In prepping for a graduate class I'm teaching on sexuality education and social policy, I recenlty reread Kristen Luker's book, When Sex goes to School, in which she analyzes and describes the 100+ interviews she conducted over twenty years with individuals on both sides of the sex education debate that have been warring for the past half century.  I think she does a good job summing up the history of these battles as well as provides some interesting insight into the players, particularly how they became passionate about this issue, on both sides. The only major problem I have with her books, and one she points out as a major limitation to this work, is the lack of non-white voices and an analysis of race and ethinicity - I think this is highly likely due to the fact that issues regarding race and ethinicity are often excluded as are voices from communities of color and other so-called "minority" groups when it comes to sex ed.  Having worked in sexuality education for almost twenty years, I can honestly say that there wasn't much that was surprising or anything that I hadn't heard before, at least until I reached the last chapter. "Chapter Nine: Sex education in America and whether it works or doesn't -- and why that's not the right question"

While reading it, I came to a realization that answers a question that I've been...

Today, I'm writing in honor of the the Morality in Media's (MIM) WRAP Week: White Ribbons Against Pornography, which is also supported by one of my favorite anti-gay organizations, Concerned Women for America (CWA).  According to the MIM website the event, which is being held all week from October 25 through November 1, "WRAP week is intended to educate the public about the extent of the pornography problem and what can constitutionally be done about it." The CWA goes on to point out the truth about all of us "Pornography advocates" who apparently claim that porn is a "victimless crime" are delusional and spreading lies - I'd like to point out that I am a proud advocate and voracious consumer of pornography, particularly of the online and amatuer produced variety and I have NEVER stated that it is a victimless crime.  Mainly, because pornography is no longer a crime in United States - either producing it or viewing it.  Of course, I know there are legal issues regarding the production and distribution of porn and that these laws may vary from state to state.  I'll let my lawyer friends weigh in on this one.

I want to counter their claims (and misuses of research) with the idea that pornography is actually the opposite of "dangerous" and can actually be beneficial to helping...

Imagine a scene with two, or more, hot, sweaty men getting naked, kissing, giving each other head, and then  fucking without using a condom.  One guy might be a dirty pig bottom and only gets fucked - maybe by two, three, or more guys.  Or maybe they switch it up and take turns fucking each other.  There's not much talking - none of that "yeah, buddy, take that cock" stuff.  And there's no music. No lame house music track over the sex sounds or worse some cheesy porn muzak that is supposed to make you feel romantic. It's just fucking. Raw fucking. Grunting, moaning, sweating, skin glistening, turning red. sofly repeating "yeah, yeah, yeah" or "oh fuck, oh fuck, oh fuck" under the breath - the perfect soundtrack.  And then the cumshots. Some guys will pull their bare dicks out and shoot on the other guy's ass, back or face. Or he'll cum in the other guy's ass and watch as it slowly leaks out. Fantasy? Reality? Both? Does it matter?

Whatever it is, it would likely be labeled as "bareback sex" or just "barebacking". Just thinking about it gets me all hot and bothered and needing to cool off.  And, yeah, I think it can be a turn on, too, within certain contexts.  Mostly, I get upset at the linguistic and political connotations of this label more than I do about any personal or public health concerns that might arise. 

The term "bareback" came into use in the late nineties to describe men who actively sought...

Since I was a little boy, Ive had a penchant for dressing up in outrageous and flamboyant outfits - Halloween and costume parties have always been my favorite celebrations!  Maybe it's the gay gene or the fact that my parents and grandparents felt comfortable with me slipping on a pair of vinyl go-go boots or making a dress out of sheer curtains with a little dab of red lipstick to complete the look that got me started, but I love getting dolled up and gender bended and heading to a party or out on the town. It's so much more fun than wearing an Abercrombie t-shirt, a pair of designer jeans, and flip-flops (and who wears flip-flops to a bar anyway? unless, of course, it's a dress made out of flip-flops a la Priscilla Queen of the Desert!).  of course, there's always risks involved in dressing up to go out, usually involving drunk frat boys looking to start a fight or the occassionally inappropriate or ill-chosen outfit for the occasion - the latter can normally be overcome with a little chutzpah and a drink or two. A few weeks ago, I headed out for some barhopping in San Francisco with some friends wearing a vintage sailor's top, jeans, and a pair of candy apple red, knee high, lace up platform boots that I'd recently purchased at the marine surplus store in Provincetown.  We had a great time laughing and  making new friends, until I learned that a lack of practice walking in platforms combined with a few beers and a spilled drink can lead to what...

