Valentine’s Day marks the day when couples often exchange chocolates and flowers, go out to nice restaurants and appreciate some quality time with each other. But what if you’re not in a relationship? It may seem expensive, corny or straight-up unnecessary, but I like to think of Valentine’s Day as a great opportunity to show ourselves some compassion, regardless of relationship status. We often get stuck—whether in busy schedules or in self-criticism—and forget to take time to reflect on and be proud of who we are and what we’ve accomplished. You may not be at a point where you’re always cont ..read more

With Valentine’s Day approaching fast and the winter dragging on, we’re smack in the middle of “cuffing season.” You might be wondering, what is cuffing season? Why does it seem like everyone is coupling up? How am I supposed to be single during all of this? By reading on, I hope you get some answers to these questions! Cuffing Season Explained Cuffing season is a slang term that surfaced online several years ago and quickly caught on. As you may have guessed, it comes from the idea of being “handcuffed” to someone, in this case a romantic partner. The idea is that during times like the colder ..read more

Every year on December 1st, we recognize World AIDS Day to commemorate the lives lost to AIDS as well as note the progress that has been made. For instance, medicines are now available that help 1.) prevent transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 2.) manage living with HIV, the virus that can develop into acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). 2023 marks 35 years since the first World AIDS Day. The national theme this year is “World AIDS Day 35: Remember and Commit,” calling for us to think about the past and dedicate ourselves to the future. There is much work left to do an ..read more

Have you heard of Transgender Awareness Week? The week leading up to the Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)—a day meant to honor trans lives lost to violence—it’s a time to raise visibility and awareness of transgender people as well as celebrate trans pride and advocacy. Unfortunately, progress has been slow at times. One important area which has been under attack is gender-affirming care, which remains restricted or banned in parts of the U.S. When it comes to transgender awareness, knowing about gender-affirming care is a good start. For starters, it includes services that support ..read more

Asexuality has a long history of being overlooked and misunderstood. Asexuality Awareness Week, also known as “Ace Week,” is celebrated from October 22-28 this year. This week, created by Sara Beth Brooks in 2010, aims to teach people about asexuality, both what it is and why it’s a valid sexual orientation. Many people don’t know much about what asexuality is or what it means to identify as asexual (or “ace”). Here is some basic information! What Is Asexuality? Asexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by a lack of sexual attraction to others. It exists on a spectrum, with sublabels li ..read more

Some kids have their first sex education lesson at school; mine was at home. Growing up with a mom who is a sex educator, I was always provided comprehensive, age-appropriate information when it came to sex ed. This has helped me know how to better manage certain situations and also understand myself. Even if young people receive sex ed in school, it’s still important for parents and caregivers to talk with their kids about sex and sexual health. Opening up this dialogue can allow families to connect, clear up questions kids or teens may have and provide information not given at school. Octobe ..read more

Reading has always been a great way for teens to better understand both themselves and the world. Unfortunately, many books are being banned—via removal or restrictions—from schools, libraries and bookstores. Many are banned due to references to race, gender and sexuality, including sexual orientation, which makes it difficult for many readers to access books with characters who are representative of them. To spread awareness as well as celebrate and support authors whose books have been banned, the American Library Association (ALA) holds “Banned Books Week,” an annual event taking place Octo ..read more

Every year on September 26th, we celebrate World Contraception Day (WCD), a global effort to bring awareness to a vital topic—access to contraceptives. Launched in 2007, WCD is an international campaign that works toward more comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education around contraceptives, as well as empowering people to make healthy decisions for their lives and futures. Why Does This Matter to Teens? Education about and access to contraceptives is always important but even more so lately since Roe v. Wade—the Supreme Court decision that protected the right to have a safe, legal ..read more

September 23rd is the 24th anniversary of Bi Visibility Day (also known as Celebrate Bisexuality Day and Bisexual Pride Day). It’s an opportunity to show support for people who identify as bisexual and/or biromantic (romantic attraction to more than one gender). Increased bisexual visibility is the opposite of bisexual erasure, which is an attempt to downplay, deny or devalue bi people. With increased visibility, hopefully some of the misconceptions, myths and misunderstanding about this sexual orientation can be addressed. Uplifting Bisexual Voices Why does visibility matter for those who ide ..read more

Often, the process of getting a birth control pill involves scheduling, attending and paying for an appointment with a doctor, getting a prescription and then traveling to purchase it at a pharmacy. But soon, there will be another way to get the Pill…and it won’t involve a prescription. Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Opill, a birth control pill, to be sold over the counter. They approved it without age restrictions, meaning it will be available to teens. But how does it work? And more importantly, how could it work for you? A Progestin-only Pill The Pill is a hormona ..read more