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Cyndi Lauper to open home for LGBT youth
Cyndi Lauper, the spunky ’80s icon who inspired the name of our shop with her masturbation-embracing ditty, “She Bop,” has a fantastic plan in the works: she’s opening a housing facility for LGBT youth in New York. The True Colors Residence will consist of 30 energy-efficient studio apartments and several community spaces. The home will be…
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The problem with identity-based sex toy categories
Perhaps you’ve seen these category labels in online sex shops before: “gay sex toys,” “lesbian sex toys,” “sex toys for women,” “sex toys for men.” Some retailers take this approach because they assume it makes it easier for the consumer to find a toy that suits them. At She Bop we disagree, which…
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Brain scans pinpoint female sexual response
This graphic just about says it all. 60 years after mapping out the male brain in response to sexual stimulation, scientists have finally scanned the female brain. The findings? Stimulation of the clitoris and stimulation of the vagina each activate different regions of the brain’s sensory cortex. And nipple stimulation causes the genital area of…
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LGBT history coming to California school textbooks
California Governor Jerry Brown has signed a groundbreaking bill that requires public schools to include the historical contributions of LGBT individuals in their social studies lessons. The law — entitled the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive, and Respectful (FAIR) Education Act — could begin taking effect as soon as the 2013-2014 school year. California will be…
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TSA a-okay with sex toys
Two emotions I felt while reading this article: relief and amusement. Finally, acknowledgement from the Transportation Safety Administation (TSA) that, for them, sex toys are no big deal! Even BDSM toys — whips, floggers, chains, leashes, cuffs, and restraints — are fine to pack in a carry-on bag. Sex toys are not only…
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Finally! A bra guide for queer folks!
Yes! Lesbian social commentary website Autostraddle put together something that was sorely needed: a guide to bra shopping for those who identify as queer. The Bra Issue: Queer Fashion Guide For Various Shapes, Sizes and Gender Expressions is a guide to navigating the wide world of bras, whether your gender expression leans feminine,…
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Masturbation myths to blame for sex toy double standard
Female masturbation and sex toy use have become more mainstream in the past few years, yet there is still a pretty pervasive stigma when it comes to a man using a sex toy for masturbation. This thoughtful article by feminist blogger and gender studies professor Hugo Schwyzer examines this sex toy double standard —…
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The history of sex toys
Have you ever wondered how sex toys came to be? Well, the story involves dubious medical conditions, goat eyelids, hilarious magazine ads, dragon tongues, and a cast of characters that ranges from a former police officer to a ventriloquist. Intrigued? Read on… A long time ago — 1000 A.D. Nobody knows quite when the…
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Swedish guest house offers more than beds
Now this is my kind of hotel: a guest house in Sweden offers sex toys and the services of an orgasm coach to guests. The owners of the Venusgarden guest house are Ylva Franzén, author of Orgasmera Mera (Orgasming More), and her husband, Åke Fridell. The hotel features three themed bedrooms: Kamasutra, Venus, and Tao. When was the last…
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Third gender category to be added to Pakistani identity cards
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has done something quite radical: they’ve agreed to add a third gender category to their national identity cards. Surprisingly, there has been little opposition to the ruling, neither within the registration authority nor outside it. This may be because trans people — of which there are an estimated 50,000 —…
