Haha, a win for local porn stores: [...]]]> And now, onto some horrifying news: a Cornell doctor is performing female genital mutilation on girls with large clitorises, and using a vibrator to test the results. HORRIFYING. We suspect more will be unearthed with this case–are these girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, intersexed, or just not “perfect”?

Haha, a win for local porn stores: Indiana Supreme Court declines to hear the New Albany adult store case, presumably much to ROCK’s chagrin.

Elsewhere in the defense of porn, sex blogger and advocate Violet Blue has begun Our Porn, Our Selves. She slams anti-porn forces here and here, and other blogs notice. Meanwhile, sexologist Charlie Glickman describes both sides of the porn debate and includes an interesting study that notes correlation between high porn consumption and male aggressivity.

As a sex-positive, pro-sex industry advocate, I’ll write on this a bit. Glickman reminds us that correlation does not equal causation, an important reminder indeed. PAPER supports every adult’s right to enjoy porn [and other fun given us by the sex industry], and does not believe porn is a truly addictive substance. However, such studies are extremely interesting and worth pursuing, when ethical, non-sex-negative researchers are doing the work. Such research begs questions: what sort of content are these extremely aggressive men watching? Does it interfere with their relationships? Likewise, what underlies high porn consumption in various populations? When sex-negative groups point out violence and degradation in porn–which certainly is part of some porn content, and not in the sense of kink and consent–they have something of a point. It’s just that we at PAPER seriously doubt porn turns people into sociopaths, just like violent video games and movies don’t turn people into sociopaths.

One thing you can do, if you’re into porn, is make sure you’re consuming the work of good companies. Our best advice is to Google the company, and start digging. And look at the porn: do you see performers returning? Does the company include clips of the performers talking about the experience? Does the company proudly record that all performers are over 18? Exploitation happens, but not all companies exploit. Be sure what you’re watching doesn’t. And if you don’t care if it does, ask yourself, seriously, why.

Louisville’s Pride Parade was last Friday!

A homophobic recovery outfit is seeking to expand in the Clifton neighborhood.

Oh, those theocrats: they’re not giving up on the Uganda kill the gays bill. And apparently, neither is Texas. More about this particular conservative lunacy here. Also, Montana fundies are trying to overturn a new gay rights law.

Alert! Knockoff condoms are on the shelves and do not protect you. Another reason to practice safer sex, people.

The FDA has approved ella, a form of emergency contraception effective for five days after the possible conception. Awesome! Anti-choicers are, naturally, mad.

On Yaz? Good news: the generic Gianvi is now available.

Louisiana has passed an ultrasound requirement before getting an abortion. You’d think with the worst environmental disaster in American history on, right at their shores, they’d have better things to worry about than trampling on women’s rights.

The Radiance Foundation perpetuates anti-choice lies.

Lastly, a little more on that philandering evangelical, Mark Souder, who called his affair “torrid”:

In “Lessons from a broken man,” the cover story of the next edition of WORLD, a popular evangelical magazine, Souder offers a number of revealing glimpses into his struggles to stay faithful to his wife, and the political pressure cooker that he says can destroy the Beltway marriages of even the most die-hard believers.

“I prayed multiple times a day, sang hymns with emotion and tears, felt each time that it wouldn’t happen again, read the Bible every morning,” Souder said in one of more than a dozen e-mails to WORLD’s editors. “So how in the world did I have a ‘torrid’ (which is an accurate word) many-year affair? How could I compartmentalize it so much?”

To the evangelical mind–and here, your intrepid Webmistress is speaking from experience, as she was once herself a devout evangelical–this is the portrait of sinful nature. No matter how much good one does or fervent one’s belief, one gives in to sinful desires. I imagine Souder is either wondering why God never delivered him of these desires, or hating himself for being so sinful. As amusing as such scandals are, they are perhaps full of this sort of ontological heartbreak; as glad as I am to see a sex-negative legislator like Souder come crashing down, I feel a certain pity for him. His worldview has failed him. The reality is that most of us are hardwired for lust, and that we shouldn’t feel guilt for it. We should live in a world where this was an accepted fact, and people allowed to make arrangements for it, rather than repress ourselves in shame only to see that repression breed personal hell.

