Mere days after Playboy Magazine exposed UCSB’s student body, a self-proclaimed former sex-addict will speak in Corwin Pavilion about the negative effects of pornography.
In tonight’s multimedia presentation, “Porn Nation – The Naked Truth,” speaker Matt Leahy will share his life story and words of warning concerning how pornography affects relationships and families. The program begins at 7 p.m.
UCSB alumni and Christian club Real Life staff member Kari Heywood co-sponsors the event. According to Heywood, Leahy claims that a 30-year porn addiction ruined his life and marriage.
“[Leahy] talks about our hypersexual culture and the negative effects it has on society,” Heywood said. “Eating disorders, date rape and image issues are related to porn.”
Since last Wednesday, UCSB Real Life has been circulating a large poster known as the “Porn Wall.” The Porn Wall provided information about the event and allowed students to voice their opinions about pornography by writing on the wall, Heywood said.
“It’s been really fascinating,” Heywood said. “I thought the overwhelming majority would be like, ‘It’s awesome, it’s cool, it’s great for me,’ but a lot of people are aware of how men objectify women and how porn is degrading. It’s a really mixed bag.”
Other comments on the wall included “Porn Rocks,” “Porn Gets Me Through The Day” and “I’m Addicted To Porn.”
The presentation, also sponsored by UCSB Greek Life and the Residence Hall Association, will include music, movies and advertisements that demonstrate the grand scale of the porn industry.
The presentation will also include survey results from www.mysexsurvey.com – a website with an anonymous survey of yes or no questions that allowed students to assess their sexual behavior and possible tendencies toward sexual addiction.
Heywood said Leahy’s mission is to change the way people think about pornography.
“He wants to help people experience life change and recognize that they’re being affected by the porn industry,” Heywood said. “He wants to see people healed from things hurting them.”
However, like several other students who signed the wall, first-year math major Spencer Culbert said he believes porn is mostly harmless.
“It’s harmful to the point when you can’t relate to people in the same way,” Culbert said. “It becomes excessive when you have to objectify women and they [become] more like things than people.”
Toward the end of his talk, Heywood said, Leahy will also describe how his relationship with God changed his perspective and helped him overcome his addiction.