International Day Against Homophobia IDAHO

Dont forget everyone its time to start planning IDAHO is almost here: MAY 17th

It may seem that these days sexual orientation and gender identity is getting less and less of an issue and people who live their gender identity and their sexuality differently from the majority enjoy comfortable and secure social and political spaces to do so.

When you have a closer look though, you will witness that there is increased homophobia and transphobia in a majority of places; and the XXth century was actually one of the most homophobic periods ever in History.

Everywhere homosexuality and gender variance is being discriminated against ; in more that 80 countries in the world, same sex relationships are criminalised and in 7 of them, death penalty can be enforced.


Intolerance, prejudice, hate, ignorance and fear still largely prevail in individuals, groups, States, international institutions, etc…
This is why this international day to fight against homophobia and transphobia and for sexual freedom was created.

Go here to find out more and get some ideas on what to do for IDAHO

If you go HERE you can get the IDAHO newsletter emailed direct to you.

Cities ranked by penis size

While this article that ranks average penis size for each of the USA 50 states is quite funny. It just goes to show the fixation we have for genitals and size.

Anyway go here to have a look for a laugh.

Condom Case Competition

Hey EVERYONE This is cool.

As part of the Australian Government’s ongoing National STI Prevention Program: Sexual Health Campaign,
a competition aimed at young people to design limited edition condom tins is now open.

As you know, the campaign aims to raise awareness about the risks of infection and encourage safe sexual behavior, including using condoms and seeing a doctor about testing after unprotected sex.

To encourage condom carrying, we are asking young people to design a condom tin that will appeal to their peer group. This competition will build on the achievements of the campaign to date by encouraging interaction and participation from the target audience and further promotion of campaign messages.

The competition is open for a period of four weeks and entry is via the campaign website www.australia.gov.au/sti. Entrants can use the design tool provided to create and upload their design or they can use their own design software. Visitors to the site can view all of the submitted entries and vote for their favourite design.

Two winning entries will be chosen by our panel of judges including visual and performance artist Ben Frost, Australian rock band Bluejuice and expert on dating, sex and relationships, Samantha Brett. The judges will choose one winner from all of the entries and a second winner from the top ten designs as voted on by the public.

The winners will each receive $1000 and have their design produced on condom tins.
The competition is being promoted directly to universities and design colleges, and to the general public through online advertising, public relations and promotional activities.

We would appreciate your assistance with promoting the competition by embedding the ‘vote/enter widget’ on your homepage, blog or facebook page. This can be found by clicking on ‘enter’ on the white competition box on the website www.australia.gov.au/sti. Once you are in click on ‘Share’ at the top of the page and click on either ‘embed on your blog’ or ‘share with facebook’. The widget is an interactive way to promote the competition and enables people to vote for their favourite designs or enter the competition. Alternatively, you can provide a link to the campaign website www.australia.gov.au/sti.

AFL on homophobia

Stars of the AFL come out in support of gays
SEAMUS BRADLEY
April 11, 2010
http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/stars-of-the-afl-come-out-in-support-of-gays-20100410-rzz2.html

Go here to see more pictures

Top footballers are to front a campaign against homophobia.

AFL football may have a reputation for blokiness, but dozens of top players and coaches have launched a campaign to promote tolerance of homosexuality.

The ''inclusion and diversity'' campaign boasts some of the biggest names in football, including Neil Balme, Joel Selwood and Brownlow medallists Jimmy Bartel and Adam Goodes.Almost 30 players and coaches have signed up to the Players' Association project, to be launched officially next month.

The sportsmen and coaches have been photographed holding handwritten signs calling for acceptance and understanding of homosexuals.
Adelaide player Brett Burton is pictured with a placard that says: ''We all have our little differences - celebrate them!'' Geelong football manager Neil Balme's reads: ''Homophobic His-story!'' Bulldogs ruckman Will Minson wrote in ''Nil bastardum carborundum'', which is mock-Latin for ''don't let the bastards grind you down''.

NEW UNDERBELLY

As you prepare to watch this upcoming season of Underbelly you might want to reflect on thia comment from the ASSERTSA newsletter No 3 from July 2009:

Underbelly “Uncut”

By Abby English

I recently took some time out to watch the recent TV programme “Underbelly, Uncut” on DVD. I was curious about all the media hype surrounding the series and the alleged “glorification” of criminal activity in Melbourne’s “underworld”. I would agree that the series was riddled with violence and perhaps glorified to some extent, however, I was more interested in the portrayal of sex throughout the series.

Now, before I go any further, I will add that overall and with an air of suspended disbelief, the series was generally enjoyable. As a TV show to entertain, (loosely) based on real events, it wasn’t too difficult to watch. The use of attractive actors to portray actual people (criminals, most of whom are now dead or in prison) as interesting, colourful, fearless and shameless is enough to maintain interest. However, I found there was another level to my viewing that stemmed from my professional life that had me critiquing the sexual/relationship content of the series.