Remember this, dear readers: the theocrats who want to legislate our sex lives don’t believe the wide wonderful diversity of human sexuality is natural. They believe it is transgression against divine law. And even believing this, they cannot control themselves and cannot see the failure of their beliefs for what it is, because this belief has been drilled in so hard it overrides common sense.

New, more effective emergency contraception is on the way. And anti-choicers are mad.

The Alliance Defense Fund, a fundie law resource, may represent Indiana in an abortion case.

New disgusting tactic: anti-choice “freedom rides.”

There’s government-funded abortion drama in Alaska, of all the places.

Don’t disappoint [...]]]> A fairly brief newsfeed this week. Did any of you spot something we missed?

New, more effective emergency contraception is on the way. And anti-choicers are mad.

The Alliance Defense Fund, a fundie law resource, may represent Indiana in an abortion case.

New disgusting tactic: anti-choice “freedom rides.”

There’s government-funded abortion drama in Alaska, of all the places.

Don’t disappoint when you’re playing to anti-choicers: two have been arrested for threating Bart Stupak, the big anti-choice hiccup in the healthcare reform saga.

Lesbians are great parents!

True stories of gay exorcisms.

Surgery is no longer required for selecting one’s gender on passports.

A happy story about viral campaigning on behalf of sex workers.

Randall Terry endorsed Rand Paul, Kentucky’s Republican candidate for the Senate. Randall Terry [...]]]> We’re sorry to have been away so long, and we’re working on some ways to keep updates more frequent around here. [Stay tuned!] With that said, here’s the news on abortion, sex and politics, gay rights, sexual health, sex ed, porn, and more!

Randall Terry endorsed Rand Paul, Kentucky’s Republican candidate for the Senate. Randall Terry heads Operation Rescue, a terroristic anti-choice organization. If it isn’t obvious by now, PAPER wholeheartedly endorses Jack Conway. Please have a look at his site–he’s been a good civil servant for Kentucky, and consider donating time or resources to his campaign.

Honoring Dr. Tiller, a year after his murder. And his murderer, Scott Roeder, was no lone wolf.

Abortion has become more concentrated among poor women.

On anti-choice maneuvering at the state level, with more here and here.

Webcams increase abortion access.

Britain has aired an abortion ad on the telly, while American teachers distribute plastic fetuses in public schools and an American nun is excommunicated for authorizing a medically necessary abortion at a Catholic hospital.

Speaking of Catholic misdeeds, Kentuckians have a lawsuit underway and Louisville’s Archbishop Kurtz is doing more homophobic meddling.

In California, evangelicals end a school’s anti-bullying program, since it promoted acceptance of gays. Also, a longtime target of anti-pornsters, Movie Gallery, has shut down, to their delight–though as a former MG employee, I gotta say it has more to do with bad bankruptcy issues than stocking a little softcore porn.

Meanwhile, the American Family Association has opined that Hitler’s SS comprised only gays, since they were the only recruits “savage and brutal enough” for the job, and that Hitler was gay. Never mind that Hitler actively imprisoned and killed gays and that no evidence exists that Hitler or the SS was gay. The AFA has outdone itself with this.

The SCOTUS rules that sex offenders can be imprisoned “indefinitely.”

After appointing a “proud homophobe” and subsequent outcry, Obama revoked the appointment. Yay!

A tally of Obama’s GLBTQ accomplishments. [Not a glowing review.]

Indiana’s own Mark Souder has resigned after an affair with a staffer. The following is an abstinence-only plug featuring Souder and his mistress–just rich, huh?

… and here’s Souder crying and apologizing. He hopes to be remembered as “an evangelical”–well, no problem there! Another evangelical hypocrite for the long, long list.

Sarah Palin’s been dropping the f-bomb a lot lately–that is, claiming to be a feminist. This is absurd, and you can read other takedowns here and here.

Domestic partners are about to receive new federal benefits.

In Malawi, a married gay couple was set to get 14 years in jail before a presidential pardon, after international pressure. Also interesting: one of the men is Another day, another hate crime. This one highlights the stupidity of the assailants.

