Tag: sex

Federal Prosecutors Are Starting To Sound Like Campus Activists About Sex and Consent

The Department of Justice (DOJ) is now embracing ideas about coercion and consent that rose to prominence on college campuses during the Barack Obama administration.

That’s the implication of the OneTaste case, in which a jury has returned a guilty verdict against Rachel Cherwitz and Nicole Daedone, who stood accused of a conspiracy to commit forced labor during their time with the sexual and spiritual self-help organization.

I have written many words about this case already, and I’m going to try to refrain from rehashing all of the details in today’s newsletter. (If you’re new to the case and want to dive deep, here you go. If you want a couple of overviews of how the trial played out, see here and here.)

What I want to focus on right now is the larger implications of this case. They’re not pretty.

From College Campuses to #MeToo to the DOJ

If these ideas about coercion and consent didn’t start on the college campuses of the 2010s, that’s at least when they became fully institutionalized —adopted as not just the framework favored by activist students and women’s studies professors but by college administrators and the Title IX offices they were beholden to. There was affirmative consent, sure, but also a broader suspicion of consent as a worthwhile standard, or at least a willingness to dismiss it for more arcane ideas about sexual permissibility.

Suddenly it wasn’t enough to say no and it wasn’t even enough to say yes—one had to consider a complex set of power dynamics, alcohol consumption levels, subtle nonverbal cues, and so on, to determine if consent counted. It stopped just short of taking astrological signs into account.

We went from a reasonable corrective (acknowledging that sexual assault needn’t necessarily involve force or violence) to women getting support for claims of sexual coercion and violation even when they seemed to willingly go along with sexual activity at the time but later said that they weren’t enthusiastic enough about it and a partner should have known that and stopped. Basically, it was only consensual if a woman felt deep down in her heart, during and after, that everything had been OK.

We saw this idea migrate from campus newspapers and Title IX offices to the broader world during the #MeToo movement. It’s perhaps best exemplified by a story about the actor Aziz Ansari. A young woman went to dinner with him, then back to his house, and later excoriated him in Babe magazine for not reading her cues about not wanting to fool around and allegedly pressuring her to do so. The piece called it sexual misconduct and a violation. But when the woman explicitly told Ansari no, he stopped, per her account of things. And when she wanted to go, she left.

The Babe article provoked a huge debate about whether this sort of thing—which in another era we might have just called a bad date or caddish behavior—was a form of sexual assault and where responsibility lies here. Are sexual partners supposed to be mind readers? Do women have any responsibility for explicitly making their wishes known?

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German politician strips naked, calls on ‘open-minded citizens’ to join him on swingers trip in France

A local German politician has copped backlash from fellow councillors after he stripped naked and called on residents to join him on a swingers trip in France.

Julien Ferrat, a councillor at Mannheim City, in southwest Germany, and representative of local political party ‘Die Mannheime’, said the eight-day trip to swinger hotspot, Cap d’Agde, in the south of France, is to investigate how it became a global hub in nudist and sex tourism – and how this can help boost Mannheim’s local economy.

He gained plenty of attention – and pushback from fellow councillors – when a story of his unconventional idea appeared in the local Mannheim Official Gazette in May.

It was accompanied by a naked photo of Ferrat on the beach with just a sign covering his genitals.

The headline read – ‘Political Education Trip to Cap d’Agde’, translating to – Political education trip to Cap d’Agde.

“The naturist village in Cap d’Agde is considered a mecca for nudists and swingers,” the 33-year-old said in the article.

“What few people know: Without government support for tourism (…) this place would never have been created.”

He has called for “curious and open-minded citizens” to accompany him on the trip which will involve a training camp, to ensure no participant heads into the resort ‘unprepared’.

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There’s Plenty Of Evidence Medical Marijuana Can Treat Female Orgasm Difficulty, So Why Are Some States Saying No?

While numerous studies have consistently shown that cannabis can treat female orgasm difficulty/disorder, also known as FOD, so far only a few states have recognized it as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana. Others appear to be holding it to a higher standard than other conditions, revealing a potential bias against women.

This bias may be the result of misinformation or lack of education about FOD, a serious public health condition that affects the health of up to 41 percent of women worldwide. The bias may also reflect an unwillingness to acknowledge FOD, despite testimony from women who successfully treated the condition with cannabis, letters of support from doctors who recommend cannabis for it, evidence of its serious health impacts and scientific studies showing cannabis can treat it.

In 2024, advocates—myself included—petitioned 11 U.S. states to add FOD as a qualifying condition. While some petitions are still pending, so far two states have officially approved the requests: Connecticut and Illinois.

Illinois Director of Public Health Dr. Sameer Vodra stated the following in his order approving FOD as a qualifying condition:

“After fully considering the matters raised in the petition, as well as reviewing research pertinent to the condition termed Female Orgasmic Disorder, a condition where a (natal) female has difficulty reaching orgasm. There are multiple types and causes,) there is sufficient evidence to confidently evaluate the effect of cannabis as a treatment for Female Orgasmic Disorder. Literature review and survey data support that cannabis can offer benefits to women who have “female orgasm difficulties or dysfunction.”

