Sex, gender, Stupak, and more

Here’s a cultural shift PAPER can get behind: an argument for premarital sex. It seems especially apropos considering some of the new fundie children’s devotionals.

Evidence that abstinence-only doesn’t work continues to pile up—STIs are spreading at “soaring rates.”

It’s an interesting week for porn. Sociological Images considers a new doc on the industry, and Jezebel’s take is here. Meanwhile this week, sex blogger and call girl Belle Du Jour outed herself, and turns out she’s a scientist. More here.

Sometimes it does a total libertine good to read a very moderate take on hookup culture, though we should note that the silly “feminism is for sluts” meme continues.

Sadly, the Stupak-Pitts Amendment is still in place. Here’s a hell of a column by Katha Pollitt on the subject. [More along the themes Pollitt discusses here and here at Jezebel.] Also check out Kay Steiger for some more clarification, and this eminently sane and fact-based treatise on abortion.

Check out these films: The Coat Hanger Project [abortion, obv], and For the Bible Tells Me So, on gay rights and religion.

Here’s the story on a governor rejecting gays in the funeral parlor, but the following’s much funnier:

Following the hate crime precedent, the repeal of DADT may be attached to next year’s defense budget. Oh, and want more proof homophobia is still thriving? An Alabama school canceled the whole prom rather than allow a lesbian couple in. Pitiful.

All about Transgender Awareness Week and Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Excellent read on who rapists are and about the bullshit facing women who need a rape kit.

On that note, remember sexsomnia? It’s apparently an acceptable defense in court.