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.

1. Is this actually a problem? 2. Does criminalizing sexting send a healthy, sex-positive message to youth? 3. Does criminalizing sexting open up free speech issues and add to [...]]]> Just what we need: proposed Indiana legislation making sexting a juvenile offense has been sent to a study commission. One might ask a few questions about the sexting panic.

1. Is this actually a problem?
2. Does criminalizing sexting send a healthy, sex-positive message to youth?
3. Does criminalizing sexting open up free speech issues and add to government spending?

The answer to the first two would be an emphatic NO, and the answer to #3 would be an emphatic YES. Let’s hope the study commission reaches a smart conclusion.

From The Courier-Journal: supporting the Fairness Ordinance and a veteran’s response to repealing DADT.

Did you know that to join the EU, a country must protect gay rights? Good policy.

Rick Santorum is spouting off more homophobic nonsense. Google “santorum,” if you don’t already know what it means as a slang term; we’re going to have a hilarious election cycle if Santorum, as the rumors have it, does run for president.

A leader in ex-gay ministry is a convicted felon and con man. How utterly unsurprising.

What to expect when you’re aborting.

A black woman’s response to the lie that the pro-choice is racist.

The Forty Days for Life harrass-a-thon begins again. Do consider escorting at our own EMW!

Virginia anti-choicers are working to divert proceeds from a pro-choice license plate.

More from pro-choice Catholics.

Two sides of sexual anxiety: resizing condoms for male egos, and how much bleeding is normal with first intercourse? And, two sides of desire: debunking the myth that men always want sex, and… new hope for a female Viagra.

On some notable feminists: lessons from Margaret Sanger, the brave life of abortion provider Susan Hill, and remembering Jody Howard.

Here’s an interesting piece about biology, religion, and rights.

Over in Uganda, the fundie bigot who proposed the Kill [...]]]> It’s been a relatively good week for gay rights in the US: a gay marriage vote passed the DC Council, and Houston elected an openly gay mayor. In California, however, it’s big business to oppose gay rights.

Here’s an interesting piece about biology, religion, and rights.

Over in Uganda, the fundie bigot who proposed the Kill the Gays Bill promises not to back down about the death penalty. We can only hope the other Ugandan legislators will vote this travesty down. Ironically, in the midst of the controversy, they have passed a law banning female genital mutilation.

On the conflict of psychology, profits, and transgendered people.

Congress just passed a remarkably progressive and sane appropriations bill, which ends abstinence-only funding, allots money for sexual health research and teen pregnancy prevention, and improves abortion access, among other very good things. Also, the healthcare reform bill can do much good for sex ed.

Lois Capps [D-CA] responds to Stupak.

On the power of pro-choice men as allies.

Egypt is moving progressively on abortion.

Make love, not porn: a sex-positive site reminding people that porno sex isn’t all that realistic. You can email suggestions—go on, we all have our little porn gripes.

See classism, sexism, and sex-negativity intertwine here, where no one believes a prosititute would know what hypocrisy is. But, in happy sex work news, Nevada now allows male prostitutes.

A new study says casual sex doesn’t bother young people, but many young people have been left with misconceptions and ignorance after abstinence-only education. It’s worse than we feared, including widespread beliefs that birth control causes cancer.

Did you know adultery is still illegal in New Hampshire?

Unfortunate: vaginal gel does not block HIV.

Girl-bashing and its very real consequences.

Something fun indeed: Fleshbot’s top ten sex toys of 2009. I’m sure there are still some adult stores having xmas sales!

More on the GLBTQ plight in the Muslim world.

As Jezebel bluntly and so accurately put it, Why Sexualizing Little Girls Sucks for Grown-Ass Women.

GLBTQ teens are more likely to suffer eating disorders. Yet another [...]]]> Your intrepid webmistress’ life has run away with her again; she extends her apologies and this cornucopia of sex rights updates.

More on the GLBTQ plight in the Muslim world.

As Jezebel bluntly and so accurately put it, Why Sexualizing Little Girls Sucks for Grown-Ass Women.

GLBTQ teens are more likely to suffer eating disorders. Yet another reason to fight homophobia.

James Pouillon, the apparent anti-choicer slain in Owosso, Michigan, conducted his protests out of misogyny, says his son. We’re sad to see that Michigan representatives want to make him a martyr… as if martyrdom weren’t a powerful enough trope among the wingnuts, anyway.

From the sex industry: strippers sue their crappy employer not for abuse, but financial exploitation. Also: how prostitutes file taxes!

More on the efforts of Miriam Grossman, sex-negative poisoner of young minds. More coverage here.

News to amuse: sex toys are among the most-stolen items at a British hotel. We salute the Brits for their wonderful rental policies.

For some of you with a bit of spending pence and historical/esoteric tastes, Delta of Venus may be worth a look: “part online art-smut zine, part virtual erotica museum, part historical archive, and part enlightened porn website.”

Check out the governor of Mississippi make a total fundie fool of himself.

Is “sexting” really so harmful? Certainly there’s injustice going on in this case.

Don’t already find the Heritage Foundation contemptible? Here’s a fresh piece of sex-negative nonsense from Rebecca Hagelin. And, here’s a link to the magazine she promotes. This stuff is vile, be warned.

