What the Falwell saga tells us about evangelicals and gender roles

BY Leslie Dorrough Smith Jerry Falwell Jr. may well be wishing that a photo with his underwear showing and his arm around the waist of a woman not his wife was the worst of his problems. That snapshot kick-started a round of speculation into the prominent evangelical leader’s personal life that has cost him his …

How College Students Can Have Safer Sex This Semester

As some students return to campus, here are four ways to think about sexual health in the age of COVID-19. By Cassandra Corrado Over half of colleges and universities across the country are planning on fully remote or hybrid semesters this school year, leaving students who rely on their school’s free or low-cost sexual health …

Normalizing Kink For Black And Brown Folx

By cheydavis14 The fight for Black rights is ever-growing and ever-changing. Law enforcement is being reformed, congressional conversations on reparations are being revisited, and even businesses, celebrities, and influencers are being held accountable for their anti-Blackness. Although the Black community has seen a lot of progress, from an intersectional standpoint, Black activism spaces lack safety, …

9 Ways Non-Monogamous People Are Dealing With the Pandemic

Communication, communication, communication. By Gabrielle Smith So. This pandemic thing sucks. We’ve been asked to sacrifice a lot for our personal safety and the collective good, like shrinking down our IRL social circles and quieting our social calendars. But that’s okay! It’s clearly all for a very important reason. Even so, there’s no denying the …

How to Find a Sex-Positive Therapist

Some therapists advertising kink- and polyamory-friendly treatment might not be all they seem. Here’s what to look for if you’re seeking mental healthcare that doesn’t see “sexual deviance” as deviance. by Penda N’Diaye Layla, a 30ish queer sub who enjoys domination by her partners—her name has been changed for her privacy—has been in therapy for …

Understanding These 2 Types of Sexual Desire Will Help You Feel In Control of Your Libido

Introducing: Spontaneous and responsive desire. By Gabrielle Kassel By now, you’ve probably heard a sexual health pro say—punctuated by 👏👏👏, of course—that porn is entertainment, not education. And that’s true. But there’s another type of media that shoves lies about what sex “should” (eye roll) look like down our collective throat: Romantic comedies. One of …

How Using Safe Words Helped Me Reclaim My Sexuality After Trauma

Determining safe words with your partner can create a healthy, loving space. By By Ashley Oken There are sexual experiences that can strip you of believing you have bodily autonomy, feeling safe in your own body, especially during sexual encounters. These leave you feeling powerless over your own sexuality. It could be through sexual violence, …

Keeping Kids Curious About Their Bodies Without Shame

It’s natural and entirely harmless for young children to explore. But it’s also important for parents to set boundaries. By Jenny Marder A mother received an awkward email from her son’s kindergarten teacher last fall. Her 6-year-old and his friends had been caught unzipping their pants and flashing each other during lunch. The behavior was …

How Quarantine Helped Me Overcome Stigmas Surrounding Queer Dating

By Meggie Gates I’ve been out since I was 19, and insecure since the day I was born. I’ve shied away from intimacy my entire life, something psychologists label “avoidant attachment” and my mother calls “frustrating.” I am 26, I do not like to be touched, and incidences of sexual assault have only heightened that …