by Kait Scalisi | Oct 10, 2014 | News, Sex Stories
By Kait Scalisi, MPH
First, SCOTUS refused to hear challenges to lower courts’ rulings that uphold the right to same-sex marriage in five states: Wisconsin, Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia. This refusal meant that the lower courts’ decision to allow same-sex marriage held, and such couples could begin marrying. Additionally, six other states fall under the jurisdiction of these lower courts. This means same-sex marriage may soon be coming to Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Because the lower court’s ruling cover these additional six states, confusion reigned. A South Carolina judge began accepting applications for marriage licenses. The state’s Supreme Court quickly put an end to this, citing a desire to wait on an official ruling from a federal judge that strikes down the ban.
Kansas followed South Carolina’s initial lead, and same-sex couples in at least one Kansas county can now receive marriage licenses. Because Kansas does not have residency requirements for licenses, however, same-sex couples outside of the county can also travel there to obtain a marriage license.
In West Virginia, the governor and attorney general agreed to stop defending the state’s ban on same-sex marriages.
In North Carolina, the results were mixed. The attorney general agreed to not challenge removal of the state’s same-sex marriage ban. After a judge lifted delays in two cases challenging the state’s ban, two legislative leaders filed a motion that would delay or block removal of the ban.
Wyoming’s governor kept things simple and re-voiced his dedication to upholding the state’s ban.
Most confusing, however, was how SCOTUS’ decision affects Idaho and Nevada. Same-sex marriage bans in these states were struck down by an appellate court shortly after SCOTUS’ decision. However, Idaho soon filed a request for an appeal to this decision and SCOTUS agreed to review it. This blocked same-sex marriages from starting there. However, Idaho mistakenly included both its and Nevada’s case number in their request, which meant same-sex marriages in the latter state also got blocked. This was a complete accident, as Nevada had no plans to challenge the appellate court’s decision to allow same-sex marriages.
On a final note, and to make things even more interesting, a decision on challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee is still being debated by the appellate court. There is no timeline for when this ruling will be released, and the decision will likely cause equal amounts of chaos.
Other Sexual Health News This Week
The National Association of County and City Health Officials’ launched the first module in its PrEP and Local Health Departments educational series.
Virginia Tech University Adds Gender Identity Protections (Think Progress)
Half of Patients with HIV Not Screened Regularly for HCV (Healio)
Va. Campus Sexual Assault Task Force Meets (Washington Post)
Ann Arbor Calls on State to Add Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity to Anti-Discrimination Law (MLive)
Important Dates
International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health 2015 Meeting, October 30.
CatalystCon East, November 4.
Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) 2015 Conference, November 5.
Southern HIV and Alcohol Research Consortium, November 7.
by Kait Scalisi | Sep 26, 2014 | News, Sex Stories
By Kait Scalisi, MPH
The report is broad in scope and provides a fairly comprehensive look at the lived experiences of bisexual youth. Specifically, it seeks to answer four questions:
- Who are bisexual youth in terms of gender, race, education level, and where they reside (e.g., cities and towns, rural or suburban)?
- What are the issues facing bisexual youth, and how are those issues different from those facing their peers?
- How does bisexual identity affect young people’s well-being, and their relationships with family, school, and community?
- How can parents, educators, youth-serving agencies, and advocacy organizations better address the unique needs of bisexual youth?
The report is based on a survey of 10,000 LGBT youth aged 13-17. Of these youth, 40% identified as bisexual, queer, pansexual, or otherwise flexible in their sexuality. The report used a broad definition of bisexual because, “youth in all four of these categories share many of the same experiences, needs and concerns.” In addition, all four categories fit into this definition of bisexuality with which the authors framed the analysis:
“I call myself bisexual because I acknowledge that I have in myself the potential to be attracted—romantically and/or sexually—to people of more than one sex and/or gender, not necessarily at the same time, not necessarily in the same way, and not necessarily to the same degree.” —Robyn Ochs
The report does a nice job of looking at both overall statistics for this combined group and variations within groups. Unfortunately, beyond percentages, they fail to provide any information regarding whether the differences among and within groups are significant.
That being said, the report highlights the following results. Bisexual individuals:
- Are more likely to be a racial minority, female, and in middle school.