on Monday, I returned from a two-week vacation where I did my best to unplug and remove myself from the constant clatter of voices that berate us on a daily basis from our televisions, computers, and phones about current "issues" and politics.  I very much wanted to spend some time not discussing or listening to discussions about the economy, President Obama, issues of race, gay rights, and (god. please. no more.) health care reform.  Of course, it's not possible to entirely remove oneself from all of this without turning off the iPhone (no, I can't do it!) and/or heading out into the woods, trekking into the desert, or sailing out to a desert isle.  I did my best, but you know...

Now that I'm back at work and the din is as loud as ever, I've tried to use my brief moment of quiet to achieve a little clarity on what is going on and to sit back and observe rather than engage.  One thing that I've noticed, and something that's been pointed out by many of the more liberal talking heads, is who the people are who are showing up shouting at these "Town Hall Meetings". I perceive them as being white, mostly older, seemingly uneducated (that might be unfair but this is my observation, so scram!), heterosexual, mostly male, and not from an urban environment.  Or "Real Americans" as Sarah Palin would tell us. ...

When I decided on the theme of Race, Gender, and Sexuality for the 2009 NSRC Summer Institute, I was basing my decision on feedback from recent and past participants in the Institute, suggestions from current graduate students, and advice from my colleagues at San Francisco State University and the NSRC.  And of course, there were cultural and political events that contributed to what I perceived as a real need to select this theme and consequently the classes and faculty to address these issues.  However, I do not think that I knew the intensity with which I, my staff, the faculty, and the participants would have such an authentic experience including real conversations about race, gender, and sexuality over the past four or five weeks.  Upon reflection, I feel as though I am continuing from this journey with many more questions than answers while also having a much deeper understanding of myself and a greater desire to interpret my experiences in the positions that I hold and the spaces that I occupy throughout my life. 

As we sat in our classes (and the bars, cafes, restaurants, dorms, and apartments after) discussing the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, we also watched and sometimes (usually) commented on events unfolding on the national stage regarding many of these same issues.  We observed a dark-skinned president with an odd sounding name who just happens to be multi-racial (or mixed race if you prefer) struggle...

A few weeks ago, I traveled to Puerto Vallarta in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, for a site visit in planning the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality's (SSSS - or quad S for the unitiated) Annual Conference. Having never been to Mexico other than to the border towns of Juarez and Matamoros, I was excited for the new experience, particularly in a city that has a strong reputation for being gay-friendly, having large numbers of hotels, restaurants, and bars that cater to gays, and plenty of beautiful beaches for soaking up sun and margaritas.  Oh yeah, and to spend some time working with my colleagues to create an unforgettable program for this year's conference.

I love the feeling, especially when flying from a cooler clime to a warmer one, of stepping off the plane and feeling the heat in the jet bridge, and when deplaning my Alaskan Airline flight from San Francisco I was not disappointed by the feeling of moist warmth that provided a hint at how hot it would feel to step out of the airport into tropical heat of Puerto Vallarta.  I quickly made my way through immigration and customs, stopping to have my temperature taken by some type of thermal camera (ensuring that I didn't have swine flu) and proceeded into a hallway of uniformed people asking me to step up to the counter.  I had been warned...

Photo: My friend, Ginger, expressing himself at Pride (photo by Tom Kern)

Well, make that my first FULL San Francisco Pride.  Last year, I was in New Orleans for the annual meeting of the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists up through Saturday night, but I was in town for the big Pride event at the Civic Center on Sunday.  In 2009, however, I was able to be part of the full experience of Pride in San Francisco – what is really a week long (some would say month long) series of parties, rallies, marches, and parades.  Quite frankly, it blew my mind.

