We Need World Contraception Day

By Candace Pinto (she/her), 15

Every year on September 26th, we celebrate World Contraception Day (WCD), a global effort to bring awareness to a vital topic—access to contraceptives.…

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Did You Know About Intersex Awareness Day?

By Isabella Pozo, 21

Intersex Awareness Day started over 25 years ago on October 26, 1996 in Boston. That day several intersex people and their supporters publicly protested…

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Why Bi Visibility Day Matters to Me

By Ruby Sayar (she/her), 15

September 23rd is the 24th anniversary of Bi Visibility Day (also known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day and Bisexual Pride Day). It’s an opportunity…

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Opill Is Here and It’s Over the Counter

By Sofia Garcia (she/her), 18

Often, the process of getting a birth control pill involves scheduling, attending and paying for an appointment with a doctor, getting a prescription…

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Celebrating LGBTQ+ Pride With Music

By Leo Backes (he/him), 18

Pride Month is all about embracing who you are and feeling connected to your LGBTQ+ community. In general, music (often pop!) is a go-to source for…

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LGBTQ+ Teens and Mental Health: What Can Help

By Evan Scarpulla (he/him), 15

Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ teens often deal with stressors like discrimination and bullying, which can negatively impact their mental health. This includes…

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Masturbation Matters

By Casey Law (she/her), 16

Hey, hey, May is National Masturbation Month! This is a great opportunity to talk openly about masturbation. There is so much shame placed on exploring…

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After Sexual Assault: Navigating Dating and Intimacy

By Siya Angras (she/her), 18

Experiencing sexual violence can be physically and emotionally tolling. You might feel isolated, ashamed or scared. Trusting someone else or being vulnerable…

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No “Right” Way to Celebrate Valentine’s Day

By Jessica Romero Silver (she/they), 18

This year, I reached out to a couple of my close friends about spending Valentine’s Day together and indulging in all of the loveliness and corniness…

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World AIDS Day 2022: What You Can Do

By Juliet Bou Mansour (she/her), 17

Since 1988, World AIDS Day (December 1st) has been recognized as a time to remember those lost to AIDS-related illnesses, support those currently living…

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Why the Trans Day of Remembrance Is So Important

By Samantha Gunton (she/her), 18

Not everyone realizes the significance of November 20th, but it’s the Transgender Day of Remembrance. This is an annual opportunity to remember and…

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Love for Heartstopper

By Sarah Solomon, 20

Season one of Netflix’s Heartstopper, which premiered in April 2022, earned lots of love for fictional couple Charlie and Nick. Based on Alice Oseman’s…

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BookTok’s Role in Bisexual Visibility

By Nidhi Ummettala (she/her), 17

With books that have gone viral, readers all over BookTok (a community of readers on TikTok) are celebrating bisexual representation. Bisexual Awareness…

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Transgender Men Can Get Pregnant, Too

By Sarah Solomon, 20

Last Mother’s Day, apparel brand Calvin Klein posted pictures of different parents and families on Instagram to celebrate “women and mothers all…

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LGBTQ+ Media Representation Makes a Difference

By Sofia Garcia (she/her), 17

I’ll never forget the first time I saw a same-sex couple in a movie. As a questioning eighth-grader, it felt groundbreaking to watch two girls fall…

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Why Consent Can Help Prevent Sexual Assault

By Alex Crosby (he/him), 17

Unfortunately, sexual assault happens too often but is not talked about enough. Defined as “sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit…

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Has Covid Changed How You Feel About Dating and Relationships?

By Sraghvi Anchaliya (she/her), 17

As we approach the two-year anniversary of Covid-19 shutting many things down, I’ve been reminiscing on how it’s changed the world around us. But…

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Celebrating Condoms

By Samantha Gunton (she/her), 17

Hey, hey, it’s National Condom Week! From February 14th through the 21st, we celebrate the amazing condom, which is the only form of contraception…

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Valentine’s Day: It’s More Than OK to Be Single

By Aishani Kapil (she/her), 17

We’ve reached that time of year when chocolate sales skyrocket, Valentine’s Day. And with February 14th coming, the pressure to be in a relationship…

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Preventing Cervical Cancer

By Aishani Kapil (she/her), 17

Happy January! Not just the first month of the year, January is also Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. How much do you know about cervical cancer? It’s…

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Happy 49th, Roe v. Wade

By Serena Li (she/her), 17

For almost half a century, those living in the U.S. have had the right to choose abortion as an option. We have Roe v. Wade, which turns 49 on January…

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World AIDS Day 2021

By Christopher Masiello (he/him), 17

Each year on December 1st, millions of people observe World AIDS Day. A day to honor those lost to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS, it’s…

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Transgender Day of Remembrance: Who Inspires You?

By Serena Li (she/her), 17

November 20: the day when 22 years ago, the first Transgender Day of Remembrance was observed in memory of Rita Hesler, a Black transgender woman who…

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Asexuality: Are You Aware?

By Aishani Kapil (she/her), 17

It’s the last week of October and you know what that means! Time to talk about asexuality. Well—anytime is fine to talk about it, actually, but…

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Coming Out Day: What’s Right for You?

By Brooke Xie (she/her), 17

“Wait, you’re not straight?” I still get this question a lot, even from friends who’ve known me for years. When I first began to question my…

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Sex Education: Why I Watch

By Rhea Soo (she/her), 17

The third season of Netflix’s Sex Education just launched, and I am absolutely thrilled! I remember binging through the episodes when the show first…

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Celebrate Bisexuality Day: You Are Valid!

By Vivian Welch (she/her), 17

I’ve identified as bisexual (bi) for a few years now. I’ve experienced the good, the bad and the ugly, from support and acceptance to confusion…

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Not Sure of Your Sexual Orientation? You’re Not Alone.

By Sarah Solomon, 19

I was so happy to celebrate my first Pride Month a few months ago in June! When I went to PrideFest in New York City with some friends, it was a lot…

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N.F.L. Player Carl Nassib Comes Out and We’re Here for It

By Nate Lindstrom, 17, Staff Writer and Parth Thakkar, 18, Contributor, 51

The National Football League (N.F.L.) has been around for 100 years but it wasn’t until recently that an active player—Carl Nassib, of the Las Vegas…

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Pride Month Products: Representation or Rainbow Capitalism?

By Christopher Masiello, 17, Staff Writer and Isabella Pozo, 19, Contributor, 51

Have you ever noticed that once June—Pride Month—rolls around, a bunch of companies change their logo to a rainbow-themed version for the month?…

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Sexual Assault: Increasing Awareness and Finding Support

By Melissa Liu (she/her), 17

Did you know that April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month? While April is just about over, we should be aware of the prevalence and impact…

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Misconceptions About Herpes

By Alex Crosby (he/him), 16

How much do you know about herpes? It’s Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month, and we know people are not learning what they need…

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Write for Sex, Etc

By Kira Eng, 18, and Melissa Liu, 17, 51

Sex, Etc. is looking for new teen staff writers! We rely on teens like you to provide other young people with comprehensive sex education, something…

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Teen Dating Violence—You Are Not Alone

By Melissa Liu (she/her), 17

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, but education and awareness about teen dating violence is crucial every month. You may not expect…

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Busting Condom Myths for National Condom Day

By Matt Beebe, 17

Ah yes, condoms—possibly the most well-known and easily accessible form of protection to use during sex (vaginal, oral or anal)! National Condom Day…

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World AIDS Day 2020

By Shreya Aravindakshan, 17

World AIDS Day has been recognized every year on December 1st since 1988. This day is a time to remember lives lost to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome…

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Trans Day of Remembrance 2020: What It Is and How to Help

By Matt Beebe, 16

Though there tends not to be enough talk about the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), you may have heard the name tossed around on social media…

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LGBTQ Teens Need Inclusive Sex Ed

By Aren Wright, 17

It’s LGBT History Month, and I wanted to share a little LGBT history of my own! It’s not about groundbreaking queer historical figures, though:…

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Celebrate International Pronouns Day 2020

By Mae Zurita, 19

Did you know that October 21 is International Pronouns Day? Many people may not think much about pronouns, but this is an opportunity to increase awareness…

