my views on sexuality are a bit different. in my culture the act of sex is just something that every living species on earth does to ensure the survival of their species. where as intimacy is the relationship/ heart and mind feelings a person has for another. the shared happiness and quality time you have with someone...

example dogs have sex when the female is in heat \ready to continue on her line in the continuation of her species, as do cats, kangaroos and any other species on earth there are even some plants that procreate and insure the survival of their species by the female plant shooting out spores and the male of the species fertilizes the spores, same with water species.

where as two people men or women can form friendships, a feeling of caring for each other, develop sexual and non sexual ways to be happy with each other.

in my native american culture intimacy (caring, love, happiness) is not necessary for someone to have sex. all that is needed is the hormones, and reproductive organs.

that said I do have to say that I prefer intimacy over sex at times as does my wife. some times one or the other does not want to have intercourse but we still want to spend time together and show our feelings for each other in other ways. sex (the physical act of intercourse that ensures survival of the species) has also come in handy when my wife and I were planning our children and during those times when we do feel like having intercourse.