Today I'm feeling virtuous because I've written loads of stuff for Cliterati. I interviewed Playboy writer Margot C Lester and sex activist/writer/photographer Heather Corinna for our Sexual Pioneers feature. Margot gave and intelligent and entertaining idea of what it's like working for one of the best-selling men's mags in the world. Heather gave some truly inspiring comments on women in the sex industry.
One of the sites Heather runs is Scarleteen which gives no-nonsense sexual advice to teenagers. She's outraged that sites like Savekaryn can get upwards of $10,000 to pay off the owner's Prada-habit induced credit card debts when Scarleteen, which provides 5,000+ teenagers in America with sex advice every day has never received that much money. I'm inclined to agree with her, so if you're feeling nice, donate some cash.
And it's worth supporting. Two pieces of research have come out last week that shocked me. One reported that two thirds of 16-25 year olds in the UK don't use condoms; 56 per cent of 16-18 year olds and a terrifying 74 per cent of 22-25 year olds. And 80 per cent have had a one night stand as a result of alcohol.
Another claimed that 43 per cent of 15-19 year olds in Japan have five or six 'fuck-buddies' (they call them sekusutomo - sex friends). Again, they practice unsafe sex.
My standard line is 'Would you throw yourself under a train for your lover? If not, don't have sex without a condom unless you've both been tested and it's come back clean. You're risking death and nasty diseases. And love doesn't protect against STIs.'
Never has 'Don't die of ignorance.' rung so true.
Posted by emilyd at September 26, 2002 12:40 AM