PROCEED WITH CAUTION
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Seriously...proceed to click on link with caution...
Friday, April 24, 2015
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Homophobes Likely To Be Closet Gays, Study Finds
Homophobes Likely To Be Closet Gays, Study Finds
I couldn't find the publication, but when searching for it I found a few other articles that looked into this that may be an interesting read.
Here is the link to the University of Rochester's headline:
http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=4040
I couldn't find the publication, but when searching for it I found a few other articles that looked into this that may be an interesting read.
Here is the link to the University of Rochester's headline:
http://www.rochester.edu/news/show.php?id=4040
Unique 2nd Date / New Field Experience
OMG I just have to share this experience with you all!
So, this past weekend I went on a second date that took an unexpected turn of events...
After having sushi at Sura in Providence, my date and I decided to go trolling for a bar to grab a few drinks. Whilst wandering about the streets of Providence, I noticed something out of the ordinary: many, many drag queens. This sighting immediately had me stopped in my tracks and I promptly insisted that we investigate. Although reluctant at first, my date agreed and we walked over to these two bars clearly marked as "gay bars" by a rainbow flag in each of their windows. I got really excited, so I convinced him to go inside with me to check out what was going on (clearly an event was happening). We started at Alley Cat (see the pics above) which is a gay bar that has penis tap handles, safe sex coasters, and a giant free condom dispenser. This bar is small and was relatively uneventful compared to what was going on next door, so we just got two drinks and left. Next door was the Dark Lady...here was where we found the action!
So, inside we found drag queens dressed to the nines, all decked out celebrating what we were informed to be the coronation ceremony to be held the next afternoon (Saturday) at the Biltmore Hotel. We were clearly out of place and shortly approached and escorted by a man named Tree who introduced us to the "royal courts" of many states and provinces of Canada who had traveled here for the weekend festivities of the coronation. We got drinks and watched with an excited crowd as the drag kings and queens took turns lip syncing on the stage. With each new song, the place went wild with excitement and the crowd would storm the stage with tips for the performer. It was all very exciting!!! Tree explained to us that the Imperial Courts are LGBT activist groups in each U.S. state and province of Canada that raise charitable funds and events to support the community. He also explained that each year there is a coronation event in each state where the monarchs step down and are replaced by a new king and queen. There are all sorts of rulers (straight, gay, straight or gay cross-dressers, etc.). This was the most challenging aspect of the evening in that it was very difficult, if not impossible, to determine how to address the person you were talking to without being properly introduced. Everyone seemed to already know each other and we were clearly new. Nonetheless, it was a blast!
After some time at the Dark Lady, the crowd dispersed to bar hop to the local bars that support their cause. They started the bar hop by going to the Stallion, which was a gay bar with all male bartenders tending bar in nothing but tight underwear! Although interesting, and after meeting a few more very nice individuals, we got relatively bored and move on to another bar down the street.
The bar I am referring to is the Satin Doll, which is actually a strip club. But, not just any strip club...it was a transgender strip club! This was fascinating because as soon as we entered, we were informed that the dancers were both "natural" females, and "transitioning" females. Now, at this point, I really give my date credit because here he was clearly uncomfortable. At the other bars he was engaged and enjoying himself, but there was a change in his demeanor as soon as we were told about the dancers. I was definitely curious so we stayed for a few drinks and chatted with a "natural" female dancer. She told us that she actually gets turned down more often than not at this location because the clientele come here for the transgender dancers. Interesting, right?! I actually watched a man get a lap dance by a female that had nothing but a thong on, and I definitely saw penis and testicles barely being held by the thong.
This made me wonder...are the clientele gay males? Males who are closeted gay men who want the façade of a female but still have the parts of a male? In any case, I was very curious.
Also a side note, there was a real bondage cage on the stage that the owner explained to me that belonged to him and he used to use in dominant sex play. (The cage is now retired.)
Anyways, long story short, and to bring this story to it's conclusion, as a reward for his amazing attitude towards exploring our little date detour I took him to Foxy Lady to end our evening. Overall, I had a very interesting evening that I could talk on and on about, but I will end here.
