Mutual masturbation can bring you closer to your partner, even over FaceTime

May is National Masturbation Month, and we’re celebrating with Feeling Yourself, a series exploring the finer points of self-pleasure. By Anna Iovine While hot vaxxed summer is rapidly approaching, that doesn’t mean everyone will suddenly drop their virtual connections for IRL experiences. More than half of Hinge users, for example, said they are still likely …

LGBTQI+ populations face unique challenges during pandemic

Global conversations about the impact of the pandemic on gender equality have left out sexual and gender minorities. COVID-19 is a threat multiplier. By Yvonne Su, Yuriko Cowper-Smith, Tyler Valiquette As global leaders begin to recognize the inequalities that are being exposed as a result of COVID-19, it is important to consider who is included …

Many Young Women Face a Seriously Underreported Issue When It Comes to Their Sex Lives

By CARLY CASSELLA Anyone who’s heard of viagra knows that male sexual dysfunction is a widespread and overwhelmingly-researched issue. On the other hand, we know far less about female sexual dysfunction, even though its incidence is ‘alarmingly high‘, especially among young people. New research now suggests roughly half of all Australian women aged 18 to …

Almost 10 million in U.S. have faced sexual violence at work

By Carolyn Crist Almost 1 in 18 women and 1 in 40 men have experienced sexual harassment in and related to the workplace, according to a U.S. study. That represents almost 7 million women and 3 million men who have reported assault, unwanted sexual contact or verbal harassment by a boss, supervisor, coworker, customer or …

LGB people face higher risk of anxiety, depression, substance abuse

By Chrissy Sexton Researchers at Penn State are reporting that individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual are at a higher risk for several different health problems. The experts found that sexual minorities were more prone to anxiety and depressive disorders, cardiovascular disease, and drug and alcohol abuse. Study co-author Cara Rice explained that …

Disabled LGBT+ young people face a battle just to be taken seriously

By Alex Toft As young people navigate adolescence, they ask questions about their sexual attractions and how they understand gender. If they are fortunate, they have access to sex and relationship educators or mentors and support networks. But my research with young people who identify as LGBT+ and disabled shows that they are often treated …

Watch what happens when gay tourists ask Spanish people to translate for them

By Melanie Potter A real test of someones’ character is how they act when they think no one’s watching. This is exactly why hidden camera social experiments are so poignant. Unfortunately, these experiments usually produce negative results — but every once in a while, strangers will act so compassionately that it may actually surprise you. …

What is ‘sex’? What is ‘gender’?

— How these terms changed and why states now want to define them By Grace Abels This year, 17 state legislatures sought to narrowly define “sex” or “gender” in state law as based solely on biological characteristics. In Utah, one became law. Although they’re sometimes used synonymously, “sex” and “gender” have different meanings to medical …