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From the blogs

Jon Stewart: Mark Sanford, Shut the F**ck Up

by Staff, AlterNet

Why does Sanford insist on treating us like his own private confessional?

Sanford Drops Pledge To Release Travel Records

by Jed Lewison, Daily Kos

The only possibility of the records staying private -- at least while he remains in office -- is if he resigns.

It's Time to Drop "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" -- End of Story

by Melissa McEwan

Robert Gates said he wants to make DADT more humane; the only way to do that is 86 the policy altogether.

Looney Oklahoma Legislator: Gays to Blame for Econopocalypse ... 'Bigger Threat than Islam'

by Matt Corley, Think Progress

Sigh ... it's actually not a new meme, just a pathetic one.

Obama: Gays Will Be Happy By the End of My Administration

by Rachel Weiner, Huffington Post

"We've been in office six months ... I suspect that by the time this administration is over, you guys will have pretty good feelings."

Limbaugh Blames President Obama for Sanford's Sex Melodrama

by Tana Ganeva, AlterNet

Limbaugh -- spokesperson for the party of personal responsibility -- thinks President Obama is at fault for Sanford's affair.

GOP: Champions of "Family Values" Become Party of Vice

by Steve Benen

It was once thought that sex scandals were more a problem for Democrats than Republicans. Can we finally put this notion to (ahem) bed?

Burger King: Burgers, Blow Jobs -- What's the Difference?

by Melissa McEwan, Shakesville

Burger King has done it again with a new ad that Copyranter describes as "the new leading 'most overtly blow-jobby ad' I've ever seen."

Did Taxpayers Fund Sanford Affair?

by Jed Lewison, Daily Kos

Sanford had an affair with a woman from Argentina, and he recently visited there on the taxpayer dime.

The Hidden Effects of "Don't Ask Don’t Tell"

by Abe Forman-Greenwald, Brave New Foundation

Gay and lesbian partners of service members forced by law to sacrifice in silence.

Why the Left Looks Like a Big Hypocrite in the Sanford Affair

JoAnn Wypijewski, The Nation. July 3, 2009.
Sanford is no more of a moralist than those in the party of Barack and Bill, the party of "don't ask, don't tell" and the Defense of Marriage Act.

Unprotected Sex: Abstinence Education's Main Accomplishment

Marie Cocco, Washington Post Writers Group. July 2, 2009.
Teens are having more condomless sex than they did in the 1990s. It's time for science-based sex ed, not moralizing.

For Many, Marriage Is Sexless, Boring and Oppressive: Time to Rethink the Institution?

Amanda Marcotte, RH Reality Check. July 1, 2009.
Marriage is failing many, many people. Why do we still idealize it?

Obama's Stance on Same-Sex Marriage Puts Him on the Wrong Side of History

Richard Kim, The Nation. June 29, 2009.
The question is no longer whether Obama can afford to support gay rights with full-throated passion, but rather: Can he afford not to?

Sanford's Sordid Sex Saga: Why We Like Publicly Shaming Hypocrite Politicians

David Rosen, CounterPunch. June 29, 2009.
Last week, Gov. Mark Sanford participated in one of the oldest social rituals in American history: public shaming of the moral hypocrite.

Why Are People Obsessed with Their Kids?

Vanessa Richmond, The Tyee. June 29, 2009.
Our current interest in children and parenting is neither normal nor historical. Nor is it very healthy for kids, parents and society at large.

Rating the Greatest GOP Sex Scandals of the Past 20 Years

Brad Reed, AlterNet. June 26, 2009.
From Clarence Thomas to Mark Sanford, the definitive guide to randy Republicans

Can Gardening Make Your Sex Life Better?

Makenna Goodman, Chelsea Green Publishing. June 25, 2009.
The skeptical reader will probably go, say what? But I believe gardening is a good model to go off of -- in terms of getting off.

Sanford and Sin: When Will the GOP Give up on Their Claim of Moral Purity?

Jacob Heilbrunn, Huffington Post. June 25, 2009.
South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford will presumably disappear, but the contradictions he embodies won't.

Virginity Movement on the Defensive, Scrambling to Rebrand

Jessica Valenti, The Nation. June 23, 2009.
Progressives have to fight to ensure that abstinence groups don't regain their cultural footing.

Coitus Interruptus Erroneous: Would You Believe That Pulling Out Actually Works?

Andy Wright, AlterNet. June 22, 2009.
Withdrawal is one of the oldest forms of birth control. Yet, our gender biases -- along with some very bad science -- have made it taboo.

One in Four Men in South Africa Admit Rape, Survey Finds

David Smith, The Guardian. June 20, 2009.
The country is notorious for having one of the highest levels of rape. Only a fraction are reported, and few lead to a conviction.

The Mind-Boggling Variety of Sexual Experience

Liz Langley, Liz Langley's Blog. June 17, 2009.
The Best Sex Writing 2009 covers everything from virginity pledges to orgasming after a spinal chord injury.

