The relationships that people have - that are sexual

Hear now the bold and unyielding words of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, who declared: “The relationships that people have—that are sexual, psychological, emotional—these relationships are not open to supervision by parents, schools, churches, or government. Nobody has any right to intervene at all in any kind of relationship like that.” In this statement is a cry of defiance, a proclamation of liberty, and a shield raised against intrusion. It is the voice of one who would remind the world that the innermost ties of the human soul belong not to rulers or institutions, but to the free will of those who form them.

The meaning of these words is fierce and clear. O’Hair proclaims that intimate relationships—whether of passion, of mind, or of heart—exist in a sacred sphere of privacy. They are the soil from which personal freedom grows, and no external authority has the right to command them. Parents may guide, schools may instruct, churches may preach, and governments may rule, but none of these may dictate the bonds of love, desire, or emotional connection. For in these bonds, the human spirit claims its highest independence.

The origin of this thought flows from O’Hair’s life and her battles for personal liberty. She was no stranger to conflict, being known as one of the fiercest voices for the separation of church and state in America. Her challenge to religious authority in public schools marked her as a warrior for freedom of conscience. Her words here extend that same principle into the realm of human relationships: just as no church should govern belief, no external hand should govern the private bonds between people. She speaks not of rebellion for its own sake, but of the deep conviction that autonomy in love and thought is the birthright of every soul.

History itself gives witness to the truth of her words. Recall the tragic love of Abelard and Héloïse in the twelfth century. Their union, both intellectual and passionate, was torn apart by the intervention of church and family, who deemed their love unacceptable. Héloïse was forced into the convent, Abelard into silence, and their relationship, which might have flourished in freedom, was shackled by the dictates of authority. Their letters, preserved through centuries, cry out the same truth that O’Hair voiced: love and union are matters of the heart, not of external rule.

The lesson is this: the most sacred sphere of life must remain free from coercion. When the hand of authority reaches into the realm of personal relationships, it corrupts them, bending what is natural into what is imposed. True harmony between souls cannot grow under supervision; it must arise freely, with no master but the hearts that partake in it. O’Hair’s words remind us that freedom in this realm is not luxury, but necessity, for without it, individuality itself is stifled.

Practical wisdom flows from this teaching. Respect the privacy of others in their personal bonds. Do not seek to control what is not yours to command. If you are a parent, guide your children with wisdom but do not seize the sovereignty of their hearts. If you are in power, whether in school, church, or government, remember that your reach ends where the inner life begins. And for yourself, guard your relationships as sacred ground—do not surrender them to fear, to intrusion, or to false authority.

So let O’Hair’s words stand as a torch in the night: the realm of relationships, whether sexual, psychological, or emotional, belongs to the individuals who share them and to no other. It is in this freedom that dignity is preserved and that the human spirit can rise unbroken.

Thus, O children of tomorrow, carry this truth: never allow the sanctity of your bonds to be seized by outside hands. For freedom in love, freedom in thought, and freedom in feeling are the pillars of a life lived fully. Protect them, honor them, and let no false authority trespass upon them.