What to know about internalized homophobia

Internalized homophobia occurs when a person is subject to society’s negative perceptions, intolerance, and stigma toward people with same-sex attraction. They then turn those ideas inward, believing that they are true, and experience self-hatred as a result of being a socially stigmatized person. by Zawn Villines Internalized homophobia happens when a person consciously or unconsciously …

There Are at Least 8 Different Romantic Orientations

—Here’s Why Learning Yours Is Important by Mary Grace Garis Many understand sexual orientation to be the term that describes who a person is attracted to, in terms of gender and sexual identity. But, it’s possible that sexual desire and romantic desire won’t line up, which is why it’s important to understand sexual orientation and …

How I Have Sex

— “I Can End Up Feeling Nothing Even When All the Right ‘Spots’ Are Touched” By The Swaddle Team The first time I remember thinking about sex was at the age of 15, when I started dating my first boyfriend. As teenagers, we were curious about this and started thinking about it more when there …

“For lots of us, lockdown has been a time of sexual self-discovery”

by Meena Alexander Much has been written about the global ‘sex recession’, with studies showing that – for reasons both practical and psychological – we’re having much less of it right now. It makes sense: social distancing and a very stressful year will do that to us. But there’s a flipside to this coin. The …

How Do We Date and Have Sex When Vaccinated (or Not)?

By Dharushana Muthulingam One year into lockdown measures in the U.S., life remains radically altered for most people. There have been 526,000 deaths in the U.S. and 2.6 million deaths in the world due to COVID-19. There are also multiple highly effective vaccines against virus. Rollout is slow, uneven, but steadily continues, and with it, …

How to Overcome Religious Shame in Your Sex Life

By Lindsey Ellefson If you were raised to see sex and sexuality as a source of shame and embarrassment, you might notice that such feelings tend to linger, no matter how educated, open-minded, and open-legged you consider yourself today. If you come from a religious background, it’s probably even worse. Fortunately, many religious leaders and …

How to broach the topic of sex toys with your partner

By Ashley Laderer To introduce sex toys into your relationship gently, be sure to avoid complaining or critiquing your partner’s sexual performance. You should also be direct with your desires, but willing to compromise based on what your partner wants. Looking for a toy together can also help you to come to a decision with …