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
"A Guide to Sexuality and Sexual Health"
I found this website with all these articles related to sex and sexuality. Thought it was interesting and decided to share with all of you. I can't vouch for the validity of these articles, but they are interesting nonetheless. Check it out...
Freud's Penis Envy
Is it possible that Freud's theory of penis envy during the psychosexual stages of development is an early transgender postulation? Freud considered a woman's realization that she does not have a penis to be a defining moment in a series of transitions toward a mature female sexuality and gender identity. So, is it possible that Freud [unintentionally] theorized an early transgender theory?
...These are just my thoughts after last week's class on LGBT...
RadioLab: Reasonable Doubt
On July 29th, 1985, a 36-year-old woman named Penny Beerntsen went for a jog on the beach near her home. About a mile into her run, she passed a man in a leather jacket, said hello and kept running. On her way back, he re-appeared. What happened next would cause Penny to question everything she thought she knew about judging people — and, in the end, her ability to be certain of anything.
NOTE: This segment contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault and violence.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Special Topic Wikipage: Sexual Desire/Arousal
Reporting as co-author of the Sexual Desire/Arousal Special Topic Wikipage...
Since the presentation on March 3rd, a few changes have been made to the Wikipage that I wanted to highlight. As promised, I added the pdf files of the female assessment measures mentioned in the presentation. They can be found in the Sexual Arousal/Interest Disorder (SA/ID) section, under the subsection "Assessment." At the end of the SA/ID section, following the reference list and the recommended reading pdf files, I also attached two more articles: one regarding a male sexual arousal measure, and the other regarding the Treatment Satisfaction Scale mentioned during the presentation. Each article contains the measure in their appendix section.
As one of the co-authors of this project, I do hope you all enjoyed the presentation, found the presentation and wikipage to be helpful and informative, and thoroughly enjoy perusing not only the expanded information on the wikipage, but also enjoy the fun clips and interesting links provided. I can vouch that an abundance of time and effort was put into making the wikipage entertaining as well as educational, so I hope we pulled it off and you all enjoy it!
Thursday, March 5, 2015
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
Sexual Healing
Reflecting on the episode of Laura Berman's TV series Sexual Healing that we watched in class, I am curious about the long-term effectiveness of her treatment. The episode follows three couples participating in a week long retreat to Dr. Berman's sex therapy clinic that includes individual, couple, and group therapy sessions. Although I liked Dr. Berman's approach and style, I wonder about her interventions. The homework that she assigned to each of the couples seemed to focus strictly on the exploration of new sexual scripts (visiting sex toy shops, giving the couples sex game kits, etcetera). The couples did go to restaurants, but seeing as how they were staying in a hotel for the retreat wouldn't they have had to do that anyhow? Therefore, those "dates" can't really count as interventions. The rock climbing date was inventive, although that couple seemed to need more communication skills training, rather than trust-building exercises. I would have liked to have seen more of the in-session work with these couples.
What I liked about this episode was that it followed the treatment of three couples presenting with very different sexual difficulties. And, Dr. Berman's approach to all three seemed very similar (if not, entirely the same), which tells us that her treatment approach is applicable to the process (not the content) of the presenting complaint. I also liked being able to view the couples adherence to the homework. Therapists rarely, if ever, get to witness what occurs outside of session, so this was very interesting to watch. I wonder if Dr. Berman reviewed those videos before her sessions with the couples the next day, or if they were strictly for the TV series. I also wonder how these encounters would appear differently if the couple weren't aware of being videotaped. I am not condoning videotaping a couple without their consent! I am just curious how social desirability factored into their adherence, or lack-thereof, to the homework assignments.
Like I mentioned before, I would be interested in a follow-up with the couples, maybe a year or so after their treatment. My prediction would be that Tom and Debra are experiencing renewed sexual satisfaction at a one-year follow-up; Shawn and Kerrie continue to struggle with their satisfaction of their sex life; and Brandon and Sabrina...well, I can't comment because I recall a spoiler-alert that announced they have since broken-up.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
Friday, February 27, 2015
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
17 Feb 2015 Reading Reflection
My overall reaction: Thank goodness we are done reading this book!
