Blogs / The warm side of the bed
What’s for Dessert?
| 11/22/09
You know, I never cease to be amazed at the things that I read on the internet.
A friend of mine recently attended a protest against the 40 Days for Life protest in front of the Health Sciences Centre here in Winnipeg. She posted photos of the day’s events online, most of which were of happy men and women with signs reading “Abortion Saves Lives!” and “Tell me when the Pope is pregnant.” The opposing side held signs referencing God’s knowledge of unborn children (which He, Himself, has placed there).
Without opening up the ol’ abortion debate (although it’s probably clear which side I’d fall on), this protest got me thinking about other faith-influenced decisions regarding our reproductive lives as men and women. I set out on the internet to find some answers.
We’re likely all familiar with our neighbours to the south, and all the talk of abstinence education that goes with them. My opinion is that teens are going to have sex, so we might as well teach them how to do it safely. When I found out that, in light of teens being kept completely in the dark about actual prevention of STIs and pregnancy, teens actually think that drinking bleach will prevent HIV and that drinking Mountain Dew® or smoking pot will prevent pregnancy. The hell!? No it won’t!
When I was in high school, we actually received a sexual “menu” (featuring “appetizers, entrees, and desserts”) in class, which outlined the things that we could do instead of actual penetration. Of course, this risqué, neon pink handout made its way to a close-minded parent. That parent had the public health nurse removed from school rotation and demanded that the menu never be given out again. Unfortunately for her, people like me got their hands on the menu. At 16, had I not received that page informing me of my safe sex options, I probably would have misplaced the old V card a whole lot sooner. It was awesome! All kinds of options I could toss out there without risk of getting pregnant or getting a disease!
If you need information on contraceptives or STI prevention/treatment, Sexuality and U has been a huge help to me in the past. Dropping in to the University of Manitoba’s LGBT or Womyn’s Centre is another option for students.
So that’s just my opinion on things. As you may know, opinions are personal. Let me know what you think by emailing me at sexblog@themanitoban.com. Ask me any questions you may have about sex, relationships, fetishes, feminism, or just about the weather. It’s bloody nice out.