his addiction to pornography will bring his stage show to UCI students tonight, warning them to beware of the easy lure of screen sex.
"Not everyone who views pornography is on the path to addiction, but I'm letting students know ? this can be dangerous for you," said Michael Leahy, author of "Porn Nation." "College students tell me that no one has ever talked to them about this before."
Leahy, 49, says he lost his wife, his home and his job before he was willing to give up his addiction. He has told his story on the "20/20" TV news magazine and debated former porn star Ron Jeremy. Most recently, he has authored two versions of his Porn Nation book, one for students and one for general readership.
Leahy, 49, said he does not believe in censorship, but wants students to understand that porn can be habit-forming. It also negatively affects the way women are viewed in our society, he said.
Leahy's talk on today's sex-saturated society is free to the public in the Student Center at 7 p.m. Sponsored by UCI's Campus Crusade for Christ, it will include results of an online UC Irvine sex survey that students have been taking prior to the show.
During the 100-plus campus multimedia shows he has performed around the country, Leahy has been criticized for refusing to label pornography as a social cancer, and for not calling for a ban.
His message that Jesus Christ helped him kick the habit has also been unwelcome by some, though Leahy said he saves that for the end of his show and warns students beforehand in case they want to leave.
The event is sponsored by a newly rejuvenated Campus Crusade for Christ chapter at UCI, which has recently become more active. The chapter of the evangelical Christian student organization has not sponsored any campuswide activities for years, participants said. About 40 people gather regularly for Bible study on campus and other activities.
UCI junior Kelly Barnhart was putting up posters for the event Wednesday.
"This is the first big event we've had this year," Barnhart said. She said she was interested in why Leahy turned to pornography and "what need it filled in his life, also how it changed it."
To take the sex survey:
http://www.mysexsurvey.com/
Directions to the UCI Student Center:
http://www.ics.uci.edu/~irus/directi...nt_center.html
Contact the writer: 714-796-7994 or
[email protected]