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 [...]]]> 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.

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.