Maybe it was the heat (85F  - I’ve gotten soft since I left Texas) or maybe it was feeling worn out after months of being beaten down by the constant fighting against the right wing or the infighting among the different segments of the queer community or maybe it was the consistent feelings of disappointment we’ve experienced with the Obama Administration’s lack of action regarding LGBT civil rights that made everything feel so intense and real.  Even my seasoned SF Pride friends said that something seemed different this year.  Maybe despite the events of the last twelve months, we feel a sense of real hope that there is the real possibility of change – and not just regarding marriage,...

Because I'm white.  I'm a white, highly educated (over educated?) gay man and any discussion of race raises my pulse, causes me to feel flush and hot, and makes me completely uncomfortable.  I'm also the Director of a Summer Institute that is focusing on issues regarding Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the United States this summer, so you can imagine that I've been thinking and talking about race quite a bit these days.  When I talk to other white folks about race, I feel frustrated.  When I talk to folks of color about race, I feel nervous. I've spent some time reflecting on why this might be and am starting to understand a little about myself.

I'm learning that I'm afraid to talk about race because I fear that I will be called a racist. I think that white people, particularly liberal white people, particularly liberal white people who believe they are fighting for social justice and civil rights, are scared to death of being called a racist. We live in SAN FRANCISCO! How can we be racist?  We're the good ones not those horrible red-kneck, Neo-Nazis. We're on your side! (stealing from Sarah Silverman, "We love ethnics!") At the same time, I know that not only am I racist but I am part of a larger systemic and institutional problem that promotes and enforces racism. I also know that no matter how much legislation is passed or...

Over the weekend, I caused a bit of a stir on my Facebook page when I posted the following update:  “Christopher White wonders why straight people like to take over queer spaces.  Actually, not wonders, but FUCK OFF!”  I was a bit surprised when some of my straight friends reacted to this statement, and I felt a need to explain. My explanation seemed to fan the flames of the discussion, and I marveled at the gays vs. straights dialogue that unfolded. 

Here’s the deal.  On Friday, a brief filed by the U.S. Department of Justice defending the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) hit the blogosphere.  Many of us felt that this brief took the defense to a heinous level by using court cases regarding incest and pedophilia to support upholding this discriminatory legislation and wondered if the ghost of administrations past (specifically W’s admin) had taken a role in drafting the brief. It stated that homosexuals were not denied any rights or had any rights taken away by DOMA.   If we want the rights afforded to married couples, all we have to do is get married – to someone of the opposite gender.  Spending...

I was a bridesmaid last weekend.  For those of you who don't know me, I'm approximately five foot six (some days slightly taller), have been described as "stocky", and wear a full beard and glasses - not typical bridesmaid material.  Of course, my duties as a nontraditional bridesmaid were performed as part of a nontraditional bridal party in a quite nontraditional queer wedding. A group of gorgeous people, some old friends, some new, gathered in Battery Park in Lower Manhattan on a beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon to celebrate not merely the union of a couple but a union of biological families, created families, and close friends.  We laughed and cried, ate and drank, and danced until our feet were sore and our dresses and tuxes were soaked with the sweet sweat of a joyous occasion and rockin' party.  We admired the late evening sunlight on the ferries, sailboats, cruise liners, and on Lady Liberty in New York Harbor.  For a few hours, we set aside our daily struggles and embraced one another as one big, fat, queer, gender variant, heteronormative, divorced, adopted, remarried, tattooed, pierced, fancy dressed lovefest.

It was not too different than my very own gay on gay wedding celebration that took place a month earlier among the Redwoods in Northern California; we had gotten married earlier in the year on November 4, when it was still legal. My husband, David, and I gathered with our family and friends to celebrate our...