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Five Ways to Be an Ally to Someone Who Comes Out to You

By Melissa Liu (she/her), 16

My best friend and I have known each other for over a decade, since we met in preschool. Yet it still took her some time to fully open up to me about…

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Five LGBT Icons You Should Know

By Margo McGovern, 17

In honor of October being LGBT History Month, I thought we should celebrate the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender icons that you’re, unfortunately,…

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World Contraception Day

By Brooke Xie (she/her), 16

Happy World Contraception Day! Part of the international Your Life campaign, World Contraception Day takes place every year on September 26. It was…

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Suicide Prevention Month: How to Find and Offer Support to LGBTQ Teens

By Melissa Liu (she/her), 16

It’s National Suicide Prevention Month and that got me thinking about how the world can feel brutal sometimes: mean comments, rumors, judgment. Research…

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Menstrual Discs: A Unique Option for Back to School

By Vivian Welch (she/her), 16

After a week of constant ads for menstrual discs on my Snapchat, I finally gave in and tried them. The prospect of a 12-hour, no-(or-low) leak, potentially…

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Putting Body Image in Perspective

By Maura Freeland, 19

Every summer, after trading sweaters for swimsuits, many young people find themselves struggling with body image. Throughout middle and most of high…

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Why Pride Month Matters

By Samantha Gunton (she/her), 16

The weather’s getting warmer, Memorial Day has passed and something special is here! You guessed it—Pride Month (or Pride)! Pride is a time when…

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Celebrating LGBTQ Pride Month in 2020

By Sabreen Dawud and Kira Eng, 17

Sabreen’s Experience Spain, 2019 Dancers, buildings lit up in rainbow colors, love, celebration, happiness. I walked through the streets of Valencia,…

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Circus of Books—How One Couple Became LGBTQ Allies and Advocates

By Margo McGovern, 16

Being stuck in quarantine has meant I have lots of free time on my hands and what better way to spend it than on Netflix! When Circus of Books showed…

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Too Hot to Handle—Solely a Source of Drama or Helpful, Too?

By Sarah Solomon, 17

Feeling frustrated that you can’t kiss your significant other right now? Imagine if you were told that you could hang out…but not touch each other?…

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Why #SexEdforAll Month Is So Important

By Mishael Richardson, 16

This May, we are celebrating #SexEdforAll Month to bring awareness to the fact that everyone—especially teens like us—should have access to quality…

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How Social Distancing Can Improve Emotional Intimacy

By Vivian Welch (she/her), 15

Last month, I went on my first socially distant date. Staying six feet apart, we sat on a quiet bench for a while and just chatted. It was really nice!…

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month, #MeToo and Teens

By Samantha Wilk, 18

Last month, the infamous Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison for rape and sexual assault. Not only was this…

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Self-Care: More Important Than Ever

By Sabreen Dawud, 17

As the COVID-19 pandemic stretches on, we have undoubtedly been presented with some challenges. We’ve been directed to practice social distancing…

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Ready, Set, PrEP: A Step Forward

By Jack Scala, 17

The month of April is dedicated to sexually transmitted disease (STD) awareness, and April 12 to 18 is STD Awareness Week. Last year, I wrote about…

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How Being in a Long-Distance Relationship Prepared Me for Social Distancing

By Kira Eng, 17

With all the social distancing happening because of the coronavirus, a lot of people haven’t had as much contact with their partner as they’d probably…

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Netflix’s The Politician: Teen LGBTQ Relationships and Mental Health

By Harper Ramsden, 15

The 2010s was a decade full of LGBTQ representation and discussion of mental health in film and television, from 13 Reasons Why to Booksmart. As someone…

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Three Cheers for National Condom Week!

By Kira Eng, 17

It’s February 14th. Do you know what that means? Yes, it’s Valentine’s Day, but it’s also the start of National Condom Week! National Condom…

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Valentine’s Day Is for Everyone

By Samantha Gunton (she/her), 15

It’s that time of year, when those who are coupled up are giving each other chocolates, flowers and cards. You guessed it—Valentine’s Day! But…

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Menstrual Cups Are Safe and Effective Study Finds

By Sabreen Dawud, 17

Good news: Menstrual cups are safe to use and just as effective as other menstrual products, according to an analysis from The Lancet Public Health…

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Roe v. Wade: It’s Your Right to Choose

By Margo McGovern, 16

January 22 marks the 48th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. When I was born, it had been decades since Roe v. Wade had established that legal access to abortion…

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Virginity Tests: Let’s Leave Them in the Last Decade

By Sarah Emily Baum, 19

Not only did January 1, 2020 mark a new year, but also a whole new decade. It’s a good time to leave some trends in the past: athleisure wear, putting…

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World AIDS Day 2019

By Nancy Bowne, 18

For the past 31 years, World AIDS Day—observed annually on December 1st—has ignited conversations about HIV/AIDS as well as helped bring attention…

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Why I’m Thankful for Teen PEP

By Samantha Wilk, 17

I can tell you at any given time how many hours are left until Thanksgiving break. But before I focus on the break, perhaps I should think about the…

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“Looking for Alaska” Shows How Porn Misinforms Teens About Sex

By Sarah Emily Baum, 19

While porn might be easy to find, it shouldn’t replace sex education. This is something Miles “Pudge” Halter learns the hard way in Hulu’s adaptation…

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“Looking for Alaska” Sends a Message to Guys

By Parth Thakkar (he/him), 16

In March 2005, author John Green published Looking for Alaska, a novel following the lives of high school students Alaska Young, Miles “Pudge” Halter,…

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Sex, Drugs and Alcohol in “Looking for Alaska”

By Sarah Emily Baum, 19

In Hulu’s Looking for Alaska (based on the John Green novel of the same name), there is—as in most teen shows and movies—an emphasis on getting…

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“Looking for Alaska” Shows How Adults Can Fail Teens

By Sarah Emily Baum, 19

Hulu’s television adaptation of John Green’s Looking for Alaska follows the wacky hijinks and coming-of-age struggles of high school student Miles…

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National Coming Out Day: My Story

By Kira Eng, 16

Did you know that October 11 is National Coming Out Day? A day to celebrate anyone who is LGBTQ, it honors those who have already come out and those…

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Why Mattel’s New Gender-Neutral Dolls Matter

By Vivian Welch (she/her), 15

It can seem like the gender binary is everywhere. The bathrooms we use, the clothes we wear, the toys we play with—they can all make us choose: boy…

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Body Shaming, Sexism and Competitive Swimming

By Anne-Charlotte Gillard, 16

Recently, 17-year-old Alaska high school swim champion, Breckynn Willis, won a 100-meter freestyle race, something common for the teen. What was uncommon,…

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Back to School: Checking the Boxes

By Parth Thakkar (he/him), 16

Could summer have gone by any quicker? Yep, it’s time to go back to school, and we all know what that means: shopping for books and clothes, signing…

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The Vatican Rejects Gender Fluidity

By Madison Hill-Glover, 19

Recently, the Vatican published a document that said that people can’t choose their gender. This is accurate. Gender identity is about how a person…

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#SRAisAbstinenceOnly: Same Old Stigma and Shame

By Sarah Emily Baum, 19

“New name, same game: SHAME.” That’s just one of the rallying cries for the #SRAisAbstinenceOnly campaign, which is challenging funding and support…

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Pride Month and Health Care Rights for All

By Parth Thakkar (he/him), 16

It’s LGBTQ Pride Month! It’s also the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion, a series of spontaneous demonstrations against a police raid…

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Celebrating Pansexual Awareness and Visibility Day

By Carley Campbell, 18

May 24th marks Pansexual Awareness and Visibility Day. Yay! Created on Tumblr in 2015, it means a lot to people like me who identify as pansexual. This…

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The Prom Gives LGBTQ Teens Their Own Prom

By Isabella Gonzalez, 18

Prom culture is a huge part of high school, and the prom is a classic event that’s often romanticized in cheesy teen-centered films. Being a hopeless…

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Ending Masturbation Myths

By Nathan Lam, 16

“Don’t you know that masturbation causes hair loss?” my friend says, as he pulls up an article online. “Look, it says that masturbation increases…

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month: Take Back the Night

By Kayleigh Wharton, 17

Photo credit: Take Back The Night Foundation While scrolling through my Facebook timeline recently, I saw that some of my friends were interested in…

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STD Awareness Month: Talk About It!

