In times of conflict and uncertainty, it is more important than ever to affirm our commitment to these principles December 18, 2024 At Healthy Teen Network, we stand firm in our commitment to reproductive justice and human dignity for all … Read More
Sex Positive
You Just Found Out Your Teen Is Having Sex. Now What?
Our staff share insights on the importance of sex ed, access to services, and how to be an askable adult. August 8, 2024 In a new article from HuffPost, Ellen Friedrichs—a health and sexuality educator—talks about how parents and caregivers … Read More
Sex Positive
Grab & Go Birth Control: The Opill Revolution
Over-the-counter birth control is a game changer but it’s up to all of us to make sure access remains unrestricted for everyone. By Lilith Breazeale By Mandy Williams By Deb Coffy August 6, 2024 Thrivology Youth Leaders is a diverse … Read More
Sex Positive
Have Fun, Be Safe: A Provider’s Guide to Supporting Young People with Multiple Sexual Partners
Approach these conversations in a way that is affirming, inclusive, and nonjudgmental. By Charlie Blue Brahm, MA June 28, 2024 The stigmatization that exists culturally around having multiple sexual or romantic partners makes it all the more important for youth-supporting … Read More
Sex Positive
Save the Date! May Is Sex Ed for All Month!
Each May since 2019, Sex Ed for All Month is an opportunity to voice our shared commitment to a world where all young people get equitable access to the education and care they deserve. April 18, 2024 The seasons are … Read More
Sex Positive
Sex Education Is Essential (Sex Ed for All Talking Points)
Together, by advocating in our communities, we can ensure Sex Ed for All. April 16, 2024 As April starts to wind down, and as we look ahead to the start of May on the horizon, we wanted to take a … Read More
Sex Positive
How to Masturbate: Everything You Need to Know About Self Pleasure
Two Healthy Teen Network team members shared tips for self-pleasure in the queer online publication, them. April 4, 2024 We’re excited to share a new article from them that features two of our team members, Arianna and Caro, with tips … Read More
Sex Positive
A Mind Flayer from Stranger Things? The Brooms from Fantasia?! No, Friends…It’s the Clitoris!
Tales from an impromptu poll among friends…and a challenge for you. By Mackenzie Piper, MPH, CHES August 3, 2023 Afew months ago, I was getting ready for a for a sex ed workshop with a group of adults. In preparation, … Read More
Sex Positive
Let’s Talk Inclusivity… in Birth Control!
We need to be mindful of our language to ensure that we’re reaching young people of all genders. By Vanessa Geffrard July 13, 2023 As health educators, it’s likely that we’ll teach a lesson, or answer questions about, birth control … Read More
Sex Positive
May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2023)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 3, 2023 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time community leaders, caring adults, and advocates call on local school … Read More
Sex Positive
Conversations Between Grandparents and Grandchildren: Love, Relationships, and Human Sexuality
Generation to generation, we can all learn from each other’s stories and experiences By Deborah Chilcoat, MEd January 13, 2023 I Googled “grandparents as sex educators” today. I wanted to write about the role grandparents play in educating their grandchildren about … Read More
Sex Positive
I Have Monkeypox—Here’s Where I’m Getting the Public Health Information I Need
Finding affirming, sex-positive, complete, and up-to-date information on monkeypox isn’t easy. Here’s a story about some of my sources, expected and unexpected, and the power of queer friendship. By Nicholas Sufrinko August 11, 2022 Information that’s as incomplete as it … Read More
Sex Positive
Navigating Sexuality + Faith for Better Sex Ed
Sex Positive
The Power of the Anonymous Question Box
There’s a reason just about every sex ed program uses a question box. By Mackenzie Piper May 12, 2022 The first session of each new sex ed program typically looks the same—an ice breaker of some sort, creating and signing … Read More
Sex Positive
May Is National Sex Ed for All Month (2022)
Community Leaders, Parents, and Guardians Lend Their Voice to Promote #SexEdForAll May 2, 2022 For Immediate Release B altimore, MD — May is Sex Ed For All Month, a time parents, guardians, teachers, community leaders, and advocates call on local … Read More
Sex Positive
We Found Love in a COVID Place
Alexa, play We Found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris By Mariah Cowsert January 13, 2022 It all started with a message on a dating app. Once our conversations got longer, we moved from messaging in the app to texting … Read More
Sex Positive
5 Sexual and Reproductive Health Podcasts that You Should Be Listening to
A list for you to tune into while working out, getting work done, or simply lounging around! By Mariah Cowsert November 23, 2021 While it may seem that there is a podcast about anything these days, it’s incredible to have … Read More
Sex Positive
Un/Filtered: Highlights from #HealthyTeen20
Now is the time to talk to youth about sex and technology. December 11, 2020 From sexting to dating apps, young people are connected to technology and digital media more than ever, and this connectivity is helping shape their virtual … Read More
Sex Positive
What’s the Deal with Porn?
