For the record, "Latter Days" was written and directed by a man who based the character Aaron off himself. It reflects how he was mistreated and kicked out of his Mormon family and community just because he was gay. Also, if you look into the movie The Mormon Proposition, which is ALSO free on Instant Netflix, you will see how integral the Mormon Church was to pushing California's Proposition 8 to pass. While some Mormons may be tolerant, the fact of the matter is on the whole, their church really is not.

Yes, I know why and by whom Latter Days was written. While the movie has good intentions, I still think it is a bad movie. Bad acting, bad writing, bad directing, bad music, etc. I know a lot of people do like it, but I am not one of them, and it has nothing to do with the screenwriter’s intentions or past experiences.

I lived in California during Prop 8. I remember proudly voting against it on election day, but sadly, I was in the minority. Like everyone else I knew, I figured we had the veto of Prop 8 in the bag. We lived in a progressive state with legalized medicinal marijuana and where a prescription was easy to get as long as you had about $100 and went to the right doctor. Hell, John McCain only got less than 37% of the vote in the 2008 presidential election. I was shocked when the proposition passed. I didn’t understand how I could live in a community with so much tolerance and acceptance, but 52% of Californians allowed the close-minded and counteractive proposition to pass. I escaped Texas to get away from this madness, and it was disconcerting to know I wasn’t living in the liberal heaven I had envisioned.

And, dear readers, I promise this will be the last post regarding the Mormons (at least until some sex-related news occurs). Like lil-lis, I respect and appreciate your insight, totiebinds, but I don’t want to start a religious debate over here. There are bad apples in every single sect of society. While the LDS might have more than others, it is always important to acknowledge those who think and act progressively. It gives me hope that things are changing for the better and reminds me to not be so quick to judge or assume.

Feminists are evil.

I love you too.

But I think RIck Perry and his presidential ambitions are evilest.

Hey um, i just wanna know how do you have sex?

Female, Straight

How do I have sex? Google it.

Really not trying to be a creeper - just observing something. You said you were going to school in Texas where it's hot and pollen-filled. Me too. So kudos to you for being you in the region of Texas that you live in. It sucks here. People are ignorant and dumb and narrow-minded. I cannot wait to leave. PS Love the blog. It's a part of my daily comfort. If I had money I'd totally hire you for something.

Creeper.

Thanks for the compliments, jenniferwillcut. I understand your sentiments and desire to leave the Lonestar State. I felt the exact same way, and two weeks after getting my BA, I packed my car and set off for California. I lived there for a number of years, but Texas pulled me back. It has that kind of power. I moved here again to start my grad school career and now see it as the best place to observe society’s unwillingness to discuss sex openly.

Anyway, you’ll find once you leave there’s a sense of pride when you refer to yourself as a Texan to out-of-state people. Often they think we’re George Bush loving, gun carrying, horse riding, red state worshipping types. It’s awesome to prove them wrong. As a former Los Angeleno neighbor once said to me, “You’re from Texas? But you’re so normal.”

you should have googled more pictures of Anna Sophia to see that she really does have a small and low vulva instead of making that post :\
Now people are saying how gross it looks which is sad because they don't realize they're completely bashing her natural vulva. It sucks that it's missing in the picture and they should have reshot it (unless she doesn't care or asked for her bits to not be as exposed) but it seems that in all of the other google image results it's a very natural thing for her and it tends to be easily hidden during certain poses.

disgustinghuman, I’ve probably Googled and gone through more images of naked ladies than a horny 13-year-old in the past week for my thesis research. I did do a search for more Anna Sophia shots, but found nothing, so I still don’t know what was airbrushed and what wasn’t.

I did acknowledge in my original post that her vulva could look that way naturally as evident in the link to the other photograph. Even if it didn’t, I would never think of a woman’s vulva as “disgusting.” I’m conducting all this research and looking at porn sites in order to show women there’s nothing wrong their god-given genitalia. I’m trying to find out what parts of the vulva are airbrushed out of photos and how often it’s done. That is why I posted the photo of Anna Sophia.