Constance McMillen, the lesbian trying to go to prom with her girlfriend, got ran out of town, after all.

Gay men may soon be able to donate blood.

The Family Research Council, closely affiliated with the AFA, was caught supporting Uganda’s kill the gays bill. The drama continues here.

Civil disobedience and the LGBTQ community.

By presidential proclamation, it’s LGBT Pride Month!

After years of real sex ed, Canada’s teen pregnancy rate has dropped. Same deal in California. And Obama has paid attention and given more federal dollars to real sex ed.

When feminists argue about porn. And there’s a Facebook page. And this illuminating video:

Declaring porn at customs.

Why does porn matter?–a pro-porn perspective.

The world’s oldest sex toy has been found! And it did double-duty as a striking stone.

More porn use stats. Mormons are still paying for the most porn, and Sunday is the most popular day for porn-browsing.

Turns out bat fellatio can cause quite a ruckus.

Sex research and fears of lube.

Is free birth control on the way? Maybe, thanks to Planned Parenthood.

A new Diva Cup-like menstrual product can collect stem cells!

UTIs are getting harder to treat. Drink your cranberry juice, ladies.

A cure for herpes may be on the way.

New CDC report says American women’s favorite contraceptive methods are the Pill, condoms, and sterilization, in that order.

Rest in peace: Rue McClanahan, best known for her Blanche Deveraux on The Golden Girls.

Kiana Firouz, 27 years old, is an outspoken Iranian LGBT rights activist, filmmaker, and actress. When clips of her video documentary work featuring the struggle and persecution of gays and lesbians in her country were acquired by Iranian intelligence, agents began to follow Firouz around Tehran, harassing and intimidating her. She fled for England where [...]]]> Alert:

Kiana Firouz, 27 years old, is an outspoken Iranian LGBT rights activist, filmmaker, and actress. When clips of her video documentary work featuring the struggle and persecution of gays and lesbians in her country were acquired by Iranian intelligence, agents began to follow Firouz around Tehran, harassing and intimidating her. She fled for England where she could safely continue her work and studies… Firouz, understandably, has requested asylum from the British government. Much to everyone’s shock and dismay, the British Home Office has rejected her application for refugee status. Yes, they know she’s gay. Yes, they know she could be deported back to Iran at any time, and that if this happens, Firouz will most likely be sentenced to torture and death after being found guilty of the “unspeakable sin of homosexuality” because she has participated in explicit lesbian sex scenes in the movie, and been a fierce proponent for human rights in her country.

Louisville candidate Mike Slaton is getting some national attention. We highly endorse him–please vote for him in the primary!

The Episcopal church has just ordained Mary Glasspool, a lesbian, as a bishop.

Tim Pawlenty, possible presidential hopeful, is set to veto a bill allowing same-sex couples the same end-of-life rights as straight couples.

New homophobic activist tactic: march around with a pro-pedophilia sign, since that’s next if the gays can marry. Let’s hope this doesn’t get trendy.

Gay rights opponents are… inching closer to death.

Elena Kagan has been nominated to be a Supreme Court Justice, and there’s confusion about her stance on abortion. We’re inclined to say that, as the linked article describes, Kagan’s history shows more of a sense of politics than anything.

Missouri gets in on restricting abortion rights, while doctors in Oklahoma are criticizing stringent new state regulations. Meanwhile, forced-to-Independent former Republican Charlie Crist may veto an anti-choice bill in Florida.

This could be excellent: scientists are at work on a male contraceptive that relies on ultrasound and would last for six months a dose.

In other stupid Missouri news, a bill on sexual businesses has passed. From the article:

Some House Democrats temporarily stalled the bill this year with a variety of objections. They said it infringed on the free market, cut into local control, placed religious and political viewpoints into law and would force some businesses to close — driving up unemployment and reducing state tax revenues.

“If we had a vote by secret ballot, this bill would die,” said Rep. Stephen Webber, D-Columbia, who voted against the bill. “But everybody wants to be holier than thou.”

The Missouri legislation would apply to strip clubs, adult video and book stores and other businesses of a sexual nature, including semi-nude model studios.

