I am a huge fan of masturbation. Not only does it feel good, but it encourages people to explore their own bodies to discover what they like and what they do not like. That is why I’m super pumped that a new sexual education campaign in the Spanish region of Extremadura is working toward promoting self-pleasure in teenagers ages 14-17. With the slogan “pleasure is in your own hands”, this campaign provides information on self-exploration and how you can own your sexuality through workshops and leaflets.

As expected, there has been a huge backlash from members in the community and from all over Spain against this campaign. Some argue that the family should be the only place where conversations about sexuality take place. While the family should be a safe space to discuss sexuality, it shouldn’t be the only space. In an ideal situation, teenagers should be able to rely on their parents for unbiased and accurate information and advice on sexuality issues. In a typical situation, parents are influenced by emotions such as fear and can deny their child access to valuable information as a means of ‘protecting’ them. Sometimes sex is not even discussed at all. Also, some teenagers feel ashamed or embarrassed...

Jezebel posted the most adorably bizarre video of a penis doing its best Teletubbie impersonation (NSFW). I immediately reposted onto my Facebook because, you know, sharing is caring. And I care enough to subject my friends to my strange sense of humor.

While I get that not everyone finds a penis playing peek-a-boo with its own foreskin as funny as I do I did not anticipate the response left by a male friend:

Surgically altering babies should be outlawed. That is an adult decision. Otherwise it’s mutilation. Period.

The issue of circumcision is always one I avoid. I do not have a penis and will not have children so I get to steer clear of this hot-button sexual values issue. But, as I repeatedly read his comment, I realized what was bothering me about it: I prefer a foreskin-free penis.

Typing that sentence makes me wince. Who am I to have a preference for cut cock? Is it shallow? Destructive to men? I try to rationalize my desire via the freedom of personal choice.

Then I realize that this choice is not as personal as I would like to believe. I live in a culture that regularly circumcises boy babies. Nearly every penis I have seen up close has been sans-foreskin. The penis in its given state looks as alien to me as the unmodified female form looks to so many guys raised in a Maxim world.

Recently one of my friends suggested that I watch an episode of Glee, a new series about a high school teacher who attempts to bring some meaning into his life and the life of his students by restoring the status of the glee club. Although at times I got scared that Glee was just High School Musical but in series form, this show got my approval due to the discussions it contained surrounding sex, especially teenage sex. And because of the singing and dancing. Obviously.

In the second episode, the female lead, Rachel, goes to a celibacy club meeting in an effort to spend more time with her boy crush, even though his abstinent cheerleader girlfriend is head of the club. They start doing an exercise meant to help them practice leaving space for Jesus in between themselves using a balloon to demonstrate the appropriate distance to stand apart. Irritated, Rachel vocalizes her objection to the club in a thoughtful diatribe. She explains how studies show that celibacy does not work in...

Last week I interviewed one of the greatest sexuality educators and lifelong learning experts of our time, Peggy Brick.

For over 10 years, Peggy has trained thousands of educators, health care professionals and community advocates about sex in mid and later life and the importance of expanding our concept of “sex ed” to include the entire life-course. She's been teaching sex education across the lifespan since high school over 3 decades ago. Founder of the Consortium on Sexuality and Aging, Peggy is a pioneering, visionary leader whose passion and remarkable ability is revolutionizing sexuality education itself.

In 2003, Peggy, Jan Lunquist and SIECUS produced the groundbreaking book New Expectations: Sexuality Education for Mid and Later Life. I’ve used this book and recommended it for years as one of the most well respected and...

I think most of us could agree that the New York Times has set the bar fairly high as far as reporting goes.  Most of the articles and columns they publish are thought-provoking and fairly well-balanced (okay, the opinion section leans a little more than slightly left, but I would argue it's a result of intellectualism rather than party affiliation).  I also generally agree with the NYTimes endorsements, and the writers seem to take an informed and progressive stance on most issues.  So, could someone please explain the piece about hooking up for sex on craigslist that was published this past weekend?  Even the title reeks of bias (and is not even factual!) Recklessly Seeking Sex on Craigslist.  The author, Douglas Quenqua, relies on a few antidotes anecdotes, selects a couple of instances solely for the purpose of sensationalizing, and perpetuates myths and lies about internet sex that does nothing more than demonize people and use...