- Are less aware of safe spaces.
- Receive lower levels of acceptance by family, peers, schools, and their larger community, including among LGBT groups.
- Report lower levels of happiness and optimism regarding their potential to succeed.
- Experience similar challenges to trans* folks, specifically high rates of poverty, mental health issues, domestic violence, and suicide.
- Are less likely to be out to family, friends, and schools. This may relate to the unique struggles they face when coming out, including being told that bisexuality isn’t real or “just a phase,” or that they are merely promiscuous.
Interestingly, gay youth fare better on most metrics including being accepted by their family and community, having access to resources, and participating in LGBT activities.
The report also provides a plethora of ideas about how to be an ally to bisexual youth. Suggestions include:
- Educate yourself on the community characteristics and unique challenges.
- Be inclusive when teaching, particularly about bullying, harassment, and sexual violence.
- Be inclusive in language. For example, use “LGBT” instead of “gay” rights.”
- Hold yourself and those in your community accountable.
The report urges parents and caregivers to communicate acceptance of young people regardless of sexuality and gender identity, seek support from local support groups or advocacy organizations, and set clear expectations about how other should treat a bisexual.
The one item missing from the report’s suggestions is a call to, “be visible.” Since the report highlights the lack of knowledge of resources among bisexual youth, individuals and organizations with resources to offer should strive to make themselves more visible on issues of bisexuality, through the language they use, outreach efforts in which they engage, and programs and services they offer. The HRC report disappoints by offering what I see as surface-level suggestions to issues that are much deeper and broader than expected.
Other Sexual Health News This Week
It’s On Us, a Growing Movement to End Campus Sexual Assault (The White House)
Missouri’s First Same-Sex Marriage Case Heads to Court Today (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
CCSD Addresses Parents’ Sex Education Concerns (KLAS-TV, Las Vegas)
Attention Single Parents: Having a Baby May Not Ruin You Dating Life, After All (Metro US)
Here Is Why Trojan’s New Condom Survey Should Have Us All Worried (MTV)
Duke Researchers Release HIV Vaccine Breakthrough (The Chronicle, Duke University)
Important Dates
The following conference proposals are due in September. Click on each title for more information and to submit.
NASPA Violence Prevention Conference, September 26
2015 Southern California Sexual Health Summit, October 1
by Kait Scalisi | Sep 19, 2014 | News
A new study from the Guttmacher Institute, published this week in the journal Contraception, shows a big jump in the percentage of women with private health insurance paying no money out of pocket for prescription contraceptives since the Affordable Care Act’s contraception coverage requirement took effect in January 2013.
The study examined survey data from 892 women, all of whom were enrolled in private insurance and used a prescription contraceptive method between the fall of 2012 and the spring of 2014. Researchers saw the following changes in the percentage of these women who paid $0 for their prescription contraception:
- A four-fold increase among women taking the pill.
- More than double for injectable contraception users.
- A three-fold increase for vaginally ring users.
- A 50% increase among IUD users, both copper and hormonal.
Additionally, for women in the sample who did pay for oral contraceptives, average costs declined.
Curious about women who use the patch and implant? The number of users was too small to run tests on; however, this can hopefully be assessed in future research.
Despite these changes there are still gaps in coverage. These include:
- Women who work at organizations that have a religious exemption from the coverage mandate.
- Those taking brand-name contraceptives for which a generic also exists.
- Women who receive prescriptions from out-of-network healthcare providers.
The result seen in this report may contribute to the significant decline in teen birth rates that we’ve seen over the last few years. Although this study includes women aged 18-39, while teen birth rates cover females aged 15-19, the majority of teen births occur in females 18-19 years old. Therefore this study’s results are could be provide a clue about what is driving down teen births. Increased access to prescription contraceptives due to lower costs may not explain everything, but the ACA mandate arguably has had a positive impact by making it easier for women receiving subsidized private insurance, who may previously have opted out of a plan, to put their health needs and desires first.
One question the study did not explore is whether more women are opting to use prescription contraceptives now that the coverage guarantee is in place. In other words, what part of this increase, if any, could be attributed to an increase in the overall use of contraception after the mandate went into effect? The answer would provide more nuance to the conversation and allow public health professionals to better understand women’s choices regarding contraception.