It would ban full nudity, alcohol, anyone younger than 18 and touching between semi-nude employees and customers. To ensure strippers are off-limits, the bill requires semi-nude employees to remain on a stage at least 18 inches high and at least 6 feet from customers in a room of at least 600 square feet.

The bill also requires sexually oriented businesses to close at midnight and prohibits them from locating within 1,000 feet of homes, schools, churches, libraries, parks, day cares or other sexually oriented businesses.

Here’s a great example of how politics can increase stupid legislated sex-negativity.

A must-read piece detailing the Kentucky Values Coalition–another group claiming they defend “family values” while actually behaving in quite a slimy manner.

Funny and informative Cracked list of sexperts who made the world a worse place [to do it].

Retro sex ed videos! And they are… interesting.

An economic analysis of the relationship between pre-marital sex and its destigmatization.

Study from the National Campaignt to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy finds unprecedented vast ignorance about reproduction and contraception among American youth. Thanks, abstinence-only and sex-negativity!

What an anti-teen sexting bill ought to look [...]]]> Happy post-Derby recuperation, and here’s a [very distilled] round-up from the interim.

An economic analysis of the relationship between pre-marital sex and its destigmatization.

Study from the National Campaignt to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy finds unprecedented vast ignorance about reproduction and contraception among American youth. Thanks, abstinence-only and sex-negativity!

What an anti-teen sexting bill ought to look like. Take heed, Kentucky legislators.

Advice to a twentysomething raised by sex-negative religious parents… who now feels terrible guilt about sex, even while married.

ROCK’s been endorsing this stupid effort by the Family Foundation of Kentucky to make all strippers keep distance from clients and wear pasties.

More investigation into the fundies with too much power in this country, from Rachel Maddow:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Well, what do you know? Strip clubs are safer than churches! At least in Australia.

Next Saturday is the day before Mother’s Day, and that means we ought to help EMW out. [And, you know, call our moms and such.] The protesters continue to get coverage, especially after anti-choice starlet Lila Rose leaked a heavily-edited two-year-old attack video about EMW. [See Planned Parenthood's response to such attacks here.]

Meanwhile, a ten-year-old Mexican girl is being refused an abortion. Maybe this will be the tipping point for Mexican abortion rights–we can only hope.

A woman live-tweeted her abortion.

Abortion and contraception aren’t new–they have a 4000 year history!

Pro-Choice Public Education Project: education about abortion-related SCOTUS cases.

Gallup finds that education “trumps” gender in predicting abortion rights support.

Now this is the sort of class homophobes can proudly claim: after a Mississippi lesbian student, Constance McMillen, asked to take her girlfriend to the prom [while dressed in a tux, *gasp*], the school canceled the whole prom. You can picture how much this pleased the rest of the students. After the school was forced to hold the prom, however, McMillen and her date and some disabled students were the only ones who attended. It was a decoy prom. The real prom had been held elsewhere, and kept secret from McMillen and the others.

Well, at least DC passed a resolution against the Uganda kill-the-gays bill.

More science shows that the Pill won’t kill us.

What does porn for women really look like?

A bunch of fundies got Morrison’s Song of Solomon banned from a school. ROCK frequently endorses this tactic–what did you read in school that someone objects to?

A cornucopia of climaxes: the language of orgasm.

Also, we’re updating, adding, and tweaking throughout the site. We’re also planning some new post features. Stay tuned!

Locally, an anti-choice rally was held downtown, Kentucky’s numbskulled state Senate passed a terrible bill requiring women to have ultrasounds before getting an abortion, and Louisvillians continued [...]]]> Whew! We’ve seen the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the trial of anti-choice terrorist Scott Roeder, the Prop 8 trial, the vindication of Theatair X, and plenty more.

Locally, an anti-choice rally was held downtown, Kentucky’s numbskulled state Senate passed a terrible bill requiring women to have ultrasounds before getting an abortion, and Louisvillians continued to duke it out in the letters to the editor. The ultrasound bill is pretty atrocious—it also requires a face-to-face meeting with an abortion doctor 24 hours before the procedure and imposes stiff fines on doctors, among other things. Word has it the bill won’t pass the Kentucky House, but if you are concerned please consider attending the Reproductive Justice Project Rally in Frankfort Thursday, 2/4. The rally was scheduled to demonstrate for real sex ed for teens, but this bill demands some attention.