I constantly get messages from girls comparing their own genitalia to nude models and wondering if theirs look normal. As one plastic surgeon states, “Many women bring us Playboy and say that they want to look like this.” It’s like bringing a photo of a celebrity to a hairdresser and saying you want their haircut. If Anna Sophia’s vulva was airbrushed, then it’s no wonder girls are insecure with their own’s appearance and considering female genital cosmetic surgery.

I know I sound very defensive, but this research is basically why I’m attending graduate school to begin with. I’m very passionate when it comes to the way a woman’s vulva is portrayed in adult entertainment and the insecurities it creates. I’m scared of the growing possibility plastic surgeons have in deciding what the normal vulva looks like. The truth is, there is no normal. It’s sad we have to wonder what’s real and what’s Photoshoped on nude models. If magazines and websites continue to brush out labia, clitorises, urethras, etc., then we are starting to create a normal vulva appearance.

For anyone wishing to learn more about the case of the disappearing labia, please read “The ‘Designer Vagina’ and the pathologisation of female genital diversity: Interventions for change” by Virginia Braun and Leonore Tiefer and ”In the Pink” by Todd Spivak. And of course we can’t forget Heather Leach’s documentary The Perfect Vagina.

I live in Georgia, a ridiculously conservative state when it comes to sex and anything related to it. Your blog is such an inspiration. It's so great to see another southern feminist, not to mention one who has such a mature view about sexuality! This may have been asked before, but what made you want to start this blog?

Thank you for the lovely compliments, Anonymous Southern Belle.

I started this blog with the hope it would force me to focus on graduate school and better funnel my research. I’m delighted to say it has, and my readers are my main source of inspiration when it comes to anything I write for school and my thesis research. I actually decided on my topic through the help of readers. Without them, I would never know there’s a problem with the portrayal women’s genitalia in porn.

Hello! Love your blog. Hope you are enjoying your weather while I suffer in the Midwest. Anywhoo I noticed you said you were in grad school, I was just interested to see what you are getting it in.
Thanks,
Ava

It’s currently dry, hot, and pollen-filled where I live. Please don’t be too jealous.

I am getting my masters in sociology at the moment. I get to read about tearing down the patriarchy and the rise of socialism like it’s my job. I also have the pleasure(?) of browsing naked lady sites to look at labia (or lack thereof) and call it thesis research. 

And despite my internet browsing history, I still manage to make my parents proud.

OH MY GOODNESS THIS ISNT SEX RELATED BUT I SAW THE LAST QUESTION YOU ANSWERED AND ABOUT RUPAULS DRAG RACE ME TOO!!! From the beginning I loved Manila but throughout the competition Raja has really grown on me. I love both of them, but I really dont know which one I want to win. I also really liked Carmen Carrera and Yara Sofia.. but theyre gone.

I’ve loved Raja ever since his America’s Next Top Model days — especially when she dressed up as Tyra and told the girls they were going to Thailand. She’s the reason why I started to watch this season of Drag Race to begin with. However, Manilla immediately stole my heart too, and that is why I am conflicted. Her outfits always make me smile and she makes such a pretty woman.

Carmen Carrera looked better naked than some of America’s next top models. She has one lucky husband.

Could you answer my question? Thankssss

Anonymous, while I appreciate you asking very politely, I do have 850+ questions from other Anonymouses. I have no idea which one is yours versus the other Anonymous. Therefore, finding out which question to answer is not that simple.

Sorry I sound like a bitch. Blame it on three final papers due in the next 3 weeks — one of which is the basis of my thesis.

Plus, RuPaul’s Drag Race is down to the final 3, and I have yet to decide if I want Raja or Manilla to win. This is a decision I cannot make hastily!

when making this blog..why did you feel it neccesary to state that you were heterosexual???
.. i feel like advice giving can be giving to any person of any sexuality regardless of your sexual preference...so im just curious..

You are right. I guess I put it there because I knew people would ask and wonder if I didn’t mention my own sexuality. While I refuse to answer the “Interested in” question on Facebook because no one introduces themselves as “Hello, my name is XXXXX, and I’m a hetero/homsexual,” I believe it only natural to want to know the sexuality of the very person giving you sex advice and sometimes divulging secrets of her own.

you obviously made this beacuse you are a slut hahah its ok i am too .

I prefer to call myself sexually experienced and well-educated.