In New Mexico, the state’s Medical Cannabis Advisory Board approved adding FOD as a qualifying condition last fall, with the reform set to take effect upon official approval from the secretary of health.

The states of Colorado, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, meanwhile, have acknowledged receipt of the petitions to add FOD as a qualifying condition, and public hearing dates are now pending.

Yet despite scientific evidence and approvals in some jurisdictions, five states denied adding FOD as a qualifying condition with medical cannabis: Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Ohio and Oregon.

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While Alcohol Might ‘Facilitate’ Sexual Encounters, Marijuana Better Enhances Sexual Satisfaction, Study Finds

A new study examining the influence of intoxicating substances on sexual encounters says that while alcohol might “facilitate” sex in the first place, marijuana is better at enhancing sexual sensitivity and satisfaction.

Based on an online survey of 483 people who had previously used both alcohol and cannabis, the newly published research found that while alcohol increased some elements of sexual attraction—including making people feel more attractive, more extroverted and more desirous—people who used marijuana “have more sensitivity and they are more sexually satisfied than when they consume alcohol.”

“Therefore, it is concluded that, although alcohol facilitates the sexual encounter, with cannabis they feel more satisfied,” wrote the three-author team from the University of Huelta and University of Cordoba, in Spain, according to a translation.

The study, published this month in Revista Internacional de Androlgía, claims to be the first research in Spain to compare the effects of alcohol and cannabis—the country’s two most popular drugs—on sexual experiences in the same participants. Despite the influence of alcohol and other drugs on sexual experience, it says, scant research globally has been carried out on comparative effects.

Participants were given a series of statements and asked to answer them about both alcohol and cannabis.

Asked how the consumption of alcohol or cannabis affected their sexual experience in general, 19 percent said marijuana improved the experience, compared to just 8.4 percent of respondents who said alcohol improved their experience.

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Marijuana Use Linked To Better And More Frequent Sex, Study Finds—But Dosage Is Critical

A new scientific review of academic research on cannabis and human sexuality concludes that while the relationship between marijuana and sex is a complicated one, use of cannabis is generally associated with more frequent sexual activity as well as increased sexual desire and enjoyment.

The article, published this week in the journal Psychopharmacology, also suggests that lower doses of marijuana may actually be best suited for sexual satisfaction, while higher doses could in fact lead to decreases in desire and performance. And it suggests the effects may differ based on a person’s gender.

“Reports suggest that cannabis has the potential to enhance sexual pleasure, reduce inhibitions, alleviate anxiety and shame, and promote intimacy and connection with sexual partners,” wrote the five-author research team from The Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. “Furthermore, it has been associated with increased pleasure during masturbation and enhanced sensory experiences during sexual encounters. These observations indicate that cannabis may have notable effects on sexual experiences.”

The nine-page literature review says that while sex is a complex dynamic influenced by various physical and emotional factors, marijuana “affects individuals in an integrative manner, impacting both physical and emotional aspects, which can potentially influence sexual experiences.”

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Cannabis Can Help Treat Female Orgasmic Disorder, Study Finds As Ohio Officials Consider Adding It As Qualifying Condition

Ahead of a decision by Ohio officials on whether to add female orgasmic disorder (FOD) as a qualifying condition for the state’s medical marijuana program, a new study highlights the benefits that researchers say cannabis could offer people with the condition—including increased orgasm ease and satisfaction.

The 10-page study, published in the journal Sexual Medicine, draws on a 2022 survey of “sexually active women who used cannabis.” Among those who experienced challenges in achieving orgasm, more than 7 in 10 said cannabis use increased orgasm ease (71 percent) and frequency (72.9 percent), and two-thirds (67 percent) said it improved orgasm satisfaction.

“The results corroborate 50 years of anecdotal and learned speculation about cannabis helping women with FOD,” the paper says. “The research found that cannabis use increased orgasm frequency, eased orgasm difficulty, and improved orgasm satisfaction. At the same time, the results opened new areas of discussion.”

For example, results of the survey found that women with one or more mental health diagnoses who used cannabis before partnered sex had “a more positive orgasm response regardless of whether they have FOD,” which authors noted was “consistent with research finding that women with FOD experience high rates of mental health diagnoses, prescription drug use, or PTSD.”

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Marijuana Can Help Increase Orgasm Frequency And Satisfaction For Women, Study Finds

As at least four U.S. states weigh whether to add female orgasmic disorder (FOD) as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, a newly published journal article by one of the organizers of that effort further reinforces the potential benefits offered by cannabis, including increased orgasm frequency, improved satisfaction and greater ease achieving orgasm.

