Hard times – the ups and downs of the penis

Penises can be problematic. They are powerful, untameable beasts, capable of wielding immense pleasure but also able to cause devastating emotional wounds. And that’s just anal sex by Liam Murphy As well as the obvious physical harm that can be inflicted – skinny jeans have cursed a generation to suffer cock-caught-in-fly related trauma – the magnificent …

What I Need My Daughter To Know About Consent, Even Though It’s Difficult To Talk About

By Candace Ganger The job of raising children entails a comprehensive, albeit exhausting, list of responsibilities. The duty is a privilege but the pressure to “get it right” weighs heavily on me, particularly when it comes to sex. Considering my own salty experiences, consent isn’t just an important topic, it’s the most important topic — …

Monogamy or Bust: Why Are Many Gay Men Opposed to Open Relationships?

By Zachary Zane As assimilation into more mainstream culture increases, many gay men are shifting their attitudes on non-traditional relationships—becoming less accepting of them. [F]ull disclosure: I’m polyamorous. After being in a year-long, tumultuous monogamous relationship, I fell into polyamory by accident. After giving it a shot, I realized that I am better equipped to …

What BDSM might teach us about affirmative consent

Study finds subculture has lower levels of rape-supportive beliefs By  Tom Parisi [A] new study by Northern Illinois University psychologists suggests that evidence for the effectiveness of the “Yes Means Yes” affirmative-consent movement, which has taken hold on many college campuses nationwide, might be found in an unlikely subculture—the BDSM community. While some critics of …

BDSM for beginners – a former dominatrix guides you and your partner through S&M

By Miranda Kane Let’s start in a very clear, very concise manner. I’m going to assume you are two adults who want to try a bit of kink or BDSM, and you’re looking for a bit of helpful advice. I’m going to make that caveat because I’m tired of seeing advice columns labelled ‘How do …

What BDSM might teach us about affirmative consent

By Brain & Behavior A new study by Northern Illinois University psychologists suggests that evidence for the effectiveness of the “Yes Means Yes” affirmative-consent movement, which has taken hold on many college campuses nationwide, might be found in an unlikely subculture—the BDSM community. While some critics of BDSM associate it with sexual aggression, and particularly …

Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are: Why Oct. 11 Matters To LGBT People

by Robbie Medwed Coming Out Is The Single Most Powerful Political Strategy We Have It’s Pride Weekend here in Atlanta, one of my favorite weekends of the year. It might seem odd to you that the largest Pride festival in the South and one of the largest in the country is in October and not …

Tips for Coming Out As Transgender, Gender Non-Conforming or Gender Fluid

By Sarah McBride Almost five years ago, I came out as transgender to my family, friends, and, eventually, my broader community.  I was blessed with a warm and welcoming response from those who loved me.  Since announcing my news and living openly, I’ve met countless transgender people and heard a range of coming out experiences. …

What is consent? Many college students aren’t sure

College and university students remain divided over what consent actually means By Kelsey M On June 3, 2016, I found myself outraged and ready to throw my phone at the wall. After reading the Buzzfeed News article that featured a heart-wrenching letter penned to Brock Turner in the Stanford rape case, I was in a state of …

13 Ways Non-Monogamy Has Made Me a Better Partner (and Person)

By Maya M [I]n our culture and many others, the typical relationship narrative goes like this: You date around a little, eventually finding one true soulmate—the one person you’ll grow old with, raise children with, and the one and only person you’ll have sex with. But there are a lot of people who don’t subscribe …

American Men Are Pretty Happy With Their Penises

By Jesse Singal For understandable reasons, society’s conversation about body satisfaction tends to focus on women. Women, it can safely be argued, face a lot more social pressure to look good all the time, to feel ashamed of their bodies, and to harp on minor imperfections. Men aren’t immune from all that, though. And one …