- Transvestism, sadomasochism and fetishism are not going to be officially considered diseases in Finland for much longer. The National Institute for Health and Welfare is removing them from Finland’s lists of diseases because there is no proper medical basis for classifying them as such. Sadomasochism No Longer a Disease (YLE Uutiset, via Charlie Glickman)
- Today, former porn actress Jennifer Ketcham (nee Penny Flame) explores the post-nonapocalypse issue, namely if those “true believers” who made significant plans and life changes to prepare for the May 21st rapture can sue Bay Area-based prophet Harold Camping. Former Porn Actress Wonders if The Faithful Can Sue Judgment Day ‘False Prophet’ in Post-Non-Rapture (LAist)
- On Saturday, when finalists of the controversial reality show Porn Star lined up at the Lollipop Lounge in Randburg to prepare for the shows live sex auditions, Belle of Boksburg was taking a step closer to her dream. Aspirant porn stars give it their all (IOL | South Africa News)
- Faith is a huge force in American life, and it’s common to hear the Bible cited to bolster political and moral positions, especially against same-sex marriage and abortion. So here’s [Nicholas Kristof’s] 2011 religion quiz. Religion and Sex Quiz (NYTimes.com)
- DC Comics never saw this image. Neither Bill Sienkiewicz nor Frank Miller intended it to go public. But when it was sold, despite assurances that it wouldn’t go online, somewghere alon the line, it got sold to someone who didn’t know about that requirement. Bill Sienkiewicz And Frank Miller’s Wonder Woman: Bondage (Bleeding Cool, via Viviane)
- The media might do well to revisit their dictionaries, or at least their Britney Spears lyrics, cause there seems to be a trend among reporters to characterize Arnold Schwarzenegger‘s long history* of alleged sexual harassment and molestation of unwilling victims as mere “womanizing.” Dear Media: Sexual Assault and Womanizing Are Not the Same Thing (FishbowlLA)
- Janet Mock, an editor at People.com and a blogger, told the compelling story of how she came out as a transgender woman – a secret that she’s kept from almost everyone she knows – to writer Kierna Mayo for Marie Claire. People.com Editor Comes Out as Transgender (FishbowlNY)
- But researchers may soon have a natural, portable answer [for bad breath] – a “Kiss Apple” tiny enough to be stashed in a pocket or purse for quick eating prior to locking lips. South Korea’s kiss apple for better breath, dating pleasure (Reuters)
- It looks like the LA Times just discovered OkCupid – I’m guessing their Match.com PR is ramping up the press: Online dating tips from scientists (latimes.com)
- Two escort services have filed a federal lawsuit to halt a Utah solicitation law they fear could lead to the arrest of strippers or escorts who are simply acting sexy. Escort services say Utah solicitation law is too broad, makes acting sexy illegal (The Washington Post, thanks Matthew!)
- “On a Wednesday evening, I found myself at a launch party for TRY ME, the newest venture to tackle San Francisco’s frustrated singles.” The Sexual Manifesto: Does The SF Dating Scene Need To Freshen Up? (SFAppeal)
- “Earlier this year we ran our first ever erotic fiction contest, sponsored by LoveHoney and judged by editor, writer and blogger Violet Blue. We received over 100 entries from new and established writers all over the world.” Filament Magazine » Erotic fiction contest winners (filamentmagazine.com)
- Twenty-three women from across Sweden have been charged with involvement in what investigators call a unique child pornography case because most of the suspects are female. Sweden: 23 women suspected of child porn (news.ninemsn.com.au)
- “I’ll be hosting an ultra-nerdy workshop on the science of orgasms on Tues, May 24. I’m so excited to be bringing in the PSIgasm that my partner and I have been working on to help show people what their orgasms look like from a geekier point-of-view.” Friday Quickies (Maggie Mayhem Speaks)
Violet, hugely interesting collection of links as usual, thank you. Particularly interested/encouraged by the first one – although my own leanings are rather, er, vanilla, I’ve long been highly suspicious of institutions like the DSM which seek to classify and medicalise any deviations from a supposed norm. (And then find some way to fix it.)