It has long been known that the majority of youth who visited gender clinics, but did not ultimately transition, turn out to be gay or lesbian. Some LGB groups opposed to medicalization of gender dysphoric kids claim that internalized homophobia and the desire to pass as heterosexual are what drive many confused teens to want […]
Is kinky sex better sex?
An Italian study just published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reports that 303 participants in BDSM “play parties” (average age 36.4) report significantly higher levels of sexual satisfaction than general population controls (average age 31.0): more sex-positive attitudes, better communication skills, and less reliance on orgasm. Is this because only people with healthy sexual relationships engage […]
A slippery slope for sex and censorship
In this rather astonishing story an Australian female author was charged with child pornography for having written a fictional novel about an 18-year old woman’s relationship with a man who has fantasized about her since she was a toddler. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to possessing, disseminating, and producing child abuse material. The case […]
Lack of partnered sex does not cause more masturbation
A longitudinal study of 2,562 Norwegian adults surveyed in their early 20s, late 20s, and early 40s, shows, contrary to widespread assumptions, that having partnered sex more often does not lead to less masturbation. Indeed, the women who had more partnered sex also masturbated more, and women masturbated more in their late 20s to early […]
Safety for queer and trans folk on social media platforms continues to decline
GLAAD, the LBGTQ Media Advocacy Organization, has released its 5th Social Media Safety Index (SMSI). In the words of GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, the SMSI “continues to be the leading analysis of anti-LGBTQ online hate, harassment, and disinformation, with a year-round program dedicated to protecting safety, privacy, and expression for LGBTQ people […]
Queers are skipping world pride due to detainment fears
World Pride launches shortly in Washington D.C. The festival, running from May 17-June 8 coincides with the 50th anniversary of DC Pride celebrations. This double-billing, combined with the threats to queer and trans visibility and rights from the Trump administration, has the potential to usher in a record number of participants. People may show up […]
New Biography on Marsha P. Johnson
Dear readers, take note that on May 20, 2025 Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline is available for purchase. This new work is a biography of beloved transcestor Marsha P. Johnson who was a prominent gay liberation activist and drag queen living in New York City in the 1960s and […]
Over 1,000 American trans troops slated to be removed from military service
In this MSNBC article Katelyn Burns describes the ongoing political manipulation of transgender individuals’ ability to serve in the U.S. military. Since the Supreme Court has recently decided to allow the transgender military service ban to take place, the Pentagon has claimed that it will move forward with discharging over 1,000 trans troops. Previous estimates […]
The significance of sexual pleasure in healthcare
Dr. Ranjana Srivastava is an Australian oncologist. In this compelling opinion piece from The Guardian that we’ve linked here for you, Srivastava describes how “sexual health is one of the most affected – and woefully ignored – quality of life indicators in cancer patients.” Specifically, she ponders the common and often uncontested dismissal of “sexual […]
Courageous Ugandan moms are standing up for their LGBT kids
The Anti-Homosexuality Act was signed into law in May 2023 and was then upheld by Uganda’s High Court in April 2024. The new laws multiply the crimes that Ugandan queers and their families and allies can already be charged with. For example, the death penalty can now be granted for “aggravated homosexuality” and up to a 20-year […]