What I Learned at My First Orgy

Greta Christina, Greta Christina's Blog. June 15, 2009.
There's nothing quite like seeing six naked people having sex. I undressed, joined in and learned lessons that are with me to this day.

Hey Kids, Have Lots of Sex -- It's What Your Parents Did at Your Age

Jeff Schult, AlterNet. June 13, 2009.
The media is freaking out about young people "hooking up." That's what we did in the '70s, and we turned out great!

15 Shocking Tales of How Sex Laws Are Screwing the American People

Ellen Friedrichs, AlterNet. June 12, 2009.
In the land of the free, the freedom to express your sexuality can land you in prison.

"Sexy Ukrainian Women Looking for Love": The Fight Against Sex Tourism

Marina Kamenev, Ms. Magazine. June 11, 2009.
Ukrainian feminists are trying to curb a growing sex tourism industry that exploits women and children.

Why My Vasectomy Will Help Save the Earth's Resources

Matt Leonard, Earth Island Journal. June 10, 2009.
"Any child I had would have been raised here and would consume (despite my best efforts) far more resources than I am comfortable accepting."

Homophobia on Prime Time: Judges from 'So You Think You Can Dance' Freak Out Over Two Men Dancing Together

Greta Christina, Greta Christina's Blog. June 6, 2009.
They were so freaked out that they were unable to render a verdict on the pair's dancing, and insisted that each man repeat the audition with a woman.

My Life As a 'Craigslist Hooker': Why We Need Smart Policy About Sex Work

Ester Amy Fischer, Huffington Post. June 5, 2009.
It seems strange to eulogize an online red light district, but Craigslist Erotic Services transformed the meaning of being a sex worker.

Gay and Proud in Havana: Celebration of Diversity Brings Out Best and Worst of Cuba

Marina Sitrin, AlterNet. June 4, 2009.
The Cuban government is beginning to take homophobia seriously, and people are starting to respond.

Why Is the Frat Boy Culture So Sleazy and Sex-Crazed?

Nicholas L. Syrett, National Sexuality Resource Center. June 4, 2009.
Frat houses are a haven for a masculinity that takes sexual conquest as one of its defining characteristics. But frats have not always been this way.

Slam Bill O'Reilly for His Jihad Against Dr. George Tiller

Isaac Fitzgerald, AlterNet. June 2, 2009.
O'Reilly's horribly offensive rhetoric helped feed the hate that led to this act of domestic terrorism.

"Weird" Sex Fantasies, And Why They're Good For You

Brie Cadman, Divine Caroline. June 1, 2009.
Having sexual fantasies is an absolutely normal, if not necessary, part of being a sexual being. It's not having them that is aberrant.

You May Kiss the Bride: Government Is Still Pushing Marriage

Amy DePaul, AlterNet. June 1, 2009.
Social conservatives scored a victory when the Obama Administration decided to keep a Bush program promoting marriage.

Why Does Bush's Top Florida 2000 Election Lawyer Want to Lead Gay Marriage Fight to Supreme Court?

Stephanie Mencimer, MotherJones.com. May 30, 2009.
Ultraconservative lawyer Ted Olson (who defended Bush in Bush v. Gore) wants to fight for gay marriage but many are skeptical of his motives.

Anti-Choice Abortion Warriors Have a New Poster Girl

Bill Berkowitz, IPS News. May 30, 2009.
Meet Lila Rose, the new 20-year old face of the anti-choice movement.

Why Our Troubled Economic Times May Spell Disaster for Your Marriage

Kristin Celello, American Sexuality Magazine. May 29, 2009.
Based on what happened to the American marriage during the Great Depression, things don't look for married couples.

Motherhood, Sex, and a Woman's Deepest Fears

Deborah Orr, Independent UK. May 28, 2009.
The new Lars von Trier movie "Antichrist" makes us face our unhealthy assumptions about motherhood and sexuality.

Sarah Palin's Outrageous Hypocrisy on Teen Sex

Matt Taibbi, True/Slant. May 27, 2009.
Palin knew her daughter was having sex in her own house. What does it take to get discredited as a right-wing "family values" merchant these days?

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The Center for Sex & Culture promotes sex education, advocacy and research, helping advance progressive perspectives on sexuality. The center offers classes and workshops on sexual issues.

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The Center for Positive Sexuality (CPS) arms teens with the information they need to take care of their sexual health. CPS also aims to facilitate dialogue on condom availability and sex education in schools.

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The Prostitutes' Education Network (PEN) is an information service about legislative and cultural issues that impact prostitutes and other sex workers. PEN is a valuable resource for sex workers and activists/educators who study issues of decriminalization, human rights in the context of prostitution, and violence against prostitutes.

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White Knot for Equality strives to educate people on the importance of Marriage Equality, provoke dialogue, and show the wide-spread support Marriage Equality truly has.

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