The Roe v. Wade anniversary prompted much writing, with NARAL declaring it Blog For Choice Day. Amanda Marcotte explains that she’s pro-choice because she loves life, the good Kentuckians over at Barefoot & Progressive weigh in, and this post collects a number of other feminists’ thoughts. Jessica Arons, director of the Women’s Health and Rights Program at American Progress, calls Democrats to action.

The Roe anniversary also marked the beginning of the trial of Scott Roeder, admitted murderer of late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller. [Listen to Dr. Tiller here on why he chose this career.] RH Reality Check did a day-by-day account: Days One and Two, Day Three, Day Four, and Day Five. You can watch Roeder’s testimony Roeder was today found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life.

Let us remember, though, that Roeder is also a terrorist, not just a murderer. More on anti-abortion violence here [and it is well-documented]. Also, will there be another generation of abortion providers? One must wonder, with the personal safety risks and lack of education.

Meanwhile, also on Roe day, the March for Life descended upon DC. Sarah Palin cooed about this on Facebook, Jezebel responded. There is a bad trend in the anti-choice sphere of appropriating pro-choice language—we’ve got to call this bullshit for what it is. Also, much was made over the youth in attendance of the rally, but that’s not really the feat anti-choicers might like to believe.

Speaking of youth and sex rights, here’s how to train youth to value reproductive justice.

An unfortunate firestorm has flared up as CBS is allowing an anti-choice ad featuring Tim Tebow and funded by Focus on the Family to air during the Super Bowl, which violated its former anti-advocacy advertising policy. In light of the controversy they’ve amended the policy. Pro-choice groups have considered how to respond, and seem to be focused on shutting the ad down. We can also mock it.

PAPER, by the way, proposes a counter-ad with a well-known successful woman or mother of a successful person detailing why her abortion was a fantastic choice. Sadly abortion is so stigmatized in this country no one would want to admit to one on TV, which is yet another problem.

The ad is also controversial since Tebow’s mother’s story sounds a little off, and because CBS is cynically using a serious social issue to get free buzz AND paints the anti-choicers as the better side.

State trends in abortion in 2009.

Reflections on the last decade in reproductive justice.

Two interesting books to look for: Dispatches from the Abortion Wars, and The Means of Reproduction.

Last in the abortion section, a good mockery of Bart Stupak.

In excellent local news… the regulations were unconstitutional. ROCK was predictably petulant, saying what goes on in Theatair X is “unimaginable,” and we enjoyed this. To tell Clarksville not to pass stupid restrictions on adult businesses, call either 812-283-1504 or email Clarksville’s town council at trishATdigicoveDOTcom.

And if you’re still unconvinced that groups like ROCK are harmless, here are some recent stories from around the world of braindead bans caused by sex-negative panic: a dictionary banned from school for containing “oral sex”. Or The Diary of Anne Frank banned in Virginia schools for being “pornographic.” Outside of school, how about banning small breasts and female ejaculation in porn? Or artists stripped of their funding for “indecency”? Such stories proliferate where sex-negativity abounds.

In Indiana, though, not all fronts are so liberated. 2009 saw more pro-GLBTQ bills passed than the last two years combined.

At the Prop 8 trial, religion was mostly absent, ex-gay therapy was discussed, and homosexuality claimed to be linked to pedophilia [by someone Prop 8's backers are distancing themselves from]. The case does seem to be leaning toward repealing Prop 8, thankfully… even Cindy McCain is for gay marriage.

This sounds like an interesting political race.

Oh yeah, despite an anti-choice ad, CBS won’t allow a gay dating site’s ad. Ugh. In other gay dating site news, eHarmony must merge its straight and gay sites. ‘Bout time.

Teen pregnancy has risen in America—thanks, abstinence-only education.

Contraception will be made more available to women in the military.

Study on education and cervial cancer risk.

Americans might soon have another emergency contraception pill, already available in Europe and maybe more effective than Plan B.

A wonderful condom ad:

Lastly, pioneering reproductive justice activist Ruth P. Smith has died. Thank you, Ruth, you will be missed.

