It has been suggested that this article be merged into Masturbation and Talk:Masturbate-a-thon. (Discuss) |
The Masturbate-a-thon is an event whereby participants masturbate in order to raise money for charity and awareness of, and dispel the shame and taboos that persist around this most commonplace, natural and safe form of sexual activity.
In 2006 Europe’s First Sponsored Masturbate-a-Thon Event took place in London. The Masturbate-a-thon also known as Wank-a-Thon has recently been commissioned by the UK's Channel 4 as part of a series of programmes, entitled Wank Week.
London hosted Europe's first "masturbate-a-thon" on August 5, 2006 in which hundreds of men and women were expected to pleasure themselves for charity raising money for the Terrence Higgins Trust and sexual and reproductive health agency Marie Stopes International.[1] And for those who are willing, take part in channel 4's Masturbate-a-thon program.
History
In 1994 the American Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was made to resign after saying that she thought it would be beneficial to teach children about masturbation as part of sex education and that it should be more openly discussed.
In 1997 a San Francisco based sex toy and education shop Good Vibrations declared May to be "Masturbation Month." Since then, it has been the month during which people are encouraged to use "sponsor" forms to write down pledges from friends willing to sponsor their masturbation activities. The funds raised are donated to a sex-positive cause selected by whatever shop sponsors the event in the participating cities.
In 2000 the public Masturbate-a-thon was originated by Dr Carol Queen and Dr Robert Lawrence, inspired by the work of Good Vibrations. These annual events are a public education device to increase the use of self pleasure as a strategy for safer sex and to de-stigmatise self-love.
During the past six years, the Masturbate-a-thon has raised over $25,000 for women’s health initiatives and HIV prevention, education and treatment organisations, and has contributed to debates about safer sex and alternative safe methods of sexual expression in the USA, in the face of harsh conservative opposition.
References
- ^ "Hundreds expected to come to Masturbate-a-thon". Reuters. 2006-08-04.