Other Sexual Health News This Week
Columbia Student’s Performance Art Catalyzes a Full-Fledged Protest Movement (ArtNet)
CatalystCon Returns to West Coast for Sex-Positive Weekend (AVN)
Many Pediatricians are Skipping the Sex Talk with Teens (Wall Street Journal)
Wisconsin Schools Bans Bullying Based on Gender Identity (HRC)
Military Affairs Beat: U of Michigan Study Questions Miltary’s Sexual Assault Prevention Program (Star-Tribune)
West Virginia Judge Delays Ruling on Same-Sex Marriage Ban (Jurist)
Important Dates
The following conference proposals are due in September. Click on each title for more information and to submit.
American College Health Association 2015 Annual Meeting, September 22
Wyoming Sexual Assault Summit XIV: Start by Believing, September 19
NASPA Violence Prevention Conference, September 26
The following conferences take place in September. Click on each title for more information and to register.
Widener University’s Sexuality, Intimacy, & Aging Conference, September 19-20, Chester, PA Check out Kait’s session, “Sexual Health and Pleasure in Cancer Survivorship.”
by Kait Scalisi | Sep 10, 2014 | News
When people hear the words “sexual and reproductive health,” most think of obstetrics and gynecology. While this association is certainly indicative of the steps that have been taken to make women’s SRH a priority, a new report from Johns Hopkins shows that it may not be a good thing for men.
The gist of the report is that men are receiving fewer SRH services than women. This is problematic because population-level health improvements occur more quickly, sustainably, and thoroughly, if all people have access to appropriate care. This is the case for the HPV vaccine, for example. The report cites three major reasons for the gap:
- Lack of clear, uniform guidelines.
- Confusion over the benefits of services for men.
- Competing interests that make SRH a lesser priority for healthcare providers
.
The guidelines were compiled based on existing guidelines, research, and expert guidance. Their goal is to “describe best practice recommendations for the organization and delivery of preventive clinical sexual and reproductive health services for reproductive-aged males.” The report does this by providing clinical recommendations that fall into four categories: medical history, physical exam, lab tests, and counseling. Specifically, it calls for:
- A comprehensive SRH assessment that includes information about sexual practices and partners, pregnancy and fatherhood status, a reproductive life plan, and more.
- A comprehensive physical exam including external genital and perineal area.
- STI lab tests for males who are in at-risk categories based on age, sexual behaviors, etc.
- Comprehensive SRH counseling on topics inclusion STIs, pregnancy prevention, infertility, and more.
Though many of these recommendations are similar to those for women, they are not as routinely integrated in men’s healthcare. Additionally, the timing as well as some of the guidelines themselves are unique to reproductive-aged males, including teens and men who have sex with men (MSM).
Beyond the clinical guidelines, the report also recommends increased clinical research with men on this topic as well as more integrated discourse within the SRH and family planning communities on how men fit into the fields. Lastly, it calls for investment in training and capacity-building to allow the guidelines to be implemented successfully.
The guidelines overall do a wonderful job of acknowledging the needs of men within SRH. The report in many ways, inclusion the acknowledgment that MSM have SRH needs beyond STI prevention and the inclusion of an intimate partner violence screen, indicate how far the field has come in accepting diversity and honoring patient needs. It will be interesting to watch if and how this report makes an impact as well as how it evolves over time.
Other Sexual Health News This Week
Ray Rice Video Causes Huge Spike In Calls To Domestic Violence Hotline (Huffington Post)
Study Suggests Hollywood is Not So Gay-Friendly (Deadline)
9th Circuit Gets 3 Cases on same-Sex Marriage (AZ Central)
Controversial Sex Education Program Reinstated in Hawaii Public Schools (Watchdog.org)
Women’s Colleges Address Transgender Applicants (ABC News)
Male Birth control, Without Condoms, Will Be Here by 2017 (The Daily Beast)
Important Dates
The following conference proposals are due in September. Click on each title for more information and to submit.
Southern College Health Association Conference 2015, September 15
American College Health Association 2015 Annual Meeting, September 15
Wyoming Sexual Assault Summit XIV: Start by Believing, September 19
The following conferences take place in September. Click on each title for more information and to register.