By Jack Scala, 17

Did you know that April is Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Awareness Month? Thanks to this campaign, the month of April serves as a reminder of the…

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Bill Requires LGBTQ-Inclusive School Curriculum in New Jersey

By Tiffany Liang, 18

Bayard Rustin, Sally Ride, Harvey Milk. Recognize these names? Rustin organized the 1963 March on Washington where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered…

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Gender-Inclusive Health Education: A Win for All Students

By Mishael Richardson, 15

Gender Spectrum, an organization whose mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth, has just released a report about gender-inclusive…

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There’s Nothing Romantic About Teen Dating Violence

By Mack Toth, 17

You, one of Netflix’s newest series, follows Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley), a man that becomes obsessed with a woman he’s romantically interested…

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Condoms Are for Everyone

By Sara Kleine, 18

Condoms. Perhaps the most well-known form of birth control and the only form of protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) besides dental…

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We Can Do Better: A Response to the Gillette Ad

By Justin Thach, 18

Every year, Super Bowl season reminds me of my own experiences playing football as a young kid. Aside from teaching me that I should perhaps turn away…

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Promotion of the HPV Vaccine Is Not Leading to More Sex

By Isabella Gonzalez, 18

Maybe it sounds obvious, but if I weren’t having sex, I wouldn’t suddenly start because of a vaccine! Yet some parents have refused the HPV vaccine…

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World AIDS Day 2018

By Ellie Alpizar, 17

On December 1st, people around the globe observe World AIDS Day. It was first observed in 1988, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the day.…

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Why I’m Thankful for Changing Gender Roles

By Nathan Lam, 16

The biggest holiday in November may be Thanksgiving but have you heard of lesser-known days like “National Men Make Dinner Day” and “Sadie Hawkins…

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Meet Preventeza—the Newest Emergency Contraception Available

By Kira Edgar, 17

There’s a new, over-the-counter brand of emergency contraception (EC) from the makers of Vagisil®. It’s called Preventeza™ and Vagisil is donating…

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Transgender Day of Remembrance

By Parth Thakkar (he/him), 16

A couple of holidays fall in November. You’ve got Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. But amidst these days is one very important day of awareness that…

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Intersex Awareness Day

By Tiffany Liang, 17

Imagine being born with a vagina but no ovaries or possessing chromosomes that don’t neatly fit either male (XY) or female (XX) categories. There’s…

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It’s Asexual Awareness Week

By Isabella Pozo, 16

October 21st to 27th is Asexual Awareness Week. The goal for this week, which was created by Sara Beth Brooks in 2010, is to teach people about asexuality,…

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National Coming Out Day: It’s OK to Be You Whether You’re Out or Not

By Isabella Gonzalez, 17

After I first came out two years ago, I thought I was over and done with it. I came out as bisexual to my friends and family (and received some unfortunate…

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LGBTQ History Month—How You Can Celebrate

By Sarah Emily Baum, 18

October brings Halloween, changing leaves and a celebration of LGBTQ accomplishments—past and present. It’s LGBTQ History Month. Many people aren’t…

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Bisexual Visibility Day

By Eka Tawe, 16

September 23 is Bi Visibility Day, also known as International Celebrate Bisexuality Day and Bisexual Pride Day. Bisexuality is the romantic and sexual…

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End Homophobic Bullying in Schools

By Sarah Emily Baum, 18

After nine-year-old Jamel Myles of Denver came out as gay, his mother reports that he confided in his sister that his classmates allegedly told him…

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One Size Doesn’t Fit All

By Carley Campbell, 17

It’s that time of year again. Back to school, back to the mall for clothes shopping. For me, trying on clothes can generate feelings of awkwardness…

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Teen Consent—Degrassi Gets It Right

By Sara Kleine, 17

After an exhausting junior year, summer has been the perfect time for me to kick back and explore a variety of shows on Netflix. One night, I came upon…

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HPV vs. HIV: Do You Know the Difference?

By Carley Campbell, 17

Microsoft founder Bill Gates recently talked about two separate meetings he’d had with President Donald Trump during which the president asked Mr.…

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National HIV Testing Day—Reduce Your Risk

By Sara Kleine, 17

June 27th is National HIV Testing Day, an annual occasion for learning about how and why to get tested for HIV and how to reduce our risk of getting…

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Sexual Assault Awareness Month: A Guy’s Experience

By Sara Kleine, 17

The first time David, 19, of Jersey City, NJ, was sexually assaulted, he was a high school student minding his own business on a train. A man sat down…

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Love, Simon Is a Love Letter to LGB People

By Isabella Gonzalez, 17

Whenever my girlfriend and I go see a movie, we always lock lips when a kissing scene happens. Of course, it’s a way to make the date more intimate,…

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Teen Dating Violence: Know the Signs

By Sara Kleine, 17

Ruby, 17, of Takoma Park, MD thought she was in a healthy relationship with her boyfriend of almost two years. Then, she started to pick up on some…

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Gymnasts Say #MeToo and Are Finally Heard

By Ashley Fowler, 18

#MeToo, originally coined by activist Tarana Burke in 2006, has become a rallying call to discuss and prevent sexual assault in many fields, including…

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Being Single on Valentine’s Day

By Carley Campbell, 16

Full disclosure: I’m not a fan of Valentine’s Day (despite it being on my birthday). Typically, when you think of Valentine’s Day, you think about…

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When #MeToo Brings Down Your Stars

By Isabella Gonzalez, 17

Since the Harvey Weinstein scandal, the #MeToo movement has repeatedly demanded justice for victims of sexual harassment and assault. With good reason,…

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World Aids Day 2017

By Emma Ogando, 17

December 1st is World AIDS Day. This is a day to remember those around the globe who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or have lost…

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More Sex Ed, Fewer Teen Pregnancies

By Mayuna Tomita, 17

This blog post is from the latest Winter 2017 edition of our magazine. Subscribe to Sex, Etc. Luis Miguel Bermúdez first began teaching sex education…

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Thankful When You’re LGBTQ

By Sarah Emily Baum, 17

Considering I was still in utero at the turn of the millennium, it feels strange for me to say, “When I was a kid…” about anything. But I…

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Halloween Costumes: To Bee or Not to Bee Sexy

By Carley Campbell and Isabella Gonzalez, 16

It’s that time of year again. Time for yet another sexy Halloween costume article. Sexy Halloween costumes are a strange element of the season, with…

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Crisis Pregnancy Centers: The Illusion of Choice

By Sarah Emily Baum, 17

When my friend Jenna* called me crying, terrified she was pregnant at sixteen, I knew I had to get someone else to help her because I was definitely…

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Love Your Body!

By Libby Atkins, 17

October 18th is Love Your Body Day! Don’t forget to love your body this fine Wednesday (and every day). The campaign, created by the National Organization…

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Let’s Talk Month and How It Helped My Relationship

By Isabella Gonzalez, 16

October may be home to Halloween, but it’s also Let’s Talk Month, a month dedicated to open communication between young people and their parents…

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Coming Out: Three Things to Know

By Sarah Emily Baum, 17

Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not. I wasn’t always this comfortable talking about my sexual orientation. It took years for me to get where…

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Prom: When the Pressure’s On

By Adrian Lam, 17

With spring here and school nearing a close, it’s an exciting time of year. Promposals are popping up left and right, with creative posters, beautiful…

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Period Tracker Apps: What You Should Know

By Naomi Akiyama, 16

The ups and downs of “that” time of the month are all too familiar to many of us. To plan around this ebb and flow of hormones, mobile period-tracking…

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National Women’s History Month: We’ve Come a Long Way

By Grace Wampold, 17

March is Women’s History Month—a time to remember that the rights we exercise today are the product of our very slow evolution toward gender equality.…

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LGBTQ TV—a Great Escape

By Gillian Hatcher, 18

What’s going on in the world has many people feeling afraid, stressed out, overwhelmed and just all around not good. I for one am not immune to those…

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Four Great Sexual Health Apps