I, of course, only speak for myself but I found this book to be provocative and, thus, hard to get through. Hence, my immense pleasure with its conclusion. My reactions to this book were so strong that I began writing them down, but I stopped after Part 1 because the document was already so large, my reactions so numerous, that it was taking me forever to get through the reading and I just wanted it to be over with. I think it is clear by now that my reactions were not positive. Hate is a strong word, however I will say that I disliked this book so much that I am embarrassed to have added to its sales from having purchased it. I attempted to attach the aforementioned document as evidence, in case anyone is interested, but couldn't figure out how. The document thoroughly explains why I reacted thusly, but I will summarize here since the document is quite lengthy and I don't expect anyone to be interested enough to actually read it (hence, why it was never posted).
This book began by bashing biology, moved on to boasting feminism, and all the while is written largely in the first person as almost a very opinionated memoir. This all frustrated me. First, having a background in biology, I support a biopsychosocial perspective on the topic of sexuality. I would have enjoyed the book more if the author hadn't attempted to completely discount and discredit any biological notion at every opportunity. Biology is a component. There are other components as well, but if social influence was the absolute only factor then it is quite possible that we would define sex as sticking your finger in someone's ear, just because someone at some point in history thought it was a good idea and it became trendy. The only reason we are having this conversation at all is because of the existence of the penis and the existence of the vagina and the exquisite puzzle-piece like nature with which they magically fit together with the added benefit of a pleasure component that I don't see many complaining about (unless they are complaining about the lack thereof). This is all not to say that I don't believe there exist a psychological and social component, because I surely do, I'm just saying that you can't ignore the biology. (Also, not for nothing, we would not exist today if cavemen and women didn't figure out sex all on their own without the help of media...just saying...)
Moving on to the feminist boasting: I have trouble understanding the feminist argument. What are they arguing for? Equality? If so, I'm confused by their anti-equality arguments presented in this book. It seems (to me) like feminists can't agree on what they are arguing for, or maybe that they are in some way conspiracy theorist "analyzing," "decoding," and searching for hidden "meaning" (subliminal messages?) and or reasons to argue. Just a theory. But, I've always wondered about their premise. If they are all about equality, then why are they only supporting women's rights and "man-bashing"? Do we have to take down men in order to raise up women? I, personally, would prefer an equal opportunist perspective that supports both genders. (Although, I did enjoy the section that described women as a different species, but only in a comical sense.)
Lastly, I didn't prefer the author's voice present throughout the entire book. I did not care for the author's choice of presentation and writing style. It was very opinionated, and that is my opinion.
I'm not saying this book was all bad. It made some interesting points, but mostly served to elicit an awareness in multiple perspectives. I hope that my peers enjoyed this book more than I did. Personally, I preferred the Crucible.
Monday, February 9, 2015
505 Bio
Sex and sexuality has always been my favorite subject, not just academically, but socially. Whenever possible, I encourage conversations to turn to the subject of sex, whether by change of subject or inappropriate comment. My friends get accustomed rather quickly to my sexually explicit repertoire and lack of censorship, often referring that my mind lives "in the gutter." I have hosted a sex toy party through Athena, and have also hosted a sex-themed Christmas party for my friends whereby I set-up a gift exchange that entailed the guests' selection of a particular Playboy corresponding to a particular hidden novelty gift (e.g. vibrator, lube, pornographic movie, a sex dice game, edible underwear, etc.). Exploring topics in sexuality has always been a passion of mine, and getting paid to do that every day would be my dream job. Through the MFT program I hope to make that dream a reality. My interests with couples and sexuality revolve around topics of infidelity, intimacy, sexual satisfaction, desire/arousal and other sexual dysfunction, and other aspects of relationships, such as attachment style.
Saturday, January 31, 2015
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