The following is taken from the Unitarian Universalist Church’s “Our Whole Lives” curriculum (OWL), a faith-based sexuality education program for young people.

It was dusk. The apartment was empty save for the two of them. As they lay entwined in warm embrace, this room this bed was the universe. Aside form the faint sounds of their tranquil breathing, they were silent. She stroked the nape of his neck. He nuzzled her erect nipple first gently with his nose, then licked it, tasted, smelled and absorbed her body odor. It was a hot and humid August day, and they had been perspiring. Slowly he caressed her one breast as he softly rolled his face over the contours of the other. He pressed his body close against her, sighed, and fully spent, closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep satisfying sleep. Ever so slowly she slipped herself out from under him, lest she disturb him, cradled him in her arms, and moved him to his crib. Having completed his 6 o’clock feeding, the four-month old had also experienced one more minute contribution to his further sexual development.

Consider these questions -

• Did you assume that “he” was an adult?
• Have you considered that babies are sexual beings?
• How do you think your earliest experiences impacted your sexual development?

I read two interesting articles today. First, I read about the Canadian study that showed that gay, lesbian and bisexual teens are more likely to get pregnant.

The report suggests that for youth, the stigma of being gay may lead to engaging in heterosexual dating and sex as a form of “camouflage” to avoid being identified as homosexual.

That quote segues nicely into the second article which was about Ted Haggard, the once prominent pastor and president of the National Association of Evangelicals. In 2006 a former male prostitute “outted” Haggard as a client. Haggard has since disclosed that he was sexually abused as a child and that he has never claimed to be heterosexual.

“The reason I kept my personal struggle a secret is because I feared that my friends would reject me, abandon me and kick me out, and the church would exile and excommunicate me. And that happened and more,” he says.

Imagine the suffering and pain that could be avoided if people were allowed encouraged to be honest about their sexuality and to express it freely.

Whatever is repressed will one day be expressed.

The UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication has posted a three-part series on Sexually Transmitted Infections. I believe these were done a few years ago, but they are still relevant and worth watching if you need a refresher.

The report on HPV and Herpes features a mother and daughter, each infected with one of the viruses. I know from facilitating a support group for the H community, that although many of them want to be more vocal and to advocate for Herpes and HPV awareness, it is very scary to commit to actually speaking and appearing on camera. Hopefully these videos will serve to inform and inspire.

Go to videos…

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Find out more.