The sensationalizing, melodramatic, "scare-the-crap-out-of-you", hype machine that passes for mass media these days is once again doing its best to ensure that parents are ready to break out the chastity belts, pass out whistles for "stranger danger" encounters, install nanny software on their home computers to block adult content, and this time, take away their cell phones to ensure that they are safe from the big, bad, sexually predatory world out there. Yes, I'm talking about the attention the "recent phenomenon" labeled "sexting" has gotten in the mainstream media in the last few weeks.  According to the news reports I found via a simple Google search, sexting is a very dangerous activity that could damage your future and ruin your life - although there wasn't really much of an explanation of how this could happen.  Instead of getting caught up in yet another panic, let's take a rational look at this "new" behavior as well as some of the real concerns that a more responsible press might address. 

First, sexting is not new.  Cell phones are no longer new; texting is no longer new; and even sending photos via a cell phone is no longer a new technology.  And before there were cell phones, there was the internet and a similar panic about teens emailing nude photos or posting nude photos online. There was even a...

I think most of us could agree that the New York Times has set the bar fairly high as far as reporting goes.  Most of the articles and columns they publish are thought-provoking and fairly well-balanced (okay, the opinion section leans a little more than slightly left, but I would argue it's a result of intellectualism rather than party affiliation).  I also generally agree with the NYTimes endorsements, and the writers seem to take an informed and progressive stance on most issues.  So, could someone please explain the piece about hooking up for sex on craigslist that was published this past weekend?  Even the title reeks of bias (and is not even factual!) Recklessly Seeking Sex on Craigslist.  The author, Douglas Quenqua, relies on a few antidotes anecdotes, selects a couple of instances solely for the purpose of sensationalizing, and perpetuates myths and lies about internet sex that does nothing more than demonize people and use...

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Sex::Tech Conference sponsored by the Internet Sexuality Information Services (ISIS), Inc. that focuses on youth, sexuality, and technology; one of the more innovative and amazing conferences I've ever attended.  I've gone both years that this conference was convened and have learned more in a couple of days than I learn in most single months (sometimes longer) and have been consistently impressed with the incredible work being done around the country with youth, sexuality, and technology.  At the same time, there seemed to be a disconnect between the academic presentations, which were not nearly as cutting edge and exciting, and the more innovative and interesting technology and community presentations, which often lacked the  scientific evidence and theoretical framework to support the programs.  To me, this speaks of the greater need for  collaborations between academic institutions, community organizations, and technology companies, both large and startup.  Let's save this issue for a rainy day.

Today, I want to start a conversation about what I experienced in some of the more academic-focused presenations, mostly presentations of epidemiological data and behavioral research: an overarching theme...

In past summers, we've had participants attend our annual Summer Institute from just about every state in the U.S. and from a number of countries around the globe. And every year, we hear all sorts of stories about why they decided to attend, and we hear even more stories about what they got out of the experience once they've returned to their homes.  We decided to put together a compilation of the top ten reasons you should consider attending this year's Summer Institute on Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the United States.   

10. Spend a month in San Francisco! Often touted as one of the most beautiful cities in the U.S., San Francisco is a cosmopolitan city with never a dull moment.  From the world-class restaurants, incredible museums, eclectic and diverse neighborhoods, walking tours, Victorian and Edwardian architecture, Golden Gate Park (and all the smaller parks throughout the city!), lectures, screenings, and the infamous club and nightlife scene, you'll never have a hard time finding something to do anytime of day or week.

9. If you do find yourself bored with life in the City, the rest of the Bay Area will surely have plenty to offer to keep you occupied.  Scout a tech job in Silicon...

The Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act sponsored by Senator Frank Lautenberg, D-NJ, and Representative Barbara Lee, D-CA, was reintroduced recently to the applause of pro-sexuality education organizations across the nation.  Originally introduced in 2007, the bill proposes to provide funding for "medically and scientifically accurate information" as part of "comprehensive sex education" that is "age-appropriate" and promotes "abstinence as the only 100% effective way to prevent sexuality transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy."  Of course, I am not against these things and support any kind of funding that allows states and organizations to choose alternatives to abstinence-only programs.  However, I hope the sponsors, co-sponsors, and committee members seize this incredible opportunity and encourage the use of language and frameworks that go beyond merely preventing disease and unwanted pregnancy to promoting healthy sexuality across the lifespan. 