Originally posted on RH Reality Check

By Heather Corinna

Maya asks:

It seems as if girls at my school are very experienced sexually. They all talk about hooking up, giving head, getting head, getting fingered, and all that sort of thing. I, having never even kissed a boy or had a boyfriend, feel a bit left behind. I wanted to know if most girls my age, 15 (like on average), have had sexual experience like this.

Heather replies:

Maya,

I think it's so important to try not to get hung up on the idea that what other people are doing (or not) sexually has any relevance to what we do or don't do. I completely get wanting to have some idea of where we're at with where others are at, but with something as personal and diverse as sexuality, it's a good idea not to put too much stock in the sex lives of others when it comes to our own sex lives and how we feel about them.

One thing anyone who works in the study of sexuality or sexual health knows is that self-reporting (what people anecdotally say to others about themselves, rather than what we can find out based on measurable things like pregnancy or STI rates) when it comes to sexuality is notoriously unreliable, especially between young people. So often,

Support safer sex and win a sexy gift bag from The Body Shop? We say yes, yes, yes!

The Body Shop has joined with MTV for the 'Yes to Safe Sex' campaign--and all the proceeds from their Tantalising Lip Butter go towards HIV prevention.But there's more:

The Body Shop called us yesterday to offer us one of their gift bags with over $100 worth of sexy, fun-for-all-genders schwag: condoms, limited edition Tantalizing Lip Butter, Sensual Massage Oil, and Deep Sleep Dreamy Pillow & Body Mist.  Like you'll want to go to sleep.

Wanna get your hands (or, you know, some other body part) on it? Easy. All members of the NSRC Facebook group page will be entered into a...

Everyone loves to see an underdog come out on top. This week the world got a particularly sweet taste of that: Susan Boyle, a homely, forty-seven-year-old contestant on Britain’s Got Talent wowed the audience and judge Simon Cowell by singing “I Dream a Dream.” So far, a YouTube video of that performance has been viewed close to 16 million times.

As if trying to cement her dark horse status, before Ms. Boyle stepped on stage she described herself as living alone and having never been kissed. So she’s a virgin, too!

While some adult virgins choose their status, many don’t, and that probably includes Ms. Boyle. She called her situation a “shame”. And most of us would probably agree. In general, virginity after a certain age loses its allure and becomes a curse. Anyone who hasn’t “done it” by twenty-one is generally seen as an oddball.

A bit surprising, though, is that Ms. Boyle is far from alone. In fact, there are an estimated 228,000 adult virgins in the United States. And here and there on the Internet, they have broken their silence. They are men and women from all backgrounds. Some suffer from social anxiety. Others say once they passed a certain age, dating became awkward and so relationships never got off the ground or fizzled early....

I recently had the pleasure of attending the GAYVN awards in the Castro theatre. It was an amazing experience. Aside from being a porn aficionado (yes, I am not ashamed to say it, you probably are as well!!) I was delighted to be at the actual location, as I had never seen the inside of this historic theatre.  Amongst the flurry of stars, I managed to get a few of my favorites to be in a picture with me. It was interesting to get to see them up close and here what they had to say, some are actually really nice people. I must say, I need to brush up on my porn viewing, as I knew very few of the winners for this year’s awards. I did come across a performer I did not know (Dean Flynn) and will probably be checking out soon. Some of the highlights included Margaret Cho and Janice Dickinson co-presenting in a couple of categories. I’d like to thank a very good friend for having me as his guest at this exciting event! Pictures coming soon!

Hand jobs are funny.

I remember one lover asking me for a hand job and there was a hint of shame and excitement in his voice that'd I'd never heard from him before. While Men are rarely shy to ask for a blow job, there's something about asking for the "hand treatment" that inevitably feels forbidden and slightly juvenile. It's like "third base", just one step away from finally getting to "do it."

In some ways it's the least intimate and clumsy of the sex acts: lot's of flopping and fumbling, searching for that sweet spot: finding her clit than losing it, hitting that moan-worthy part of his head and having a carpal tunnel moment and losing the momentum and starting all over again-NO!!!!!! Must...achieve...happy...ending....

But while hand jobs do seem very middle school, it can also be a very grown up challenge. Foreign hand vs. native hand...Native hand knows the territory and has lot's of experience but foreign may have some tricks up it's sleeve: covert tactics such as sucking, kissing, biting.

Place your bets folks! It's a tough call. What do you think about hand jobs?

this blog was originally written by Anna Rose Steiner