By Gillian Hatcher, 18

We all have our phones on us most of the day, and we all use at least five apps a day, so why not add a few great sexual health apps? Recently, Answer—the…

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Galentine’s Day: More Than Romantic Love

By Grace Wampold, 17

Of the many commercial holidays celebrated year round, Valentine’s Day deserves a handwritten card for being the one that commemorates love, intimacy…

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State Abortion Restrictions Hurt Teens

By Jordan Chester, 18

Happy 44th birthday, Roe v. Wade! It would be great to say that you’ve been able to ensure abortion access for everyone since January 22, 1973, but…

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Bonjour Jolie—Perfect Holiday Gift for People Who Get Periods

By Gillian Hatcher, 18

With the holidays here, people are searching for gifts—no matter what they celebrate. But let’s face it, finding presents is a hard and time consuming…

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Expedited Partner Therapy: The BOGO of STD Treatment

By Sumra Alvi, 20

There is stigma attached to getting tested for sexually transmitted disease (STDs) that tends to steer many people, especially teenagers, away from…

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World AIDS Day 2016

By Grace Wampold, 17

December 1st is World AIDS Day. This is a time when we can reflect on what we now know about HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and AIDS (acquired…

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Harvard Women Speak Out Against Sexual Objectification

By Gillian Hatcher, 18

It seems that every year there is another report of a group of male college students ranking their female peers on a scale of attractiveness or creating…

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Meet Kyleena, the Newest IUD on the Block

By Gillian Hatcher, 18

Recently, the list of IUDs has added a new member to the group: Kyleena, and she’s a little special. First, some background: an intrauterine device…

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“Losing” Your Virginity: Why the Double Standard?

By Jessica Stier, 17

A girl walks down the school hallway after having sex for the first time. She stares at her feet to the background noise of snickers from others in…

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LGB Olympians Out and Proud at the Rio Olympics

By Ashley Fowler, 17

Eyes from around the globe are on the Olympics every two years, and 2016 was no different. What was different, however, was the number of openly lesbian,…

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Thinx Underwear: A New Option for Dealing With Your Period

By Jordan Chester, 17

In the half of a decade that I’ve had a period, it feels as if I’ve ruined enough underwear to fill a Victoria’s Secret. But Thinx period underwear…

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I Did a Thing: YTH Live 2016

By Jordan Chester, 17

From April 24 to 26, I had the amazing opportunity of attending Youth + Tech + Health Live—a conference that gathers those who are passionate about…

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Five Steps to a No-Shame Conversation About STDs

By David Guirgis, 16

Let’s face it: a lot of factors come into play before two people decide to have sex. One of these factors—the risk of sexually transmitted diseases…

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Does Project Consent Make Consent Too Simple?

By Shelsea Rodriguez, 16

Recently the Project Consent campaign released a series of videos about what it means to give consent. The videos are absolutely adorable! Using a squishy…

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Barbie Gets a Welcomed Makeover

By Jordan Chester, 17

“By introducing more variety into the line, Barbie is offering girls choices that are more reflective of the world they see today.” That’s what…

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Planned Parenthood Creates Consent Videos

By Stella Balsamini, 17

Most people go on the Internet regularly, and nearly every teen has watched videos on websites like YouTube. Planned Parenthood Federation of America,…

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David Bowie: Gender & Sexuality Groundbreaker

By Gillian Hatcher, 17

On January 10, 2016 around third period study hall, I found out that David Bowie had lost his battle with cancer and died. It took me a minute to process…

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Owen Labrie Trial Draws Attention to Boys Preying on Girls

By Alexis Pawlowski, 17

Recently the trial of Owen Labrie, a former student at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire, came to a close when he was found not guilty on counts…

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World AIDS Day 2015

By Adrian Lam, 15

Every year, December 1st marks World AIDS Day. On this day, we remember those who have lost their lives fighting HIV/AIDS and we help raise awareness.…

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Why I’m Thankful for Planned Parenthood

By Jordan Chester, 17

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Why I’m Thankful for My School’s Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA)

By Jordan Chester, 17

I wanted to share something I’m grateful for: my school’s gay-straight alliance (GSA). Many schools across the country have GSAs or other kinds…

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Lady Gaga’s “Til It Happens to You” Empathizes With Survivors of Sexual Assault

By Jordan Chester, 17

Lady Gaga’s latest music video, entitled “Til It Happens to You,” opens with the message: “The following contains graphic content that may be…

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Troye Sivan’s Blue Neighbourhood Shows Guys in a Real Relationship

By David Guirgis, 16

America is totally used to seeing gay men portrayed in media as a checklist of stereotypes. In the same way that African-American women shouldn’t…

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Guys Feel Pressure to Look Like Calvin Klein Underwear Models

By David Guirgis, 16

Objectification of bodies in the media has influenced our ideas of what is considered “attractive” —from the posters of Victoria’s Secret Angels…

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Ally Week—Not Just for Heterosexual Cisgender Kids

By Gillian Hatcher, 17

During Ally Week many focus on allies that are heterosexual and cisgender, but I believe it’s very important to talk about allies inside the LGBTQ…

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Stonewall Movie Does Not Reflect Real Stonewall Riots

By Jordan Chester, 17

The Stonewall Riots are widely considered the start of the modern-day LGBTQ rights movement. This is why I was ecstatic to learn that there would be…

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YTHINFO Offers Sexual Health Info on Your Phone

By Ojanae Ellison, 18

Most of us are constantly on our phones. Whether we are checking our texts or our many social media platforms, it seems that we always have our phones…

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Target Will Eliminate Gender-Based Signage in Some Departments

By Alexis Pawlowski, 17

I scrolled to the end of a Fox News article and saw comments, such as “I will never step foot in a Target again”, “Children will be confused,”…

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The Sex of Kristen Stewart’s Partner—NBD

By Gillian Hatcher, 17

A few days ago, the September issue of NYLON magazine dropped with Kristen Stewart on the cover. Her interview inside the magazine touched on a topic…

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Teens Have Idea for a Condom That Can Detect an STD

By Sumra Alvi, 19

We have all heard of flavored condoms, scented condoms and condoms in different colors, but what about glowing condoms? And better yet, a glowing condom…

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NYU Students Start #BetterSexTalk Campaign

By Gillian Hatcher, 17

Recently, students at New York University (NYU) were asked the following question: If you could give one piece of advice to a younger sibling about…

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Online Game Aims to Prevent Sexual Assault

By Jessica Yang, 19

Online Game Aims to Prevent Sexual Assault Students in Carnegie Mellon’s “Morality Play: Laboratory for Interactive Media and Values” class created…

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Texting Our Way to Better Contraception Use

By Sumra Alvi, 19

Can health care providers and patients use texting to promote more consistent birth control use? Yes, they can! Clinicians and public health advocates…

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Teen Parents at YTH Live Call for Support Not Shame

By Leslie Hassanein, 18

From April 26th to 28th, I represented Sex, Etc. at the annual Youth Tech Health (YTH) Live conference in San Francisco. The conference gathers the…

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Pledge to End Sexual Assault With ItsOnUs.org

By Gillian Hatcher, 16

It started out the way you would expect a sexual assault public service announcement (PSA) to start: people were at a party, a beautiful girl was stumbling…

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Expedited Partner Therapy: The BOGO of STD Treatment

By Sumra Alvi, 19

There is stigma attached to getting tested for sexually transmitted disease (STDs) that tends to steer many people, especially teenagers, away from…

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Flo Crit Supports Teen Moms

By David Geng, 17

Despite a decline in teen pregnancy rates over the past few years, there are still many teenagers who become parents. As you can imagine, teen parents…

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#LustforLife Makes Condoms More Appealing

By Elena Hooper, 18

Condoms are an important part of practicing safer sex, but sometimes, some people see them as more of a hassle than a necessity. In turn, not using…

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Scientists Make Progress on Potential HIV Vaccine

By Joyce Canela, 18

Scientists have created a potential vaccine for HIV that may one day prevent the spread of the disease. This vaccine helps muscles make proteins that…

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New IUD Liletta Means More Birth Control Choices

By Sumra Alvi, 19

Most of us are familiar with the two most common forms of birth control: condoms and birth control pills. However, lately there has been a rise in use…

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FDA Proposes to Lift Ban on Blood Donations From Gay and Bisexual Men

By Joyce Canela, 18

After a more than 30-year ban, gay and bisexual guys may finally be able to donate blood. During the start of the HIV/AIDS crisis, the Food and Drug…

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What If Buying Condoms Was Like Buying Birth Control?

