Why do we even have a National Masturbation Month in the US?

The Pleasure Coach just posted a great history on Facebook:

The celebration of May as National Masturbation Month began in 1995 in San Francisco as a response to the forced resignation of then U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.

 

After a speech at the United Nations World AIDS Day in 1994, an audience member asked Elders about masturbation’s potential for discouraging early sexual activity. She answered,“I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.”

 

That was the end of Elders’ career as America’s first black Surgeon General, but the spark for National Masturbation Month. Offended by Elders’ ouster, the ever progressive, pro-sex staff of San Francisco’s sex toy and education company Good Vibrations decided to find a way to keep the focus on Elders’ unjust firing, and to bring talk about masturbation into the mainstream in just the way Elders had envisioned.

You can read more here and get involved in the conversation about masturbation at the event page here!

I am SO excited. Like so so so excited about the amazing events going on for this month of masturbation celebration!

But mostly I’m beside myself with pride over Shilo McCabe’s solo photo exhibition of the “I Masturbate…” collection. “I masturbate…” is a radically inclusive photography project created in celebration of National Masturbation Month, consisting of sex-positive photos of people masturbating and sharing personal stories that complete the phrase “I masturbate…”

Come to the opening reception! Friday, May 3rd, 7-10pm at the Center for Sex & Culture, 1349 Mission Street, San Francisco or get more info at the facebook event page!