In reading some of the blog reactions and news posts regarding this Act, I was struck by a couple of similarities between the anti-sex ed groups (or "pro-abstinence-only" depending on who you ask) and the pro-comprehensive sex education folks. The most common issue I noticed was the use of the word abstinence. On one side, we are told again and again that the only...

In yesterday's New York Times, Frank Rich gave us a great piece about the current state of the culture wars and how we Americans don't have the time or patience for these arguments over "moral" issues (that the right has used quite effectively to keep us divided over the past thirty years or so). When you think about it, it was rather impressive that they were able to mobilize and had such stamina to keep folks fired up on both sides of issues like reproductive choice, gay rights, and abstinence-only education for so many years.

Over the past few months, we've watched as the result of years of greed, fiscal irresponsibility, and unnecessary risk-taking on Wall Street have nearly completely collapsed the global economy. In the back of our minds, we knew this would happen someday; it was impossible that such a level of grotesque consumption and consumerism could sustain for the long-term.

If you think about it, this is very similar to what has happened to the social conservatives as well.  We all knew that their holier-than-though messages regarding their version of "family values" stank to high heaven of...

I started writing this blog post by talking about all the anti-sex, negative, hateful rhetoric poured out and leaked onto all of us on a daily basis and decided that was too depressing.  We hear enough of it every time we turn on our televisions or open a newspaper.  Instead, I want to talk about how wonderful it is to be a homosexual!

I adore being gay.  Have you ever been to a gay pride celebration?  There's glitter and wigs.  Dykes on bikes. OVer the top flaming fags.  Hot L-Word femme lesbos.  Queer moms and queer dads. Baby gays.  Leather-clad homos of all types.  Old Lesbians.  Muscled beefcake guys in tight Levi's and t-shirts squealing and screaming like little girls. Drag queens, trannies, and dogs in suggestive t-shirts.  It's fabulous!

I feel as though we gay folks have been given a wonderful gift that needs to be shared with our straight brothers and sisters.  At young ages, we were faced with very serious and deep issues that forced us to struggle through some very rough and dark passages, but we emerged on the other side with a deeper understanding of who we are and what we want in our sex lives and in our relationships.  Because we had to face our own sexuality, we are now much more at ease in facing our current and ongoing sexual issue.  We are able to speak more openly with our partners about our wants and needs.  We construct new types of relationships...

I must have picked up a bug or eaten something that had gone bad during my recent trip to Austin, Texas, for our first regional training and conference on sexuality research because I've been sick as a dog for the past two days.  To top it off, the cable is out, and there is no worse time for the cable to be out than when you're taking a sick day and you're actually sick!  Sitting around with my diet of malt-o-meal and ginger ale, I was trying to think of things to watch on dvd or to download and started thinking about that fairly recent drama about teen pregnancy, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, on ABC Family and sponsored by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy (check out www.stayteen.org).  So, I downloaded episode one, season one, and curled up on the couch to watch it.

First, why didn't anyone tell me Molly Ringwald was on this show?!?  As a teen of the 1980s, Ms. Ringwald was a bit of an icon in all of those John Hughes movies (more on these later).  It kind of made me sad to see her playing the middle-aged mother of two teenage girls (yes, I know it's because it made me feel old); still, isn't she pretty in pink?

The show centers around a group of students at fictional Grant High School and instead of representing a diverse high school population...

I've settled into my hotel and made a trip up to campus to make sure everything is set for tomorrow.  In less than twenty four hours, I've been amazed at how much sexuality-related stuff has crossed my path.

First, soon after landing, I checked my email and had received a message and an attachment regarding a new report released from the Texas Freedom Network called Just Say Don't Know: A Report on Sexuality Education in Texas Public Schools.  Not surprisingly, the findings show how abstinence-only education programs are failing students and families in Texas.  And that most of the information students are receiving is distorted or completely wrong. This report was released yesterday and I can't wait to discuss at the training in the days to come - what amazing timing! It's almost like we planned it.

Second,on my way to the University of Texas campus this morning where I was meeting my former adviser and mentor, I was searching for something on the radio to listen to during the drive when I heard someone talking about the "warning signs" that parents whould watch out for if they are concerned that their child may be "considering a homosexual lifestyle."  There's too much to go into, but my two favorite things were A)...