Many TV shows use sex as a selling point, and let’s face it, sex is a part of life, so sex scenes come as no surprise. But the role of sex in this series grabbed my attention. It seemed that when a gang member had been out either killing or maiming, he (and it was mostly “he”) went to a place where there would be women not only willing but impatiently waiting to be noticed and engaged by “him”, before heading off for energetic long lasting loud and orgasmic sex.

The scenes were many and the women mostly willing. Interestingly enough, the most explicit scenes were mostly with characters portraying sex workers or strippers or other women working in the sex industry, usually with female nudity and/or naked breasts exposed. Male nudity on the other hand, was much more discreet. The men seeking sex with these women were mostly married with children and the scenes portraying intimacy with their wives were more tender, subtle and often ended before intercourse or nudity began.

By the time I was half way through the series, I was getting the impression that the “gangsters” thrived on crime and sex, those who had families and partners still had sex with other women, seemingly without guilt, shame or morality (because of the “type” of women they were having sex with outside their relationships?). The women they had sex with appeared always willing and moaned and screamed and writhed like something out of a pornographic movie.

In one episode, a very attractive female character is picked up by one of the “gangsters” at a Casino, they spend some time there, he takes her back to a hotel room where they kiss passionately, she begins to undress and initiate sex, however, he resists, leaving the hotel room, promising to return later. She goes to bed and goes to sleep. He then goes and kills someone, returning later to have sex with the woman in the hotel room, she demonstrates a willingness that indicates familiarity, knowledge of a person that brings trust and safety rather than a stranger whom she met the night before.

After this episode, the woman does not appear in the series again. I was unsure what her role was, to fill 25 minutes of an episode with sex, to provide an alibi for the gangster? It was never made clear, but the message about women, men and sex subtly came along for the ride, she, always willing, always horny, but only a bit player to be used and cast aside when no longer needed.

By the time I was three quarters of the way through the series I was thinking about the unrealistic portrayal of not only sex, but relationships. I wondered what the Australian public might be thinking about these characters and their lifestyles. Were men asking themselves why they can’t have that kind of sex with their partners? Why weren’t their partners so willing and horny? Or how great the freedom of the portrayed lifestyles would be?

Were women feeling inadequate for not feeling so hot and horny on demand like the women in the series? Or might they be thinking how nice it would be to have men/partners lavish them with diamonds and cars, like some of the female characters in the series? Why can’t their partners be more generous in the gift giving department, then maybe they might feel like that kind of sex?

One female character, after “teasing” and “flirting” but refusing to have sex with a “gangster” boyfriend while being lavished with gifts by him is eventually raped by him, as he “waited long enough” and expected sex in return for the gifts. This female character then ends her relationship with the rapist and takes up with another “gangster”, who again lavishes her with gifts, with the promise of more to come.

Again, this female character didn’t seem to have much more of a role, I was unsure what her role was to the overall series or the purpose of this particular storyline. Was she there as a demonstration of the lifestyle? As an object for gratuitous sex? From memory, I believe it was the only rape scene in the series. Was this the purpose? For the second time, it wasn’t made clear.

I wondered if perhaps the two women and storylines mentioned above are related to real events in Melbourne so were included for this purpose, but there was no clear evidence of this. Or perhaps they were there to support one male character who stated that women are a “life support system for a vagina”. What was most notable was the connection to sex of both characters.

Of course my mental meanderings may well just be speculation and opinion, but there was a definite sense of intrigue and desirability in relation to the sex, if not the lifestyle, (might end up dead, most of the male characters did!) that may have captured and held the attention of many viewers. The way sex, and “horny” sex (you know, the bump and grind, loud, tear up the bedroom kind of sex) is used to draw people’s attention to products, TV shows, movies, etc., it is no wonder people may doubt that what they are doing sexually in their own bedrooms is inadequate. Or perhaps their partner is inadequate. Or perhaps they are inadequate. After all, “those” people on TV are mostly “gorgeous” as well. To quote a line from another well known storyline, viewers might have been thinking “I’ll have what she/he’s having!”

Now, I don’t doubt for a minute that in the “real” world, (when many of Melbourne’s criminal underworld figures were being murdered regularly) that strip clubs, brothels, prostitution and drugs formed a large part of the Melbourne underworld that the series is based on. And I don’t doubt that many of the “gangsters” had lots of sex with women working in these industries and that the women may well have been willing participants as a means to an end, to be the “moll” or the “favourite” of certain gangsters might have had its rewards for such women.

What caught my attention is that sex is instant, orgasmic, needs no intimacy and is always “bang bang bang”, rather than slow, sensual and intimate. And the portrayal indicated that this is how it was and maybe still is. Relationships are minimised in lieu of intercourse type sex, foreplay is non-existent and most of the pleasure activities seem to be focused on male satisfaction. And in a subtle, but always present way, there seems to be the understanding that this is good, real and normal and demonstrates the height of sexual pleasure. I found this sad.

Is it any wonder industries like the Australian Medical Institute are so popular?

Position at Shine

SHine SA is an innovative non-government, primary health care agency working for and with the South Australian community and partner agencies to improve sexual health and well-being.

