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News by Michelle Mark After centuries of denial and taboos, humans are now realizing it’s OK to just sit back and enjoy the ride. May is Masturbation Month and people from all over are using it to come together to raise money and sexual awareness. The two-year-old brainchild of the owners and operators of Come As You Are – a co-operatively run sex store located in Toronto – the idea of devoting an entire month to promoting awareness about sexual self-stimulation came when U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders was asked to resign from her position after advocating that information about masturbation be included as part of sex education in schools. Elders promoted openness over censorship in sex education, and said educating children about masturbation would be a step in preventing teen pregnancies and the spread of AIDS. Sarah Forbes-Roberts, co-owner of Come As You Are, says that although masturbation is an activity that a lot of people love to participate in, it is still a difficult subject for most people to talk about because of the stigmas associated with it. In a time when people are more in touch with their bodies than ever before, scare tactics used to discourage people from exploring their sexuality are becoming passé. Everyone who’s ever been told that masturbation leads to things like acne, blindness, deformities, insanity, hairy palms or eternal damnation can now breathe a collective sigh of relief. "It’s the safest form of sex you can have," said Forbes-Roberts. She explains that it gives you the opportunity to learn about your sexual likes and dislikes in a safe environment, it’s pleasurable, rejuvenating, invigorating and fun. It also releases sexual tension and curbs impulses to have sex with someone you shouldn’t. According to the people at Good Vibrations, another sponsor of the Masturbate-a-thon, masturbating also has numerous health benefits. It is a great cardiovascular workout as well as menstrual cramp and stress relief. It strengthens pelvic muscles, reduces prostate gland infections in men and increases resistance to yeast infections in women. In addition, no one gets pregnant or contracts a sexually transmitted disease from masturbating. In celebration of Masturbation Month, Come As You Are is one of four stores of its kind in Canada and the U.S. sponsoring the second annual Masturbate-a-thon. Forbes-Roberts says they will be collecting sponsorships at until the end of the month – last year, people from all across Canada lent a hand to help raise more than $10,000 for the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention in Toronto. Although the month hasn’t received much publicity in Calgary, anyone can get involved by asking people they know to sponsor them for every minute they masturbate on a given day, then sending a cheque for the total amount of pledges to Come As You Are. If you’re ready to dive into Masturbation Month festivities, but you’re looking for stimulating new ways to celebrate, there are some fun alternatives available on the market. One of the most popular items for women on the shelves of Come As You Are is the Rabbit-Pearl vibrator. The shaft is filled with beads in its midsection that tumble as it rotates, and the vibrating bunny ears take care of the rest. If accuracy is what you’re after, Blowfish offers the Fukuoku – a tiny watch-battery operated vibrator that conveniently fits over the tip of your finger. It’s small, precise and easy-to-use. A new item on the market for men gives a whole new meaning to the term penis envy. The Fleshlight looks like a flashlight, but is filled with a soft, durable gel-like material that you can warm up by soaking it in hot water, and it fits snugly around the penis. If you need a hand in the lube department, Eros Bodyglide comes recommended as the greatest thing since buttered popcorn. Masturbate-a-thon information is available through Come As You Are at 1-877-858-3160. For more about Masturbation Month, visit www.comeasyouare.com and www.goodvibes.com.

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