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Barbecue, Tex-Mex, South by Southwest (live music in general), wildflowers, margaritas, technology, the Longhorns, and George W. Bush (unfortunately) are just a few of the things that most people think about when they think about Austin.  It's a bustling, growing city nestled up to the Hill Country on the west and to rolling plains on the east.  Ask anyone about Austin and they'll tell you that it's a liberal oasis in the middle of a conservative wasteland.  If they're from there, they'll probably tell you it's the only place in Texas they would live (but they might give San Antonio a chance).  If they've never been, they'll tell you it's some place that they'd like to visit and have heard it's a pretty great place.  It never fails when I've been with someone on their first visit, they always say that they're surprised at how green it is (too many Wile E. Coyotes and Westerns have given a false generalization to a very large and diverse - demographically and geographically - state).  It's also the place that I'm most likely to identify as home when anyone asks me where I'm from. 

I'm traveling to Austin this week for the first time ever for work rather than to visit family and friends and to eat some long...

When I'm teaching a course for students interested in careers in sexuality or facilitating a workshop at conferences like the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, I usually ask them to tell me what brought them to sexuality studies.  While I have met one or two folks whose parents were sexuality educators and they knew from a young age that they would follow the family business, it is fairly rare that many of us showed up on "Career Day" in school dressed as a sexuality educator or researcher.  (Could you imagine the look on the teachers and career counselors faces?) I often hear about experiences, such as classes or volunteer opportunities, where someone realized that it was their calling to study and teach about sex and sexuality.

I had a similar experience when I was an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin studying biology.  Since I was a young boy, I dreamt of being a scientist working in a lab and performing all sorts of cool experiments (it was either that or become a chef - I dressed as each for career days in 5th and 6th grades, respectively) until I began studying to be a biologist and discovered how monotonous and tedious most of the work was - not to mention how horribly isolating it was to work in a lab.  During my junior year, I enrolled in a human sexuality course - one of those huge survey courses - and felt a spark that ignited...

Conservative lawmakers are up to their old tricks of scapegoating and creating moral panics around sexuality. In response to the current financial crisis, legislators in Florida and Georgia have begun attempting to cut sexuality studies, queer theory, and women's and gender studies courses and research at state universities.

Read and sign our petition to support sexuality studies and the role of scientific research in sexuality policy and interventions right now.

As our nation struggles with the greatest economic meltdown of our time, rather than deal with real issues, these legislators have decided to create the illusion that they are making budget cuts and cutting wasteful spending; in reality, they are trying to eliminate courses and research that does not meet with their moral standards.  It is not unprecedented for disciplines that are seen as unnecessary or unimportant to be the first to get the axe when times get tough - the arts, ethnic studies, women's studies and feminist theory classes have been regular victims...

I had planned to blog about ex-gay ministries and reparative therapy after attending a survivors of the ex-gay movement session at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's Creating Change conference just over a week ago.  It had gotten me thinking about my own experiences with "therapy" when I was a teen dealing with my sexuality, and in particular a social worker who I think may have had some unscrupulous intentions during my sessions.  I decided to do some internet research on the ex-gay movement and was fascinated to learn that all of those underwear ads, porn, and masturbation are probably what lead me down the sinful path of the homosexual lifestyle. In light of this revelation, I've decided to put off the ex-gay stuff for a rainy day (don't worry, I'll tell you all about that rascally social worker another time).  Instead, I thought I'd ponder pornography for a bit...

For my dissertation work, I explored young men's experiences with sexual learning during childhood and adolescence.  As you can imagine, the men in my study reported getting information from a variety of sources including parents, school, church, and peers - the information from all these sources was often confusing and contradictory.  There was one source that most of them talked about that left little room for confusion or misinformation and was...