But it gets better [worse, in truth]: a new study finds a correlation between conservative politics/religious views and teen birth rate.

And now, the cherry on the sex-negative sundae. The Values Voter Summit was held [apparently, ignorance is a family value], and here’s the prizewinner: straight porn turns you gay.

Here’s Rachel Maddow with the full scoop, because a brief snarky link won’t do this whopper justice.

Remember, these “values voters” go to the polls. I know the next elections are over a year away, but if you don’t vote… think about who does and that they do influence the path of this country.

HA! New Albany DVD, LLC v. City of New Albany, Indiana, No. 05-1286 may lead to sane sex industry regulations in New Albany, since the sex-negative reasoning will have to be substantiated. And that simply cannot be done with credible [...]]]> … but your intrepid webmistress is most exhausted. Happily though, I come bearing many links today.

HA! New Albany DVD, LLC v. City of New Albany, Indiana, No. 05-1286 may lead to sane sex industry regulations in New Albany, since the sex-negative reasoning will have to be substantiated. And that simply cannot be done with credible evidence.

Cervarix is being approved for women by the FDA, and Gardasil is being approved for men.

Uruguay is legalizing gay adoption!

FINALLY: legislation is being introduced to repeal DOMA. Fittingly, it’s called The Respect for Marriage Act.

Britain formally apologized to Alan Turing.

This could be interesting: a new documentary about a gay, Christian, Owner/pup couple.

More proof that anti-choicers aren’t going to be so easily satisfied: a Florida group is trying to illegalize birth control.

A worldwide sex offender registry is being talked about. Done right, this could be an incredible good—but done wrong…

And here’s another story about a sex-negative, “family values” politician being a perv in his private life. Likewise, here’s a horrifying story about boys being abused in the Islamic world. Repression’s a powerful, malignant thing, people.

Here’s a true American hero: porn store owner steadfastly continues to sell sex toys, though they’re banned in Alabama. Unfortunately the law banning sex toys has just been upheld, but lawsuits will continue to follow.

About the sex-negative nonsense Miriam Grossman has just published.

A new study explores the evolutionary aspects and wide presentation of homosexuality in the animal world.

Read a feminist man’s experience with a prostitute.

A new exhibition shows preserved corpses in sexual positions.

A new study suggests genetics have more to do with age of first sexual experience than absentee fathers.

And finally, cross your fingers: Operation Rescue might be going under.

Here’s how anti-choice adoption centers really work.

More on the prostitution debate in Rhode Island.

Great news: Church of England drops case against fetish photographer!

On going to Canada to get married.

Gawker asks if “bonnet porn” can save the publishing industry. If you’ve been in Walmart lately, you [...]]]> Here’s the week in sex rights news on this harmonious date:

Here’s how anti-choice adoption centers really work.

More on the prostitution debate in Rhode Island.

Great news: Church of England drops case against fetish photographer!

On going to Canada to get married.

Gawker asks if “bonnet porn” can save the publishing industry. If you’ve been in Walmart lately, you might have noticed all the Christian romance novels. Apparently that’s a bigger market than I had already imagined. Ah, repression!

Speaking of repression at work, here’s a regular feature at Joe My God listing the week in “holy crimes.” Notice how many involve sex crime.

The theme in this week’s newspost does seem to be religion, doesn’t it? Let’s break down PAPER’s attitude toward religion for anyone concerned.

First, PAPER is not anti-religious, but PAPER is secular. We know too well the importance of separating church and state, and many PAPER members know far too well that religion can be a toxic influence on a life. That said, your religious beliefs are and should be your own—and that means, truly, your own, not the government’s.

We absolutely oppose all policy and law which has only religion or religious tradition as its basis. Religion is very essentially a matter of faith, while policy and law very essentially need to apply to the observable world. Plainly faith and the observable world are removed from each other.

Because PAPER is concerned only with the observable world, PAPER champions science and humanism. On the scientific ground purely religion-based policy or law fails, because religion and science simply aren’t after the same kinds of knowledge. Anti-choicers, for example, tend to be evangelicals, and base their anti-choice views on a Christian notion that God makes no mistakes and therefore no fetus should be aborted. And so, they work to illegalize abortion, and refuse to acknowledge the thousands of circumstances that might make a woman consider an abortion or the harm that comes to women receiving back-alley abortions (remember, illegalizing abortion will never get rid of it). Likewise, stigmatizing homosexuality has not gotten rid of homosexuality—it has only made the lives of homosexuals miserable and denied them their rights. The scientist boggles at the ignorance that strives to illegalize abortion or stigmatize gayness, while the humanist weeps at the total inhumanity of it.

Abortion and gay rights are just two issues—big issues, but only two issues—that sex rights encompasses. Sexuality is a real, observable, and wonderful thing that affects humanity on a profound scale. Its effect is certainly as powerful as religion’s, but constantly sexuality is demonized. To be god-fearing is to be good and upstanding; to be sexual is to be dirty and sinful. We say, this is the 21st century and these notions are ridiculous. Let us make policy and law based on what we can observe and verify, and let religion breathe outside the confines of politics.

So, we at PAPER welcome everyone, of any faith. We are not interested in destroying religion. We only ask that you keep your religion out of policy and law, and we will keep our policy and law out of your religion.