By Kelvin Ayora, 18

Buying condoms isn’t fun. Like most teen guys, I always thought it was a hassle. What I didn’t know, or ever really consider, is that getting…

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CDC Wants Male Teens to Know Benefits of Circumcision

By Sumra Alvi, 19

Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) drafted a recommendation that uncircumcised teen males and their parents be counseled…

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Nevada Students Demand—and Deserve—Comprehensive Sex Ed

By Joyce Canela, 18

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BuzzFeed’s “Let’s Actually Talk About Birth Control”

By Adrian Lam, 15

Recently, I watched a BuzzFeed video titled “Let’s Actually Talk About Birth Control.” It started off with the narrator asking a couple of high…

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Five Reasons Being Single for the Holidays Is the Best

By Emma Grant, 17

It’s that time again! Time to watch cliché romantic holiday movies with the cat, consume large amounts of cookies and not be kissed under the mistletoe.…

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AfterPill Brand Offers Affordable EC via Mail

By Joyce Canela, 17

Emergency contraception (EC), which can be taken to reduce the risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex, is now available online for a cheaper price…

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Planned Parenthood Now Offers Online Video Visits

By Kunal Arora, 19

I was so happy to find out that Planned Parenthood is doing something that is at once radical and simple: allowing virtual visits for clients in need…

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Sexting: The Wrong Way to Show You’re Interested

By Shelsea Rodriguez, 15

With the use of popular dating sites and chatting apps, meeting new people or just talking to your crush has become easier than ever. However, if you’re…

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Apple’s HealthKit App Needs a Menstrual Cycle Tracker

By Manish Arora, 17

Apple recently came out with the iPhone 6 and the iOS 8 operating system. One new feature of the operating system is Apple’s HealthKit, a health application…

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World AIDS Day 2014: Focus, Partner, Achieve

By Kyle Taylor, 17

Every December 1st is World AIDS Day—a day focused on raising awareness of and ending the pandemic caused by the spread of HIV or human immunodeficiency…

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Arizona School Board Votes to Remove Abortion from Textbooks

By Ojanae Ellison, 17

Two years ago, Arizona passed a law that requires schools to present childbirth and adoption as preferred options to abortion. And just a few weeks…

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Remembering Those Lost to Anti-Transgender Violence

By Iman Messado, 17

Transgender Day of Remembrance is on November 20th. It’s a day to commemorate the lives of trans people or people perceived to be trans who were murdered…

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The T Word Shares the Stories of Seven Young Trans People

By Shelsea Rodriguez, 15

MTV and Logo TV released a documentary Laverne Cox Presents:The T Word that follows the lives of seven young transgender people. Throughout the approximately…

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Transgender Awareness Week Highlights the T in LGBTQ

By Joyce Canela, 17

Transgender Awareness Week runs from November 13th through November 20th. This week is about highlighting the T in LGBTQ. The T stands for transgender,…

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Emma Watson Wants Guys to Fight for Gender Equality

By Elena Hooper, 17

A few of weeks ago, I heard that Emma Watson was speaking at the United Nations headquarters about her new feminist campaign called HeForShe. I later…

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NYC Wants to Make It Easier to Change Birth Certificate Gender

By Sumra Alvi, 18

The simple act of filling in a bubble asking whether I am male or female on an exam or on a job application is something that I never think twice about.…

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Colorado Voters Reject Personhood Amendment

By Elena Hooper, 17

There was something big happening in Colorado on Tuesday—something very serious. Colorado was trying to pass Amendment 67, which is a “personhood”…

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Long-Acting Birth Control for Guys Coming in 2017

By Krystal Rodriguez, 17

We’ve heard of birth control methods that are long-acting, meaning they are effective for three months or up to 10 years without a girl or woman…

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BuzzFeed’s “If Men Were Women on Halloween”

By Ojanae Ellison, 17

What would happen if boys got to experience what it’s like to be a girl? What if they got to understand how girls are objectified in almost everything…

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Three Ways You Can Be an LGBTQ Ally

By Kyle Taylor, 17

I’ve always thought of compassion and consideration for the well-being of others as two necessary qualities for any human. An ally to the LGBTQ…

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Tampon Run Game Makes Menstruation Less Taboo

By Jessica Yang, 18

It’s a problem when violence is more accepted and normalized than a healthy bodily function, such as menstruation. This is what motivated two New…

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Spermania: Game Fact or Fiction?

By Manish Arora, 17

Spermania is a game that takes players on a journey through the female reproductive system. Available for use on Android devices, the game follows the…

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Only Yes Means Yes in California

By Ojanae Ellison, 17

When it comes to rape on college campuses, schools and the law usually portray both parties as guilty instead of only the person who committed the rape.…

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Sexual Harassment Is Never OK

By Emma Grant, 17

In a society obsessed with “blurring lines,” it is important for us to know what sexual harassment is and how to prevent it. You may think you know…

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Orange Is the New Black Shows Adults Can Be Clueless About Anatomy Too

By Joyce Canela, 17

I don’t know about you, but I am a big fan of Netflix’s Orange Is the New Black. The show highlights some of the struggles of prison life—dirty…

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Women’s College Welcomes Transwomen Students

By David Geng, 17

Gender is usually not something most students need to think much about while working on their college applications. However, for applicants to single-sex…

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Three Things Men’s Rights Activists Could Do to Help Men

By Iman Messado, 17

It was midnight, and I was prowling Tumblr and Twitter. I was mainly looking into posts that featured the #yesallwomen hashtag. I had no idea what it…

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Why You Don’t Need to Hate Nicki Minaj’s “Anaconda”

By Ojanae Ellison, 17

Recently, Nicki Minaj released the video for her new single “Anaconda.” Since I like her music, I watched the video. The song is sexually explicit,…

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What #FelonCrushFriday Can Teach Us About Relationships

By Shelsea Rodriguez, 15

Triceps, biceps, breasts, butts, legs and, most importantly, the face. Are these the characteristics that matter? When looking at someone for the first…

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My Period: A Reason to Celebrate, Not Mock

By Jen Morgan, 19

In eighth grade, I went on a field trip with my class, where I got to take a break from classes and just enjoy time with my friends. Lunch at a fancy…

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Women Against Feminism: Misinformed & Missing the Point

By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, 17

When I first heard about the Facebook group “Women Against Feminism,” which actually originated from a very popular Tumblr site, I honestly thought…

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Always Commercial Challenges the Phrase “Like a Girl”

By Leslie Markevitch, 18

When you hear the phrase “like a girl,” what do you think of? In a recent commercial for Always, several teen girls and a few boys are told to perform…

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Coming Out Simulator Game Lets You Experience What It’s Like to Come Out

By Kelvin Ayora, 18

Nicky Case’s Coming Out Simulator 2014 is an online game that allows players to experience what it’s like to come out to parents. This game, which…

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Department of Education Addresses Campus Sexual Assault

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 18

If you or someone you know is planning to go to college, what do you think about when it comes to deciding where to spend the next few years of your…

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For Many Teens Sex Ed Is Too Little, Too Late

By Krystal Barragan, 18

Teens should receive honest and accurate sexuality education classes before they become sexually active. This is what should happen, because if we’re…

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New Vaginal Ring Could Prevent Pregnancy & HIV

By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, 17

In a world of smart phones and Wi-Fi, it’s hard to believe that there is currently no way to protect yourself from both sexually transmitted diseases…

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How YTH Live Taught Me to Believe in Youth Innovation

By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, 17

“Keep calm and trust youth innovation.” That’s what Jamia Wilson, YTH Executive Director, said at the opening plenary of the YTH (youth + tech…

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Planned Parenthood App Helps You Choose Birth Control

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 18

Planned Parenthood has come out with a series of new apps, designed to educate young people about sexual health and sexuality topics. (We recently blogged…

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Facebook Now Offers More Gender Options

By Kelvin Ayora, 17

Last month Facebook unveiled a feature that allows people to choose from more than two genders on their profile. Up until recently the only choices…

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Planned Parenthood App Lets You Hear From Teens Who Have Been There & Done That

By Krystal Barragan, 18

Imagine hearing from other teens about birth control, condoms and sex with a few taps of your finger, right on your phone! Well, this is now a reality.…

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Many Doctors Don’t Talk to Teens About Sex

By Krystal Barragan, 18

A study from Duke University revealed that teens and their doctors are not—or are barely—talking about sex, sexuality and dating. The study showed…

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Happy 15th Birthday, Sexetc.org!

