May is National Masturbation Month

Ahoy Sailors! You may be asking yourself, “Self, is this ‘May is Masturbation Month’ one of those BS capitalist holidays created to sell me something?” and to that I say “No! It was created to demystify a zero-risk sex act and the entire holiday is inspired by the efforts of the First Black Surgeon General, Dr. Joycelyn Elders… And I would like to remind you that masturbation is FREE!”. Let us explore the fascinating history of this fap-ulous holiday.

It was created in honor of Surgeon General Dr. Joycelyn Elders. When she prepared and presented a report at a United Nations conference on AIDS in 1994, this report supported the idea of teaching schoolchildren to masturbate as a way of avoiding the spread of the AIDS virus. Remember, in 1994 AIDS was the number one cause of death for Americans aged 25 to 44. Highly active antiretroviral therapy HAART (also known as “the cocktail”) was not introduced until 1995 so AZT was the only AIDS treatment available in 1994. As the Surgeon General it was Dr. Joycelyn Elders responsibility to create an implementable plan-of-action to address the public’s concerns related to AIDS and HIV.

An audience member asked Elders about masturbation’s potential for discouraging early riskier sexual activity. She answered,“I think it is something that is part of human sexuality and a part of something that perhaps should be taught.” And this one simple comment ended her career as America's first black Surgeon General. Shortly after this President Clinton said Elders' comments reflect "differences with Administration policy and my own convictions, and have made it necessary for her to tender her resignation."

Let’s break down the facts: A doctor (who happens to be a black woman) said that Masturbation, which (in terms of Risk Reduction) is a RISK FREE sexual activity, is a good practice to discuss when addressing reducing the spread of HIV and AIDS during an epidemic. And for that, she is fired. Why? For providing information? Information is good. Risk reduction information is good! The fear that if you tell people how to reduce risk in their sex life it will make them have more sex is as foolish as thinking that if you teach someone about seat-belts they will drive faster. Maybe it isn’t what was said but who said it.

Clinton had the most diverse presidential cabinet to date (when it came to race and gender) and not everyone was supportive of this shift away from white male exceptionalism in American politics. There were folks looking for someone in Clinton’s cabinet, someone not white and not male, to smear in the press. And in Dr. Joycelyn Elders they found the target on which to act their aggression. I also think it is important to note that despite all the hard work this intelligent doctor did, this strong woman of color’s voice was silenced by white male politicians who worried more about how facts may affect their image during re-election then giving citizens (their own constituents) potentially life-saving information during an epidemic.

These politicians are expecting us to behave like ostriches because someone said “masturbation” at the UN! They would rather you stick your head in the sand during an epidemic than provide you, the citizens that elected them, with life-saving information because the language related to that issues makes them feel squiggy or because they have some bigoted bias against the doctor who is giving the information.

Offended by Elders' ouster the staff of San Francisco's sex toy and education company Good Vibrations decided to find a way to “keep the focus on Elders' unjust firing, and to bring talk about masturbation into the mainstream in just the way Elders had envisioned.” Realizing that large number of folks lacked support and advice to help them enjoy the simple, basic act of masturbation Good Vibrations and other Like-Minded, Sex-Positive Adult Stores and Health Education Spaces sought to provide that much needed support, advice, and reassurance for people looking to open their own personal sexual horizons.

And so was born National Masturbation Month.

May as National Masturbation Month has been growing for nearly two decades and the movement has blossomed into a worldwide event!

Masturbation has documented physical benefits for penis-havers and vagina-havers, to say nothing of the emotional and psychological benefits. Masturbation is the safest sex possible, with no possibility of sexually transmitted disease, or of unwanted pregnancy. It's a great way to relieve stress, and releases a nice flood of mood boosting endorphins. Masturbation is both a natural energizer, and a good way to help you sleep better. Masturbation helps to build stronger pelvic floor muscles, which can improve sexual performance and enjoyment. Lastly, it’s FREE! Feel free to use the holiday as an excuse to buy that new sex-toy you have been hoping to add to your treasure chest, but remember ‘ol Rosie Palms is right there to help you celebrate May the whole month long. So go enjoy this guerrilla-style holiday by remembering to Go F Yourself!

​ -Sailor Jerri