We know young people are watching porn. But, what are they learning from it? How can sex ed equip young people to make informed decisions about the porn they watch? August 27, 2020 Bring up pornography in any conversation, and … Read More
Sex Positive
What Pandemics Can Teach Us About Food and Eating, and Sexual Activity, Too
Buying food at the store is a risk during a pandemic. Sexual activity can come with risks all the time. Instead of shying away, lets take the practical approach. By Bob Reeg, MPA, CVA M y first days living during the … Read More
Sex Positive
This May, and Every Day, We Demand #SexEdForAll! For All Young People. For All Times. For All Places. (2020)
Schools might not be open during the pandemic. This doesn’t mean that students should miss out on comprehensive sex education. By Gina Desiderio May 4, 2020 A global pandemic, mandated stay-at-home orders, and extended periods of being isolated can shine … Read More
Sex Positive
5 Tips for Your Sexual Health During COVID-19
We know that COVID-19 is making all relationships challenging, particularly sexual relationships. We came up with a brief list of ways to take care of yourself during the pandemic By Ella Dorval Hall April 23, 2020 Y ou may be … Read More
Sex Positive
Coronavirus and the Lack of Access to Abortion
During the pandemic, many places are deeming abortion a “non essential” service. We know that abortion is essential healthcare. By Minyan Watson-Faulkner April 16, 2020 D uring the COVID-19 crisis, I have heard so many different things around what is … Read More
Sex Positive
How the Healthy Teen Network Design Challenge Inspired a Dating App Idea
Hear from some of the participants in Healthy Teen Network’s 3-day Design Challenge. By Tiffany Tibbs Christensen, Taylor Herrigan, Ashley Stewart, and Camille Smith February 13, 2020 What is the Healthy Teen Network Design Challenge? The Healthy Teen Network Design … Read More
Sex Positive
It’s time for sexual health to get a little bit kinky.
Here are some of the things we have learned from having conversations about sexual health with young people. Washington, DC’s premier leather, kink, and fetish event known as “Mid-Atlantic Leather Weekend (MAL)” concluded last Martin Luther King, Jr. Day weekend … Read More
Sex Positive
Why Are Youth Watching Porn and What Are They Learning from It?
It is important to prepare youth with the skills to assess the world they interact with and porn literacy can be a valuable tool. By Ella Dorval Hall November 21, 2019 It’s common to hear that when there is a … Read More
Sex Positive
Inclusive Sex Positivity
Sex Positive
It’s Pride Month! 5 Queer Reads for Allies in Honor of Stonewall’s 50th
For Nick, this short list highlights how the existence of queer people is inherently political and how there is still work to be done. By Nicholas Sufrinko June 5, 2019 This month marks a full half-century since the Stonewall Uprising, … Read More
Sex Positive
Innovative Solutions for How to Center Pleasure in Sex Ed: Wrapping Up the #HealthyTeen18 Design Challenge
How might we center pleasure in adolescent sex ed to foster authentic conversations about sexuality and promote positive sexual experiences? November 15, 2018 This was the question we sought to answer in the #HealthyTeen18 Design Challenge, held in October 2018 … Read More
Sex Positive
S-ex E-ducator X-travaganza!
Today, April 6, 2012, I declare Sex- Educator Day! This is a thank you for all that you do to educate and eradicate all of those misconceptions around the most taboo topic: SEX! By Vanessa Geffrard April 6, 2012 The … Read More
Sex Positive
5 Ways to Become an Approachable Parent: Positive Parenting for Teen Sexual Health
A list of things parents can do to create an environment in which their teen feels comfortable coming to them with questions about sex! By Guest Author Sheila Overton, M.D., FACOG January 14, 2012 One of the top questions I’ve … Read More
Sex Positive
Not Under My Roof (Yet?)
In her new book, Amy Schalet portrays that Dutch parents tend to normalize adolescent sexuality while their American counterparts dramatize it. By Kelly Connelly December 22, 2011 “American girls are more than four times likely to become pregnant and more … Read More