Utterly awful: supporters of Scott Roeder, the murderer of abortion provider Dr. Tiller, tried to raise money with eBay auctions. Link includes pictures of Roeder’s drawings, which are [...]]]> More on the sex offender ruling. This is an ongoing story—let’s continue to hope for policy that differentiates between violent offenders, pedophiles, and people who made stupid mistakes.

Utterly awful: supporters of Scott Roeder, the murderer of abortion provider Dr. Tiller, tried to raise money with eBay auctions. Link includes pictures of Roeder’s drawings, which are just ghastly. Thankfully eBay has removed all the auctions!

Sigh… Planned Parenthood director becomes anti-abortion activist. Unsurprisingly, more and more details just aren’t making sense. We too smell a right-wing ploy.

More on Mexico’s abortion wars.

A visual history of birth control. Pretty neat!

Colbert on gay rights:

Houston may get its first gay mayor.

New study says that larger foreskins may increase risk of AIDS contraction. This is part of a continuing move to increase circumcision, particularly in hard-hit places in Africa.

Good news: Obama lifted the ban on HIV+ people coming into the US.

Oklahoma continues to crack down on teen sexting, and warns teens there are consequences—i.e., the consequences a stupid law creates. Come on, Oklahoma.

Do you suffer from restless vagina syndrome? On women’s sexual dysfunction and profiting from it.

Criminalizing prostitution will be very bad for Rhode Island. Yup.

Story on runaways and underage prostitution. All the more reason to put strong protections in for sex workers and write better sex trafficking laws.

Outrageous: a sixteen year old girl gets life without parole for killing her abusive pimp. Two SCOTUS cases on the docket could keep this kind of nonsense from happening—let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Reproductive justice recommendations from an international panel.

Yet again conservatives move further right: moderate Republican Dede Scozzafava forced out of NY race, essentially by a Conservative candidate. Scozzafave has since endorsed the Democrat—this is going to be interesting. Also in big election news today are two big gay rights initiatives, one in Maine to repeal gay marriage and one in Washington to allow gay partnerships. Tonight’s news will be big, however these turn out.

More on abstinence only and how it does NOT belong in healthcare reform. And here’s some nauseating abstinence-promoting, patriarchy-glorifying young adult “literature.”

The sad plight and oppression of Somalian women. Unsurprisingly, fundies are to blame.

From the animal world: teacher suspended for having his students read about gay animal behavior, the oral sex lives of bats, and four animals with interesting sex lives.

Lastly, the abortion link page and blog list have new additions.

Here’s something gleeful: check out the ROCK-mocking in this C-J article. ROCK’s radio show continues, and ROCK prez Bryan Wickens got more free press from the Southeast [...]]]> And your intrepid webmistress has news, action alerts, and adventures for you. First off, TOMORROW, 10/28, is National Comprehensive Sex Education Call-In Day. Learn more from the organizers here.

Here’s something gleeful: check out the ROCK-mocking in this C-J article. ROCK’s radio show continues, and ROCK prez Bryan Wickens got more free press from the Southeast Outlook. The radio show is essentially an hour-long advertisement for ROCK—the other “practical solution” Wickens has offered on the show is going into school libraries and asking for books to be removed. Charming. In the SECC article, Wickens reminds us that “‘liberty’ is at the heart of everything,” which is funny, since censorship doesn’t seem much like liberty. Wickens adds that without Judeo-Christian principles this country will be torn apart, and that the country’s “moral decay” is shown by “the need for greater government control.” The article does not seem to be online, but it is nothing more than the usual back-patting incoherence one expects from ROCK. Also, Thursday, 10/29, ROCK will be having an event at Kye’s. Email us at paperkyanaATgmailDOTcom if you want to be involved in counter-activities.

And on to more dumb things: SuperFreakonomics asks why all women don’t become prostitutes. While PAPER wholeheartedly supports sex workers and believes it can be a great career choice, to wonder why all women don’t wander into the field at any level smacks of bad econ, attention-grabbing, and a misogynistic undertone. More here.

About the online prostitution subculture. Rather sex-negative in tone, but a look into how the internet is affecting the world’s oldest profession.