By Sarah McNeilly, 17

Happy birthday, dear Sex, Etc., happy birthday to you! This month, we celebrate the 15th anniversary of Sexetc.org! In the last decade and a half, we’ve…

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Why I Joined My School’s GSA

By Tsering Bista, 17

February 5th is Gay–Straight Alliance Day! This year, celebrate by becoming a member of your school’s GSA or by creating your own. Gay-straight…

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Protect the Right to Choose

By Krystal Barragan, 18

On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court handed down its decision on the landmark case, Roe v. Wade.  The case decided that states could not outlaw abortion…

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Three Myths About the HPV Vaccine

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 17

Since January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month, it is important for everyone to know about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Why, some of you…

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Three Sex Ed Resolutions I’ll Be Keeping in 2014

By Kunal Arora, 18

Another year, another resolution list! But unlike last year’s resolutions, I plan on keeping these! They all involve improving my (and my friends’)…

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World AIDS Day 2013: Working Toward an AIDS-Free Generation

By Jenny Chen, 17

The theme of this year’s World AIDS Day is “Shared Responsibility: Strengthening Results for an AIDS-Free Generation.” An AIDS-free generation…

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Four LGBTQ People We’re Thankful For

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 17

Since many of us don’t usually learn about LGBTQ history in our history classes at school, we wanted to take a moment this month to celebrate gay,…

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Milwaukee Teen Pregnancy Prevention Campaign Addresses #SexMyths

By Krystal Barragan, 18

Have you ever heard a crazy myth, like if you do jumping jacks after having penile-vaginal sex, you won’t get pregnant? Or maybe a friend told you…

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Google Suggested Search Reveals Sexism

By Tsering Bista, 17

What do you think will show up as a suggested search if you type in “women should” on Google? Instead of “be empowered” or “be respected,”…

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Five Halloween Costumes that Scare Us

By Kunal Arora, 18

Face it: we live in a world where women are often sexualized. So it’s not a surprise that many costumes for women are made by putting the word “sexy”…

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Nebraska Teen Mature Enough for Motherhood But Not an Abortion

By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, 17

On Friday, October 4th, the Nebraska Supreme Court upheld a ruling that rejected a 16-year-old girl’s request to get an abortion without her parents’…

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Three Ways to Show Your Support During Ally Week

By Kelsey Schwimmer, 17

Ally Week is an entire week dedicated to the promotion and discussion of what everyone can do to support members of the LGBTQ community and stand up…

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Ten Worst Ways To Break Up

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 17

Being broken up with is hard enough, but having it happen in an impersonal or even hurtful way probably feels even worse. Have you been the victim of…

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Teen Birth Rate Hits Historic Low

By Krystal Barragan, 18

Many people seem to be under the impression that teenage pregnancy is on the rise. And I can’t blame people for thinking this, because shows like…

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Would You Step In to Prevent Rape?

By Leslie Markevitch, 17

You are at a party, and you witness a girl being harassed by a guy. Drunk, she feebly tries to brush off his unwelcomed advances, but still he persists,…

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NJ Law Bans Gay Conversion Therapy

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 17

On August 19th, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed a bill banning gay conversion therapy for minors. Gay conversion therapy is when a counselor…

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“Blurred Lines”: Summer Song or “Rapey” Anthem?

By Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, 16

Many would say that “Blurred Lines” was both the song of the summer and the most controversial song of the year thus far. The music video, which…

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HelloFlo Brings Humor to Tampon Ads

By Jessica Yang, 17

“The Camp Gyno” is a hilarious commercial posted on YouTube by the company HelloFlo, featuring a young girl who gets her first period at camp. Soon,…

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North Carolina Law Calls for Educators to Misinform Young People About Abortion

By Kunal Arora, 18

Although Republican Governor Pat McCrory of North Carolina promised not to sign any bills restricting abortion during his campaign, he ended up doing…

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Why Restricting Abortion in Texas Won’t Reduce Abortion

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 17

A couple of weeks ago, after weeks of protest in Austin and widespread national media attention, the Texas legislature passed a bill, with the strong…

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Spider-Man’s Andrew Garfield Says Spidey Should Be Gay

By Casandra Fetchik, 19

The Amazing Spider-Man star, Andrew Garfield, was already pretty great, but he has become even more amazing! Entertainment Weekly recently reported…

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“Get Lucky” With Daft Punk Condoms

By Cynthia Lam, 19

Daft Punk’s latest hit is about getting lucky, and now it is being taken literally. Recently, Daft Punk’s label started handing out “Get Lucky”…

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East Los High Comes to an End

By Krystal Barragan, 17

East Los High is officially over, and what a season it has been! Remember if you missed it, you can still watch the whole season on Hulu. And for those…

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The Plot Thickens on East Los High

By Krystal Barragan, 17

As if we thought that nothing else crazy could happen on the Hulu series East Los High, it did! Remember Vanessa, who I told you guys about in my first…

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Sex, Lies and Pregnancy on East Los High

By Krystal Barragan, 17

The Hulu series East Los High, which started airing online last month, has taken me on a crazy roller coaster ride with all its plot twists and turns,…

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Cleveland Teens Team Up With University to Teach Safer Sex

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 17

Every year, tens of thousands of Americans are diagnosed with HIV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a staggering one…

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LA Teens Can Share STD Status Via Text With Qpid.me

By Tsering Bista, 16

Need some help sharing your STD status with your partner? The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) is promoting Qpid.me, a website and free smart…

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Boy Scouts Open to Gay Boys & Teens But Not Adults

By Jessica Yang, 17

You may have heard the news about the Boy Scouts of America deciding to allow boys and teen guys who identify as gay to join their organization. While…

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Things Heat Up on East Los High

By Krystal Barragan, 17

As if the first week of East Lost High on Hulu.com wasn’t filled with tons of drama, this week was even crazier! One character, who is hilarious that…

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Teen’s Arrest Sparks Debate Over Age of Consent & Same-Sex Relationships

By Tsering Bista, 16

Eighteen-year-old Kaitlyn Hunt was enjoying her senior year at Sebastian River High School in Indian River County, Florida. She had been voted the student…

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East Los High—A Lot Like My High School

By Krystal Barragan, 17

East Los High, a new teen drama available on Hulu for free, is addictive. With the sexting, safer sex and first-time sex, I found myself drawn deeper…

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Lift the Ban on Blood Donations From Gay & Bisexual Men

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 17

Recently, my school held a blood drive—something that many high schools do in the spring. In fact, 20 percent of all blood donations come from high…

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Being Prepared for Prom Night Pressure

By Krystal Barragan, 17

After months of planning, it’s finally here: Prom! You and your date are dressed to impress and look amazing. You two are ready to dance all night…

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Exploring the Teens in NYC Protection+ App

By Casandra Fetchik, 19

I recently downloaded the app, Teens in NYC Protection+. Once you install the app, the first message you see is, “Teens in NYC…have the right to…

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What the Heck Is “Gateway Sexual Activity”?