Coordinator

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Men’s Education

ASO5 ($61,309 - $68,678 per annum) 30.0 hours per/wk (0.8fte)

Permanent appointment based at 64c Woodville Road, Woodville

The Coordinator is responsible for increasing the capacity of workers to improve the sexual health of ATSI men through the coordination, implementation and evaluation of culturally appropriate accredited and non accredited training programs, networking and specific health promotion projects.

An application kit, including Job and person specification and Guidelines for applications can be downloaded at www.shinesa.org.au or contact Sharon Formosa on (08) 8300 5317 or email sharon.formosa@health.sa.gov.au.

For further information contact Ms Lucy Cirocco, Manager – Workforce Development on (08) 8300 5321 or email lucy.cirocco@health.sa.gov.au.

Applications will be received via email or mail and should be marked Private and Confidential addressed to:

Lucy Cirocco

Manager-Workforce Development

SHine SA, PO Box 76 Woodville SA 5011

Applications close at 5.00 pm on Friday 23 April 2010

These appointments will be subject to a satisfactory Pre-employment Screening/National Police Certificate.

SHine SA is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Conceptualising the prevention of sexual assault and the role of education

Below I have printed some of the conclusion that is in the paper 'Conceptualising the prevention of sexual assault and the role of education .' It is timely and makes great reading. Go here to download the whole paper

"Sexual assault prevention has undergone significant conceptual shifts since the 1970s. This has been reflected in all forms of prevention activity but is also evident in sexual assault prevention education. At this point in time there is still much to be done to ensure our tertiary responses to victims of sexual assault are supportive, effective, timely and flexible to the diverse needs of different population groups who experience sexual assault. We also need to continue to work more effectively to hold perpetrators of sexual violence accountable. Our current understandings recognise the need for multi-sectoral and diverse responses if we are to move more closely to preventing sexual violence. Prevention education is one crucial strategy in government and community responses to sexual violence. If we are to achieve the cultural shift in communities that promote non-violence and deplore the use of violence between intimate partners, we face many challenges. To respond to these challenges we need to interrogate prevention education rigorously and to develop effective policy to guide its future implementation."

The paper Conceptualising the prevention of sexual assault and the role of education was written by Moira Carmody
in the Issues No. 10 2009
Published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.ISBN 978-1-921414-16-9, ISSN 1833-7864 (online), ISSN 1833-7856 (print)

Moira Carmody is an Associate Professor, Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney.

6 reasons why girls should aspire to be alice in wonderland

Here is an interesting bit from aboutface .org

"So let’s talk about the new film directed by Tim Burton, Alice in Wonderland. I saw it last weekend, and the Alice character surprised me in her multi-dimensionality and courageousness. It’s rare to see female characters portrayed so evenly. Herein I make my case."

Go here to read more. ( you may need to scroll down the page when you get to it because it is full, of other interesting articles).

My Sistahs peer educators

This is a cool website I found. While it is based in the USA it may have relevance in other places. Have a look here

"MySistahs is a Web site created by and for young women of color to provide information and offer support on sexual and reproductive health issues through education and advocacy. Through monthly features, message boards, and online peer education young women receive information on activism, culture, sexual health, and other issues that are important to them.

MySistahs is a project of Advocates for Youth. Advocates for Youth is dedicated to creating programs and advocating for policies that help young people make informed and responsible decisions about their reproductive and sexual health. Advocates provides information, training, and strategic assistance to youth-serving organizations, policy makers, youth activists, and the media in the United States and in developing countries."

Interesting Questions

Here are two interesting questions that were sent to msnbc.com sexual health

Q: Is there any evidence that the health of women who give up sex voluntarily deteriorates over time faster than those who continue to have a sex life? In this case, I talk a woman of 60 who gave up sex seven years ago for religious reasons and now faces a range of inexplicable digestive tract problems and lowered immune system functioning.

and

Q: Okay, this may seem weird. When my ex and I got intimate he could turn me on by the breath from his nose. When we would get hot and heavy, the smell from his nose was so intoxicating. OMG! I’ve only had the courage to ask one other person about this (my sister) and she has the same experience with her husband. I’ve never told my ex this — too weird. Since we broke up, we hook up occasionally but it’s not the same as when I was in love. Mind over matter or is there something more to it?

Go here to read the answers!!

To me this just shows the wonderful and varied world of sexuality.

Do you have any thoughts on this?? How nice that in the first question the discussion does talk about the healthy benifits of sex. On the other hand the answer doesn't seem to give much credence to people who choose not to have sex..

In the second question I am just glad that the person who wrote it was able to ask SOMEONE about it. I wish we could all feel free to engage in discourse on sexual health like we do about movies, or magazines, or or or or...

World Reproductive Health

If you have never visited the World Health Organisation websites I suggest you do. They are a wealth of information. Below is one of the WHO sites. It is full of global information

HRP research is one of these sites. HRP helps people lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives, by strengthening capacities of countries to provide quality information and services that enable people to protect their own reproductive and sexual health and that of their partners.

At this site you will find pubications such as 'Adolescents and Reproductive Health'
and many more. Please go and explore..