Catalyst Con, September 11-14, Los Angeles, CA Say hi to staff writer Kait Scalisi who is presenting on two panels: “Sex, Dating, Kink, and the ‘C’ Word,” and “How to Be a Sex-Positive Warrior in Public Health.”
Widener University’s Sexuality, Intimacy, & Aging Conference, September 19-20, Chester, PA Check out Kait’s session, “Sexual Health and Pleasure in Cancer Survivorship.”
Reproductive Health 2014, September 18-20, Charlotte, NC
by Kait Scalisi | Sep 5, 2014 | News
Three years ago, the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was met with cheers of joy from human rights and LGBTQ activists. Despite this major victory for these groups, both knew that more work needed to be done. This week, a new report may be the first public sign that “more” is coming.
The Palm Center, a think tank based at San Francisco State University’s political science department released the Report of the Planning Commission on Transgender Military Service. Earlier this year, both the Secretary of Defense and the White House expressed an openness to reviewing the rules that govern service by trans* folks. These announcements came shortly after the Transgender Military Service Commission concluded there was a “need for more careful deliberation in this area.” The report, therefore, takes into account a wide range of factors related to how such a policy change would be formulated and implemented as well as provides guidance around doing so. To achieve this goal, the Center:
- Identified seven core values to guide their work. The first of these is preserving military readiness.
- Analyzed the policies and regulation of foreign military forces that allow trans* individuals to serve openly.
- Interviewed policy members and service members in these countries.
- Consulted literature on organizational change.
- Referred to recommendations and guidance written for the repeal of DADT and the subsequent integration of LGB individuals into active service without affecting readiness.
The report is refreshingly frank in its reporting of current military regulations, particularly those related to the classifying transsexualism as a health disorder. It is equally realistic in examining the many areas where the military would have to make changes in order to streamline the inclusion of openly trans* individuals.
The report’s findings include the following:
- Only minor regulatory revisions would be required to make this change. These include changing the military healthcare rule banning treatment related to gender identity as well as a variety of rules that either disqualify trans* individuals or deem them unfit for service.
- Numerous administrative issues would need to be addressed. These range from allowing gender marker changes to ensuring grooming and fitness standards, uniforms, housing, and bathrooms comply with the individuals’ gender identity.
- A strong training program emphasizing professionalism should be made available to service members at all levels prior to implementation of any policy changes. The report provides specific examples for groups like leaders, medical personnel, etc.
- Strong leadership is essential to smooth implementation.
- The US will likely join 18 other countries that allow trans* individuals to serve others. The policy change is both “administratively feasible and neither excessively complex nor burdensome.”
The authors show a deep respect for the military’s history and core values as well as the human rights of the members who serve. They weave together a narrative showing that a historically conservative institution does not have to abandon its family values in order to be inclusive of groups that formerly were excluded. Ultimately, they conclude:
The decision to allow transgender personnel to serve in the military reflects the core values and principles that all military personnel should serve with honor and integrity; all persons capable of serving their country should be allowed to do so unless there is a compelling reason for prohibiting their service; and the military should not needlessly separate personnel who are willing and able to serve.
Since the report’s release, three retired generals have expressed their support of this policy change, a sign that the time may be right to begin taking the necessary steps to bring this report’s conclusion into reality.
Other Sexual Health News This Week
Mount Holyoke Changed Its Official Policy on Admitting Transgender Studnets (Buzzfeed)
Former Gov. Huntsman: Same-Sex Marriage is ‘Inevitable’ (Desert News)
Emerson Announces New Initiatives to Combat Sexual Assault, Including Survey of Students (Boston Globe)
Another Symptom of the Sandusky case: Reports of Educator Sexual Abuse in Pa. Skyrocket (PennLive.com)
Despite High HIV Rates, Georgia Schools Ignoring LGBT Sex Ed (WABE)
Duke U. Adds Voluntary Admissions Question on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (Inside Higher Ed)
Important Dates
The following conference proposals are due in September. Click on each title for more information and to submit.
Southern College Health Association Conference 2015, September 15
American College Health Association 2015 Annual Meeting, September 15
Wyoming Sexual Assault Summit XIV: Start by Believing, September 19
The following conferences take place in September. Click on each title for more information and to register.