By Eshani Dixit, 19

All across the country, more and more states have tried to pass laws trying to put a limit on what we can learn about our bodies and sexuality. The…

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NBA Player Jason Collins Comes Out as Gay

By Kunal Arora, 18

NBA player Jason Collins has been in the media spotlight recently. No, he didn’t set a new record or perform a crazy dunk, but he did do something…

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Impregnate Your Friends’ Phones With Do Something’s Text Baby

By Juliana Conway, 17

We’ve all heard of those egg or sack-of-flour babies handed out in health classes to show how difficult it is to care for a baby. Well, DoSomething.org’s…

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Katelyn Campbell Stands Up to Abstinence-Only Scare Tactics

By Jessica Yang, 17

Katelyn Campbell, an 18-year-old senior in West Virginia, has recently been in the news speaking out about a controversial abstinence assembly at her…

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Plan B Now Available Without Prescription

By Jenny Geng, 17

Recently, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to lift the age restrictions on the emergency contraception pill, Plan…

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My YTH Live Experience

By Kunal Arora, 18

I love technology. I check tech blogs hourly to see reviews of new products, games and software and to hear the latest tech gossip, and I’m always…

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NYC Pregnancy Ads Shame Teen Parents

By Tsering Bista, 16

Picture yourself as a teen mom in New York City. You’re trying to balance the difficulties of high school—grades, zits and a crush on the captain…

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It Was Rape: A Documentary

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 17

Recently at one of our Sex, Etc. teen editorial staff meetings, I watched Jennifer Baumgardner’s documentary It Was Rape. The film focuses on the…

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Slut-Shaming Taylor Swift

By Jenny Geng, 17

As an avid Internet user and shameless reader of gossip magazines, I have been reading a lot about the so-called downward spiral of Taylor Swift’s…

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Chicago Public Schools to Provide Age-Appropriate Sex Ed for Younger Students

By Tsering Bista, 16

There is one question that is often debated when it comes to teaching kids about sexual health: How early is too early? Currently, Chicago Public Schools’…

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Amazon Ad Kindles Conversation on Marriage Equality

By Kunal Arora, 18

You’ve probably seen one of Amazon’s Kindle ads. They all pretty much start off the same way. Someone is having trouble reading on a tablet due…

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How to Survive a Plague Looks at History of HIV/AIDS Struggle

By Krystal Barragan, 17

The documentary How to Survive a Plague was nominated for Best Documentary Feature at this year’s Academy Awards, and though it didn’t win, it is…

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Study Shows Condoms Don’t Decrease Pleasure

By Lei Anne Galicia, 17

When it comes to using condoms, people come up with all sorts of excuses for not using them. They “ruin the mood” or make sex less enjoyable some…

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Happy 14th Birthday Sexetc.org!

By Kunal Arora, 18

Sexetc.org turns 14 today, and this is the website’s first birthday with its new look—an update we hope you love as much as we do. 2013 marks another…

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Publishers Embrace LGBTQ Characters in Teen Novels

By Jessica Yang, 17

In the past, publishers of LGBTQ young adult literature were usually small presses and probably not part of the major companies that dominate the industry.…

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Trans Girl Becomes Who She Is Meant to Be

By Lei Anne Galicia, 16

School, sports and boys. These are all things Jazz, an 11-year-old girl, encounters on a daily basis. The only difference between her and the other…

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Philadelphia High Schools Get Free Condom Dispensers

By Kunal Arora, 17

Philadelphia has installed condom dispensers in 22 high schools throughout the city. Of the 6,500 Philadelphia students tested for sexually transmitted…

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Doctors Say Prescribe Emergency Contraception Before Sex

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 16

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggest that girls be prescribed emergency contraception (EC) (also known as the morning-after pill) before…

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Being Transgender Is Not a Disorder

By Jenny Geng, 17

It’s official! Being transgender is no longer listed as a mental disorder. My first reaction when I read this in the news was to wonder why it was…

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Governor Blames Teen Pregnancy on Teens Not Caring

By Lei Anne Galicia, 16

Many people ask the question, “Why do teen pregnancies happen?” Is it because of inaccurate or inadequate sexuality education? Or in the words of…

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Your Holiday Mom

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 16

During the holiday season, most of us have family get-togethers. While these family dinners might be a bit awkward, a lot of us are fortunate to have…

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MTV Fights HIV with “I’m Positive”

By Jenny Geng, 17

MTV, the channel normally associated with the notorious television shows Jersey Shore and 16 and Pregnant, really surprised me with a new documentary…

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World AIDS Day 2012: My Brother’s and Sister’s Keeper

By Kunal Arora, 17

This year’s theme for World AIDS Day is “I Am My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper: Fight HIV/AIDS.” Simply put, this theme means that we’re all…

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My World AIDS Day Inspiration: Elizabeth Taylor

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 16

December 1st is World AIDS Day, a time for us to remember all of the people who have been lost to AIDS, recognize all the progress that has been made…

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Tammy Baldwin’s Election Shows Sexual Orientation Can Be NBD

By Jenny Geng, 17

In addition to President Barack Obama being reelected, several LBGTQ politicians were also elected to Congress—one notable woman being Tammy Baldwin…

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Victory for Marriage Equality

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 16

Election Day was two weeks ago, but it’s not too late to celebrate marriage equality. People in Maine, Maryland, and Washington voted in favor of…

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Frank Ocean Turns the Tide on Homophobia in Hip Hop

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 16

In many hip-hop songs, you’ll hear homophobic slurs being thrown around. For years, homophobia has been an accepted part of hip-hop culture. Although…

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Vlogbrothers on Human Sexuality

By Tsering Bista, 16

Hank Green, half of the popular YouTube channel known as the vlogbrothers, recently posted a video discussing human sexuality. When most people hear…

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Halloween for Girls: Why Are Sexy Costumes the Only Option?

By Kayla Weiss, 17

Well, it’s that time of year again: Halloween. Superstores start popping up out of nowhere, families start buying candy in bulk and the search for…

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Rape Trivialized on the Campaign Trail

By Jenny Geng, 17

Still reeling from Todd Akin’s cringe-worthy claims about “legitimate rape,” the world gets to see rape being trivialized, yet again and again.…

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California Bans Gay Conversion Therapy for Teens

By Sam Dercon, 18

Last month California’s Governor, Jerry Brown, signed a bill that bans the use of reparative or conversation therapies on anyone under the age of…

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Plan B: Now Available in Some City High Schools

By Insia Zaidi, 18

There is a city where free condoms are distributed at Steve Madden’s shoe stores, some beauty parlors and even at some fro-yo places. Yet it is also…

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Boy Expresses Gender With Support of Father

By Tsering Bista, 16

For many teens, true self-expression can be a challenge. It’s also difficult to stand up for someone who is criticized for expressing themselves.…

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IUDs for Teens Get Thumbs Up

By Casandra Fetchik, 18

A few years ago, doctors wouldn’t have recommended that teenage girls use an intrauterine device (IUD) as a form of birth control. Now, that’s changing.…

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U.S. Military’s First Openly Gay Flag Officer

By Krystal Barragan, 17

On August 10, 2012, Army Reserve officer Tammy Smith was promoted to the position of brigadier general, making her the U.S. military’s first openly…

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Movies More Comfortable With Violence Than Sexuality

By Lei Anne Galicia, 16

If you turn on the TV or go to the movies, you’re more likely to see an act of violence (whether it be war or gore) than a sex scene that probably…

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The Myth of Athletic Perfomance and Sex

By Chandler Gottlieb, 16

Have you ever heard the myth that athletes shouldn’t have sex before a game or a match? Being an athlete, I was astonished to find out that some coaches…

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Lady Gaga’s Born This Way Foundation

By Kunal Arora, 17

About 7,000 teens drop out of school every year, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics. A large…

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NFL Players Support Marriage Equality

By Lei Anne Galicia, 16

It’s football season and while more and more popular music artists—and even Olympic athletes—continue to express their support for lesbian, gay,…

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Plastic Surgery Doesn’t Make You Beautiful

By Luisa Tinapay, 16

Ever feel self-conscious about your appearance? Or feel pressured by your friends or the media to change the way you look? It’s no secret that society…

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The Break-up Text

By Cynthia Lam, 18

There’s the “hey, what’s up” text, the hook-up text, the morning-after text and then there’s the dreaded breakup text.  From the classic…

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Sixteen and an Olympian

By Krystal Barragan, 17

It used to be that when I heard the age 16 the first thing that popped into my mind was MTV’s 16 and Pregnant. Now when I hear the age 16, my mind…

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New Drug Reduces Risk of HIV Transmission