We've got a number of things brewing at the NSRC in Education and Training.  I'm leaving for Denver tomorrow afternoon to co-faciliatate a daylong institute and a couple of workshops on sexual literacy at the NGLTF Creating Change Conference. We've also been preparing for our next regional training, this one to take place in Austin, TX, on February 26 and 27, and planning our annual Summer Institute, the theme of which this year is "Race, Gender, and Sexuality in the U.S."  My job as the Director of Education and Training requires that I go beyond ensuring that participants in our programs learn the basics of sexuality education and research and help them prepare to be professionals in this field - and that may mean different things to different people and there are many disagreements about what that means.  For example, some prefer to be called sexologists while others prefer sexuality researchers and sexuality educators while others prefer to be called anthropologists, psychologists, sociologists, etc., who work in the field of sexuality studies.  I don't think there are many other fields that require this type of debate or consideration. 

A number of incidents over the past few weeks, personal, professional,...

I always find it interesting when proponents of abstinence-only education start espousing things like ethics, parental-child communication, character, and "a healthy dose of self-respect" when talking about the elements of "holistic" abstinence education programs like K-Lo, or Kathryn Lopez, does in her article in the Washington Times today.  Ms. Lopez's support for these programs is based solely on ideological and religious points of view rather than any thing grounded in scientific evidence.  Of course, she is a "conservative columnist" according to Wikipedia, not a journalist, and she has no background in health education or public health (her undergraduate degree is in philosophy and politics). 

K-Lo inaccurately describes comprehensive sex ed programs as handing out condoms and promoting teen sexual activity and repeats the same old tired argument that teen sex is the problem that results in unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. She also provides "evidence" in support of abstinence-only programs from the Best Friends evaluation, a report that used logistic regression...

According to my mom, I was a "good little boy" who didn't cry much and seemed to be happy most of the time. I was a small boy with strawberry blonde hair and a smattering of freckles across my face. My mom has told me that I was very sensitive to how others were feeling and that I was always very curious.  I started talking and reading fairly young and often drove my parents and grandparents to the brink of insanity with my constant questions of hows and whys about the world and how things worked.  I remember being allowed to play dress up in high heels and makeup, and spending hours in the kitchen alternating between creating new recipes (all of which my brave grandmother willingly tasted) and dissecting the hearts, gizzards, and other organs that came with the turkeys cooked for Thanksgiving dinners.  I didn't care much for sports and preferred to spend my afternoons putting on puppet shows or switching between playing beauty shop and operating room in my grandmother's front bathroom where my clients and patients were one and the same (you always want to have gorgeous hair when having an appendectomy!).

I also remember being treated differently than other children at a very early age.  Okay, maybe I was a little weird and precocious, but I noticed that there was something about me that made parents...

Of course, I mean no disrespect to anyone who engages in sex work; I strongly support anyone who chooses to do so.  The only problem I have with any kind of sex work is the lack of rights that go along with this career that those of us who work in other areas enjoy such as insurance, nondiscrimination, and not getting arrested when we go to work.  You know, little things...In fact, we can all do our part in helping sex workers by supporting organizations such as St. James Infirmary here in San Francisco that are in danger of losing much needed funding.

So you want to work in the field of sexuality but you don't really like taking off your clothes in front of strangers or strangers with cameras...there are other options.  In fact, one of the questions that I am often asked by our students at SF State is "how do I get your job?"  Well...my job isn't vacant, so you'll have to wait until I decide to leave or have me knocked off.  Instead of plotting my death or hiring a hitman, I have some suggestions for all of you who hope to one day be gainfully...

The election is over and I’ve been thinking a lot about something that happened back during the primaries.  I’m sure you will all remember it.  This relatively unknown governor of Alaska was thrust into the limelight as the vice presidential nominee for the Republican Party.  Remember that?  You might also remember that shortly after she accepted the nomination (I think it may have been at least a couple of days) it was revealed that her oldest daughter, who just happened to be seventeen, was pregnant, was going to keep the baby, and was going to marry the father.  Do you remember that part? 

Things got a little crazy at this point.  Some people started calling this Alaskan governor and her family, as well as the rest of the RNC, hypocrites due to their undying support for “sex education” that espouses refraining from ANY sexual activity prior to marriage and frowns upon teaching young people about methods of birth control.  Meanwhile, the republicans started shouting back about how supporting this young couple during this time was the Christian thing to do. Then, the liberals called the conservatives...