Catalyst Con, September 11-14, Los Angeles, CA Say hi to staff writer Kait Scalisi who is presenting on two panels: “Sex, Dating, Kink, and the ‘C’ Word,” and “How to Be a Sex-Positive Warrior in Public Health.”
Widener University’s Sexuality, Intimacy, & Aging Conference, September 19-20, Chester, PA Check out Kait’s session, “Sexual Health and Pleasure in Cancer Survivorship.”
Reproductive Health 2014, September 18-20, Charlotte, NC
by Kait Scalisi | Aug 22, 2014 | News
4 million fewer babies!
Declines in all 50 states
No differences among race or ethnicity!
Taxpayers saved $12 billion!
Such headlines were the talk of the the public health world over the past week since the CDC released its latest report on teen birth rates. The report showed a surprising and positive result: both teen birth and abortion rates are on the decline in a very big way. These declines were seen across all states, races, and ethnicities.
The results feel almost too good to be true. Not only are fewer babies being born to teen parents, there are simply fewer teens getting pregnant to begin with. The feeling is fueled by the fact that no one can pinpoint exactly why such dramatic decreases are reported. As Vox summarizes so well:
Researchers have lots of theories that range from major changes in the economic climate to minor changes to contraceptive use. But none of them is completely satisfying; all of them leave the decline in the teen birth rate a question without an answer. Source
These theories look at factors like the recession, increased use of long-acting reversible contraceptives, and improvements in sex education. Other sources give credit to MTV’s reality shows such as 16 and Pregnant. Such shows are linked with increases in conversations about sex and contraception and may also serve as a “precautionary tale.”
No one theory can explain it all. For example, the recession cannot explain why teen birth rates specifically dropped so much faster than the overall birth rate. Just as the sex education theory cannot be universally applied as many school districts still teach abstinence only education. Most likely, it is some combination of all of the above.
Other factors which may have influenced the decline include:
- Better outreach to teens via “new” communication methods such as texting and social media.
- Healthcare reform that made it easier to access contraception.
- The natural spread of information from peers receiving comprehensive sex education to those who did not.
- A better understanding of the causes and benefits of teen pregnancy, as well as a more intersectional perspective, that informed programming and outreach.
While the magic formula can’t be fully defined, what we know is that public health organizations have gotten creative in their approaches to pregnancy prevention. Rather than solely try to figure out “how this happened,” the field must continue trying new things, monitoring the outcomes, and meeting teens where they are. Understanding and respecting the past is vital, but in today’s ever-changing world, its equally as important to continue moving forward and recognize that what worked over the past several years may or may not be effective going forward.
Other Sexual health News this Week
Intimacy a Strong Motivator for PrEP HIV Prevention (News from Brown)
Group Wants to Help Professors Fight Against Sexual Assault on Campus (Inside Higher Ed)
Pima County Seeing Increase in One Sexually Transmitted Disease (Tuscon News Now)
State, Federal Law Protects Gender Identity (Asbury Park Press)
Latest Ruling Overturning Same-Sex Marriage Ban Makes Indiana Governor a Party to Suit (IndyStar) Meanwhile, in Virgina, the Supreme Court temporary blocked the start of same-sex ceremonies. (Wall Street Journal)
Lesbians are Having More Orgasms than Straight Women (Huffington Post)
Important Dates
The following conference proposals are due in September. Click on each title for more information and to submit.
Nuestras Voces (our voices) National Bilingual Sexual Assault Conference, August 29
Southern College Health Association Conference 2015, September 1
American College Health Association 2015 Annual Meeting, September 15
Wyoming Sexual Assault Summit XIV: Start by Believing, September 19
The following conferences take place in September. Click on each title for more information and to register.
Catalyst Con, September 11-14, Los Angeles, CA Say hi to staff writer Kait Scalisi who is presenting on two panels: “Sex, Dating, Kink, and the ‘C’ Word,” and “How to Be a Sex-Positive Warrior in Public Health.”
Widener University’s Sexuality, Intimacy, & Aging Conference, September 19-20, Chester, PA Check out Kait’s session, “Sexual Health and Pleasure in Cancer Survivorship.”
Reproductive Health 2014, September 18-20, Charlotte, NC