By Taylor McCabe, 19

Last month the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first pill designed to inhibit the transmission of HIV. When compared to a placebo, the…

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The Loss of Astronaut Sally Ride

By Taylor McCabe, 19

Sally Ride—America’s first female astronaut in space—died on July 23rd. Her obituary contained information that Ride had never released: she was…

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Breaking Down Barriers at the Olympics

By Juliana Conway, 17

From the moment the Olympic torch is lit, people transcend the barriers of culture, race and language. Athletes from all over the world put aside their…

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Condoms for All Olympians

By Cynthia Ulokameje, 16

When the London Olympics began, over 10,000 of the world’s greatest athletes came together to compete. All of these athletes then lived in the…

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Judging Ryan Lochte

By Eve Zhurbinskiy, 16

Last week, Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte’s mother said in an interview on The Today Show that her son “goes out on one-night stands. He’s…

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Dollar Rubber Club: Cheap Condoms by Mail

By Clarence Williams, 19

Ever hear of the Dollar Rubber Club? Well, let’s just say it will save a lot of people the agony of having to go to the store and buy condoms in public.…

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HRC Survey Shows Homophobic Bullying Persists

By Clarence Williams, 19

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) conducted a nationwide survey of more than 10,000 gay and lesbian young people. The survey found that gay and lesbian…

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Get Tested for HIV: You Can Do It

By Keandre Curry, 17

Have you had unprotected sex with your partner, multiple partners or anonymous partners? Have you injected drugs or steroids or shared needles or syringes…

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Purity Ring 3000

By Taylor McCabe, 19

Though the commercial for the Purity Ring 3000 is clearly a parody, it does speak to a larger issue in our society: the idea that everyone should be…

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Being a H8r Doesn’t Make You Str8r

By Olivier Vanasse, 18

This video by StraightNotNarrow.ca conveys an important message for guys: Being a hater doesn’t make you straighter. This video attacks the relationship…

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Utah Governor Vetoes Law Making Sex Ed Optional

By Taylor McCabe, 19

In March, a law passed the Utah State Senate and House that would allow schools to not include sexuality education in their curricula. This is in addition…

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iPhone Case Holds Condoms

By Sam Dercon, 18

When I first heard about a new iPhone case that has a hidden compartment for condoms, I thought the idea was brilliant. After all you’re not supposed…

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Same-Sex Relationships in Mass Effect 3

By Lina Chappelle, 18

Mass Effect 3, the latest installment of the M-rated Mass Effect video game franchise, has a new feature, which has many video gamers up in arms. What’s…

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Sisters Weigh Pregnancy Options on 16 and Pregnant

By Luisa Tinapay, 15

The new season of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant kicked off on Tuesday, April 3rd, highlighting the lives of 12 new girls with 12 different stories. One of…

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MTV’s Against Our Will Campaign

By Casandra Fetchik, 18

Did you know that there’s slavery still going on today? There’s human trafficking going on around the world, including in the U.S. This modern day…

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Androgynous Models Blur the Lines Between Genders

By Olivier Vanasse, 18

Androgynous models—who have a combination of masculine and feminine characteristics—are becoming more and more popular among world-class brand names…

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Look Young & Beautiful with Fotoshop by Adobé

By June Rosen, 17

Lots of women want to look like those gorgeous models in magazines, but we all know that in reality even models don’t look like the images in these…

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Your Voice Makes Sex, Etc. Great!

By Sex, Etc., 42

  If you’ll be a high school sophomore, junior or senior in the fall of 2012, apply to write for us. Our teen writers are paid to write stories…

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Using Art to Heal from Sexual Assault

By Taylor McCabe, 19

In October 2011, Grace Brown, a student at New York School of Visual Arts, started a project she calls “Project Unbreakable,” a photo blog that…

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Kasi Goes to San Francisco

By Casandra Fetchik, 18

Imagine listening to people speak passionately about why they care about teen sexual health and what they are doing to have an impact on it. That’s…

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Do You Know the Man in the Mirror?

By Insia Zaidi, 17

Scenarios USA, an organization that uses writing and film to engage young people, asked students, “What’s the real deal about masculinity?” In…

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Face Your Fears: Getting Tested for HIV

By Anthony Murray, 17

As a teenager, we are confronted with fears everyday—asking someone out, trying out for a sports team or even getting tested for HIV. Face Your Fears…

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Let’s Tour the Clinic!

By Anthony Murray, 17

Many teens are nervous about going to the clinic and feel they might be judged for using available reproductive health services. Others just don’t…

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How Do You Respect the Line?

By Anthony Murray, 17

With all the pressures teens feel to fit in, it can be really difficult to know how to respect or set personal boundaries. Community Healthcare Network’s…

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California’s Condom Access Project

By June Rosen, 17

In California, a service known as the Condom Access Project allows pre-teens and teens between the ages of 12 and 19 to order 10 condoms, lube and health…

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16 and Pregnant Star Steals Pregnancy Test

By Taylor McCabe, 19

If you’re a fan of MTV’s 16 and Pregnant, you may recognize Whitney Purvis, who appeared on the show in 2009. Now age 20, she was arrested for shoplifting…

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Adele—Comfortable in Her Own Skin

By Casandra Fetchik, 18

Although the music industry is very visually driven, British singer Adele confessed in an interview with Anderson Cooper, “I don’t wanna be some…

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Sport That Raincoat!

By Olivier Vanasse, 18

Real Talk4Teens, based in central New York, released this video with a catchy tune to promote condom use. From groups of boys on street steps throwing…

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Harry Potter and the Order of the Pubes

By Casandra Fetchik, 18

Being hairy down there doesn’t bother Harry Potter. Daniel Radcliffe, the actor who plays Harry Potter, was recently interviewed and talked about…

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We’re Teens, Not Sex-Crazed Drinkers and Smokers

By Olivier Vanasse, 18

Congratulations! According to a University of Michigan survey, we’re smoking less pot (by about 15 percent), smoking fewer cigarettes (by about 13…

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Keep Your Cookies: Girl Scout Protests Trans Acceptance

By Mereia Alston-Torres, 16

Building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place is the mission statement of The Girl Scouts of America (GSUSA).…

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Vending Machine to Sell Emergency Contraception

By Luisa Tinapay, 15

By popular request, Shippensburg University in central Pennsylvania has stocked one of its vending machines with not candy bars or chips, but emergency…

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Tennessee Bill Justifies Bullying

By June Rosen, 17

Imagine walking down the halls in a new school. You’re wearing this season’s most popular shoes and a bracelet that your best friend from your last…

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Did Zac Efron Drop a Condom?

By Olivier Vanasse, 18

Last week, the cast of The Lorax walked the red carpet in Hollywood for the family-oriented film’s exclusive premiere. In the wake of the premiere,…

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Redefining Rape—Men Are Victims, Too

By Taylor McCabe, 19

This past January, the United States Justice Department announced that the legal definition of rape will be changing—meaning that, for the first time,…

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A Day in Our Shoes—Homeless LGBT Youth

By Hannah Fung-Wiener, 17

I have a pretty comfortable routine: I roll out of bed, inhale a quick breakfast and go to (or sleep through) classes for hours at a time. My afternoon…

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Here Come the Birth Control Ads

By Sam Dercon, 18

When I think about the ads for birth control or safer sex methods, Trojan brand condom commercials are the first things that come to mind. Whether it’s…

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A Closed World: A Web Game on LGBTQ Issues

By Mereia Alston-Torres, 16

GAMBIT Game Lab created a prototype of a video game called, A Closed World. The game was created in response to the lack of LGBTQ related material in…

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Gay Men Don’t Get Fat

By Sam Dercon, 18

Recently The New York Times interviewed Simon Doonan, a major player in the fashion industry, about his new book Gay Men Don’t Get Fat. In the book,…

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Tide on Gender

By Taylor McCabe, 19

There’s an ad for Tide Booster detergent that portrays a prim-and-preppy mother, dressed all in pink, sitting in a frilly and ultra-feminine living…

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Does This Pose Make Me Look Absurd?

By Meg Gibbon, 19

Most of us are aware of how fashion magazines and lipstick commercials too often depict women: We’re reduced to overly sexualized, dolled-up mannequins…

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