Published this month in The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the report is the product of a 2022 observational study by authors Suzanne Mulvehill, a clinical sexologist, and Jordan Tishler, a doctor at the Association of Cannabinoid Specialists and the company inhaleMD. While decades of sexuality research support the use of marijuana for sexual difficulties, the authors said, theirs is “the first study to look at FOD specifically, demonstrating significant benefit.”

The survey of 387 participants found that more than half (52 percent) said they experienced orgasm difficulty.

“Among respondents reporting orgasm difficulty, cannabis use before partnered sex increased orgasm frequency (72.8%), improved orgasm satisfaction (67%) or made orgasm easier (71%),” the study found.

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Dutch Manufacturer Who Created World’s First Baby Sex Doll Now Offering Dog Sex Dolls For Zoophiles

The author of a book on sexual abuse and sex dolls is sounding the alarm about a company offering customizable canine sex dolls online for zoophiles.

Earlier this week, Caitlin Roper took to X (formerly Twitter) to call out “Mythical Creations,” a company owned by a man previously exposed for manufacturing custom infant and toddler sex dolls for pedophiles, after she learned that it had also begun producing penetrable dog toys for zoophiles.

“A manufacturer of toddler and infant sex abuse dolls, who invites male customers to send in a photo of the child they want their doll to look like, is now selling customizable dog sex dolls,” she warned.

Mythical Creations has an extensive website and online shop, advertising its purpose as meeting the needs of those stigmatized by society.

“There are not enough companies willing to create animal sex dolls because it’s considered taboo in our society. We decided to step up to the plate and create the first dog sex dolls,” reads their website. “If you love the shape of dogs then the beautiful shape of doll alone will turn you on much more than a fleshlight.”

The canine sex dolls come in a variety of breeds, with Mythical Creations boasting that they “used photos of a real dog as reference” in order to “make sure that our dog sex doll looks as realistic as possible.” On the product page, Mythical Creations says the dog toys have “oral, anal, and vaginal functions,” and can be posed in “multiple positions.”

One doll costs $2,800 USD, with additional options available depending on buyer preference.

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FCC To Force Broadcasters To Publish Race And Sex ‘Scorecards’ Of Employees

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3 to 2 this month to require U.S. broadcasters to record and publicly disclose the race, ethnicity, and sex of their employees.

The now-pending regulation was first introduced after Congress’ 1992 Cable Act. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck it down in 2001 as unconstitutionally enabling the hiring of Americans for their skin color. The policy remained suspended until President Joe Biden’s FCC nominee received Senate confirmation in 2023 and flipped control of the commission to Democrats.

The FCC argued reinstating the race policy is “critical” because “it will allow for
analysis and understanding of the broadcast industry workforce” and is “consistent with Congress’s goal to maximize the utility of the data an agency collects for the benefit of the public.” The commission claimed it could not generalize or aggregate racial and sexual data because it would be “less useful.”

“We find no basis to conclude that the demographic data on a station’s annual Form 395-B filing would lead to undue public pressure,” the commission claimed.

FCC member Brendan Carr, however, said the rule moving into place is not consistent with the Consitution nor employment confidentiality requirements in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

“The FCC’s ostrich-like claim that the record is devoid of any evidence that this public scorecard will be used to pressure broadcasters into making race- and gender-based hiring decisions does not withstand even casual scrutiny; indeed, it only raises additional questions under the law,” Carr wrote.

In his dissenting statement, Carr dubbed the proposed rule a product of activists who want “to see businesses pressured into hiring people based on their race & gender.”

“This is no benign disclosure regime. The record makes clear that the FCC is choosing to publish these scorecard[s] for one and only one reason: to ensure that individual businesses are
targeted and pressured into making decisions based on race and gender,” Carr wrote.

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University mistakenly leaks names and phone numbers of virgin female students in Kazakhstan

It has been revealed that one of Kazakhstan‘s largest universities mistakenly leaked the personal information of female students who were virgins.

The names, ages, phone numbers, tax codes, and virginity status of women studying at Al-Farabi Kazakhstan National University in the capital, Almaty, were somehow released and quickly disseminated by other students via social media chat groups.

According to AKIpress, a nurse at the institution’s medical center sent a list of female students who had not undergone fluorography via WhatsApp to the dean of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics. The data somehow also ended up on other WhatsApp groups on campus.

“A nurse from Smart Health University City LLP, which provides medical services to the university, sent documents with a list of third- and fourth-year students to the specialist of the dean’s office on February 6 to ensure that they undergo a fluorography,” the university wrote in a statement, “however, in addition to the names of the students, the documents also contained personal medical information.”

The university added that “an appeal was sent to the Almaty city prosecutor’s office with a request to take action on this fact on February 14,” and that it is “considering terminating the contract with Smart Health University City LLP.”

Before long, Kazakhstan’s minister of science and higher education, Sayasat Nurbek, stepped in and said he had “taken control of the issue,” adding, “those responsible will face punishment under our current legislation.”

“The transfer of personal data, especially of a medical nature, is a violation,” he noted.

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