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Object sexuality refers to those individuals who develop deep emotional and/or romantic attachments to (and have relationships with) specific inanimate objects or structures. Such objectophiles express a loving and/or sexual preference and commitment to particular items or structures. Such individuals rarely (if ever) have sex with humans and they develop strong emotional fixations to the object or structure. Unlike sexual fetishism, the object or structure is viewed as an equal partner in the relationship and is not used to enhance or facilitate sexual behavior. Some objectophiles even believe that their feelings are reciprocated by the object of their desire.
Arguably the most infamous objectophile is Erika LaBrie, who “married” the Eiffel Tower in 2007 (and now calls herself Erika Eiffel). She first met the Eiffel Tower in 2004 and reportedly fell in love with it immediately. She visits her “soul mate” as often as she can afford to, and she claims her relationship is as real as that between any two consenting adults. Prior to her relationship with the ET, her object love empowered her to become a two-time world champion in archery (an earlier love object was her bow, called ‘Lance’). While falling in love with an inanimate object is rare, Erika is not alone.
Eija-Riitta Berliner-Mauer "married" the Berlin Wall over 30 years ago and invented the term ‘Objectum Sexuality’ (OS) to describe her love. Together they founded ‘OS Internationale’ – a support network and educational website for other objectophiles. Unsurprisingly, the formation of the website generated worldwide media attention. There are a number of well known objectophiles who have turned up in national and international media:
- Edward Smith, a 57-year-old man from Washington State in the U.S., admitted to having had sex with over 1,000 cars. He said: “I write poetry about cars, I sing to them and talk to them just like a girlfriend. I know what's in my heart and I have no desire to change."
- Amanda Whittaker from Leeds (U.K.) gave an interview to the Daily Mail regarding her romantic feelings for the Statue of Liberty. Whittaker said: “She is my long-distance lover and I am blown away by how stunning she is. Other people might be shocked to think I can have romantic feelings for an object, but I am not the same as them.”
- Reighner Deleighnie, a 40-year old woman from London (U.K.) claimed that she had fallen in love with a three-foot statue of the Greek God Adonis that she bought for £395. It was reported: “She enjoys reading and talking to her companion, and keeps him close by when she watches television and eats dinner. She also kisses and caresses him, imagining the pair of them walking through meadows of wildflowers or at the seaside.”
- Amy Wolfe, a 33-year old woman from Pennsylvania (U.S.), declared her romantic feelings for a fairground ride ‘1001 Nachts’ in Knoebels Amusement Park that she fell in love with at age 13. She said: “I love him as much as women love their husbands and know we'll be together forever. I was instantly attracted to him sexually and mentally." She's now marrying the ride.
- 41-year-old Joachim A. from Germany recognized and accepted his inclination when he was just 12 years old. He fell head over heels “into an emotionally and physically very complex and deep relationship, which lasted for years.” His partner as a teenager was a Hammond organ. He’s now in a steady relationship with a steam locomotive and has been for several years.
It is only recently that psychologists have started to carry out research into OS. In a 2010 issue of the Internet Journal of Human Sexuality, clinical sexologist Amy Marsh described what she claims is a first-of-its-kind research study conducted on a group of 40 objectophiles, of which 21 English-speaking participants shared their experiences. On U.S. television, Marsh revealed that she supported OS as a legitimate sexual orientation. Her research doesn’t appear to indicate childhood trauma being a factor in the development of OS. She stated there would be far more objectophiles if this was the case. As one car-lover in Marsh’s paper said:
“I've been in love with my mom's car and my own car since I got it bought. My car's appearance is what attracts me the most. [I enjoy intimacy with the cars] between twice a week and once every three weeks [and it] involves cuddling and such affectionate activity, and sometimes masturbation… However, I'd like to mention that although there can be a little amount of mental role play, I am fully aware that objects are inanimate and that this mostly is a one-sided relation. Although I may consider a human relationship eventually, it has not happened yet.”
German sexologist Volkmar Sigusch (former director of Frankfurt University's Institute for Sexual Science) believes he has unraveled the mysteries of OS—a form of modern "neo-sexuality." He views OS as proof of his hypothesis that society is increasingly drifting into asexuality. He speculated:
"More and more people either openly declare or can be seen to live without any intimate or trusting relationship with another person. Cities are populated by an entire army of socially isolated individuals. Singles, isolated people, cultural sodomites, many perverts and sex addicts."
However, Sigusch doesn't want to classify such odd behavior as pathological. He concluded: "The objectophiles aren't hurting anyone. They're not abusing or traumatizing other people. Who else can you say that about?"