Utter crap: a new documentary says HIV and AIDS aren’t connected.

How do we like our contraception? Well, condoms now rival the Pill.

Snarking sexist shite from Details, Jezebel style.

Excellent and informative: The Pro-Life Pretense, which debunks “pro-life” legislators. This article was heavy on my mind Saturday when I escorted at the abortion clinic; and, I’m pleased to say, your intrepid webmistress’ take on Saturday morning is an editor’s pick at Open Salon.

More abortion links: study on abortion and mental health, and anti-choice FAIL from Law and Order. Seriously, cut the shit, TV shows.

Out of state homophobes again threaten gay marriage. Maine, don’t do another Prop 8!

In better news, hate crimes against gays are now federally prohibited. About time.

Lamda Legal has a new documentary out about getting anti-sodomy laws repealed. More good legal news: ruling eases transgender name change process.

Awesome: William & Mary students have elected a transgender homecoming queen.

Lastly in news: a gallery of photos from the Loveland Park in Korea. Very interesting—we hope to see more!

Lastly: we’ve added links to the blogroll, to the feminism page, and the abortion page.

And a very happy Halloween to you all.

Interview with Max Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah. It’s a must-read for understanding what’s behind the nonsense social conservatives want to inflict on us.

Some thoughts on sex and morality, especially considering Alabama’s absurd dildo ban. And here’s more on just how common [...]]]> Housekeeping: PAPER will now be updating on Tuesdays. And now, on to the links:

Interview with Max Blumenthal, author of Republican Gomorrah. It’s a must-read for understanding what’s behind the nonsense social conservatives want to inflict on us.

Some thoughts on sex and morality, especially considering Alabama’s absurd dildo ban. And here’s more on just how common sex toy use is.

A new study zipping through the blogosphere postulates that the Pill makes women prefer less masculine men. That’s the study in a nutshell; there’s some interesting stuff here, and the scientists are wise to conclude with wishing for more research to be done.

HPV vaccines could wipe out cervical cancer within 50 years. Remember, though, that we all have to get the vaccine for this to happen.

Guttmacher’s in the news, for a study on the costs of unsafe abortions in developing countries and by showing that abortion restriction does NOT reduce abortion. And in horrifying abortion news, Oklahoma now mandates that personal details of all abortions be shown online. Thankfully the constitutionality of this measure is being challenged—but it’s more proof that anti-choicers will sink to any low.

Speaking of low, here’s some debunking of anti-choice starlet Lila Rose.

No surprise: women’s genital self-esteem affects their sex lives.

A new book studies why women have sex. This book takes an evolutionary psychology bent, and the author interviewed in the linked article seems… reasonable. But isn’t there something horribly wrong when this question is being seriously asked?

About Outrage, the new HBO documentary chronicling how repressed gay lawmakers have hurt GLBTQ Americans. Incidentally, Republican Gomorrah discusses this to an extent, too.

Good news for gays in California: Schwarzenegger signs two important GLBTQ rights measures into law.

And here’s some more on DADT. As in, some real nonsense that tries to defend the policy. Read it and get your bile up.

Think your kid is getting sex ed? You may be mistaken, like New Yorkers are.

Speaking of nonsense, Egypt is now freaking out about fake hymen kits, saying it will promote promiscuity in women. Yo, drop the patriarchy already.

Florida schools are banning freak dancing. Hm. Meanwhile, here in our own fair city, a pedophile has just been ordained as a minister at a Pentecostal church. We guess they learned nothing from the ongoing Catholic example.

Speaking of sex offenders, doesn’t it make sense to differentiate between violent and nonviolent? The Courier-Journal thinks so. Read the comments at your own risk.

Weird: bestiality is going to the SCOTUS. Well, for the record, PAPER does not approve of bestiality.

Yay Al Franken! His amendment barring companies that discourage female employees from filing sexual harrassment suits from sweet government contracts passed. Awesome. And, eat it, Halliburton.

Finally, on a fun very NSFW note: http://www.buzzfeed.com/mjs538/rasputins-foot-long-preserved-penis”>Rasputin’s preserved penis is a star exhibit at the Russian sex and erotica museum.