What is wrong with a country when beating women is more acceptable than men kissing men?

Destigmatizing female sexuality, and more on the problems with studying female desire. Meanwhile, this essay digs into “hookup culture” and related misogyny. And, really, vagina mints? Crap like this [...]]]> Your intrepid webmistress apologizes for the delay. And here we go.

What is wrong with a country when beating women is more acceptable than men kissing men?

Destigmatizing female sexuality, and more on the problems with studying female desire. Meanwhile, this essay digs into “hookup culture” and related misogyny. And, really, vagina mints? Crap like this wouldn’t make it to production if women hadn’t been made insecure about their genitals.

The Swedes have renamed the hymen the “vaginal corona.” Read more here.

Abortion in media: first, a new abortion “dramumentary” is out and it doesn’t seem so fair and balanced, and unfortunately, Lila Rose is lying on tape again [link is to a nice debunking].

Abortion news across the country and abroad: Dr. Carhart, now the only late-term abortion provider since Dr. Tiller’s murder, is now being targeted, abortion and emergency contraception access are improving in Europe, especially in Ireland. Our own Congress just ended an effort to permanently repeal the global gag rule. Let’s hope the 2012 President doesn’t reverse Obama’s executive order, huh? For the religious readers, here’s more on religious support for abortion rights.

Abortion and healthcare: first, awesome news! Nelson’s Senate amendment to ban insurance from covering abortions FAILED! [More on that amendment here, here, and here.] Now we just have to see that Stupak doesn’t get through when the healthcare bill goes back to the House. Sign a new petition here, and refresh your rage [and learn something about political action] here. Also, here’s some anti-choice stupidity shown for what it is and here’s more on the ever-present personal-is-political reality.

Let’s get to something a bit saucier: porn! Porn star Sasha Gray gives an interesting interview, Phillip Toledano documents phone sex workers, and sex workers consider their profession and feminism. Meanwhile, has porn has porn made men bad at sex? Does porn change men’s views of women? Are there any more porn virgins? [Depends on the porn, is our answer.] There’s drama in the Flynt family, and according to at least one escort, prosititutes save marriages. [We're going to say that depends on the marriage, too.]

In religious bigotry news, Baltimore fundies are getting time to present a case for hate in court [and other rabid fundies say condoms prevent the Rapture---just precious!]. Thankfully sane Christians are have put forth an Affirmation Declaration.

Here’s Rachel Maddow with more on the Kill the Gays Bill and “ex-gay therapy.”

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

[Transcript here.]

While international leaders and the Holy See condemned the bill, American fundies were reluctant to do so. [More here.] Perhaps most notable among the suddenly reticent fundies was Rick Warren, who tried to wash his hands of the matter despite being connected to it until he was, essentially, shamed into saying something. The bill may well have killed many, but after the outcry, the death penalty and life imprisonment clauses have been dropped. A victory, though, hilariously, in the new draft of the bill, Uganda will be offering ex-gay therapy.

This ties in neatly with The Family, by Jeff Sharlet. This book, a truly terrifying book, exposes the fundies in the thick of American politics and where the Jesus-and-capitalism brand of Christianity came from.

In good news, DC has okayed gay marriage! Unfortunately, New York did not. Cynthia Nixon responded to the defeat here, in a wonderful essay. Also wonderful is this helpful flowchart of the gay marriage debate.

Odds and ends: hot gay elf sex in a video game, on same sex schools for boys, and condom sabotage.

More Republican wackiness: the conservative women calendar. Also this week, old school conservative lady Phyllis Schafly reminded us that feminism is “the most dangerous, destructive force [...]]]> First off: Even TEXAS is admitting abstinence only sex ed doesn’t work, yet a clatch of those wacky Republicans just restored $50 million to fund abstinence only sex ed. Sigh.

More Republican wackiness: the conservative women calendar. Also this week, old school conservative lady Phyllis Schafly reminded us that feminism is “the most dangerous, destructive force in our society today”—and presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee was all over this. Remember, friendly though he may seem, he is not our friend.

On women and dating and sex: OkCupid’s data suggests women like being treated like human beings by prospective partners, while this cartoon attempts wit and fails miserably.

But back to politics. The healthcare reform debate has focused on abortion: abortion complicates healthcare, and the language regarding abortion in the bills cause strife. But you know it’s coming to a boil when a Congressman goes so far as to call Obama an “enemy of humanity”—and doesn’t distinguish between fetuses and people.

NARAL and Planned Parenthood both have action alerts regarding abortion and healthcare reform. Please, click and use.

Also this week, child rapist and auteur Roman Polanksi may finally be brought to justice… except that a lot of people want don’t seem to mind that he raped a 13 year old girl. Truly sad. Also truly sad, the Vatican would like to remind us that its priests mostly raped teen boys, not little boys, so it’s not as bad! “Family values,” right.

A happy note: Germany’s likely next foreign minister will be Guido Westerwelle, who is openly gay.

Finally, some sex and culture stories. Read a history of college paper sex columns here, about the legacy of American sexploitation films here, and about rape tunnel art installation that turned out to be a hoax. Thankfully. Between the actual rape, abortion denigration, and abstinence only funding this week, the last thing we need is an actual rape tunnel.

Here’s hoping next week we have a few more happier stories.