Tag Archives: san francisco

San Francisco Smacks “Crisis Pregnancy Centers” For Misleading Women About Abortion

Jessica WakemanAugust 4, 2011 //
abortion photo

First Resort, a so-called “crisis pregnancy center” in San Francisco, has until the end of the month to change its advertisements misleading women about abortion-related services — or else. “Crisis pregnancy centers” often look like women’s health clinics and advertise about pregnancy counseling and services; they claim to help women pay for prenatal care and give them free diapers and other baby supplies. However, CPCs are frequently run by religious organizations and don’t have actual medical professionals on staff; instead, they “counsel” women to not have abortions. Thus, the SF city attorney sent First Resort a cease-and-desist letter warning them about its ads that “appear to be designed to confuse or mislead consumers.” The SF Supervisor Malia Cohen also introduced an ordinance on Tuesday that would punish CPCs for using misleading statements in their ads that make it seem like they provide abortion or counseling for abortions. Keep reading »

Grab Those Snippers! San Francisco Judge Nixes Circumcision Ban On Ballot

Jessica WakemanJuly 29, 2011 //

Snip away, San Francisco! A judge ruled yesterday that the city cannot vote on whether to ban circumcision on the ballot next election. The ban, which was spearheaded by activist Lloyd Schofield, would have made “genital mutilation” of minors punishable by a $1,000 fine or a year in prison. The Jewish community was meshuggenah about the ban, as circumcising infants is part of their religious practice. But religious or moral reasons are not why Superior Court Judge Loretta Giorgi nixed the ballot initiative: she agreed there are compelling medical reasons for circumcision and laws regulating doctors and healing professions must be made on the state level. Schofield is expected to appeal. Keep reading »

Masturbate-A-Thon Full Of Winners

SimchaMay 4, 2009 //

The 9th Annual Masturbate-a-Thon took place in San Francisco last weekend, and the competition was stiff! The event, sponsored by the Center for Sex & Culture, was founded in honor of surgeon general Jocelyn Elders who was fired after she suggested teens be taught masturbation as a means towards safe sex. Now, her work lives on in the form of an annual contest. This year’s winners packed some serious heat. A new US record was set by Mr. Flint Greasewood. His swimmers went the distance, shooting a whopping five feet. Two world records were set, as well. The Lusty Lady Theater beat the Women’s Tag Team, and Mr. Masanobu Sato broke his own masturbation world record at nine hours and 58 minutes. I know we don’t want a no minute man, but 10 hours? Keep reading »

Freedom’s Just Another Word For Orgasmic Meditation

Wendy AtterberryMarch 16, 2009 //

I’m willing to bet most of you have Monday mornings that go something like this: alarm goes off at 6:30 AM, you hit snooze 3 times before rolling out of bed at 6:49, you shower, get dressed, walk the dog, and then grab a banana or breakfast bar before heading out to fight traffic on your way to work. But what if you mornings began, say, lying “naked from the waist down,” in a velvet-curtained room, with your eyes closed, “while clothed men huddle over [you], stroking [you] in a ritual known as orgasmic meditation — ‘OMing,’ for short”? That’s exactly how a core group of 38 men and women start each day at a small commune in San Francisco called One Taste. Keep reading »

San Francisco Voters To Decide Whether To Decriminalize Prostitution

Amelia McDonell-ParryOctober 22, 2008 //

It’s easy to forget with a Presidential election as exciting as this one that there are actually many, many, many people and bills on the ballot November 4th besides Barack Obama and John McCain. One of the issues that got our attention early is Proposition K, a San Francisco proposal that would decriminalize prostitution in the city. If passed, the law would forbid local authorities from investigating, arresting or prosecuting anyone for selling sex. The ballot measure still technically would not legalize prostitution since state law still prohibits it, but Proposition K would eliminate the power of local law enforcement officials to go after prostitutes. The local Democratic Party has endorsed the measure, but the majority of actual local government officials are opposed. A similar measure in Berkeley lost in 2006 — while San Francisco is typically a liberal-leaning city, it’s pretty up in the air as to whether this Proposition will pass with voters. If it does, SF will become the first major U.S. city to decriminalize sex work. With that in mind, vote in our poll! [The Huffington Post] Keep reading »

Prostitution: To Legalize Or Not?

Amelia McDonell-ParryJuly 30, 2008 //

After last week’s post about proposed legislation in San Francisco that would decriminalize prostitution and our poll that indicated that 73% of you not only supported decriminalization but legalization as well, we decided to take a more in-depth look at both. After the jump, we break down the differences and the pros and cons of both. There may be a soap box moment from yours truly as well.

Keep reading »

Poll: Should Prostitution Be Decriminalized?

SimchaJuly 25, 2008 //

The world’s oldest profession wants to finally go legit — the Erotic Service Providers Union (ESPU) in San Francisco is trying to protect their hard working membership, the Johns, and the Janes, by asking for the decriminalization of solicitation and prostitution. The city already has a unique First Offender Prostitution Program, which allows people arrested for soliciting sex the option to pay $1000 tuition fee for a graphic sexual health class. Frankly, it also has a pretty poor success rate for scaring attendees back into thinking the best things in life are free, but the ESPU is less concerned with curbing their clients’ desires. What the union really wants is to keep its workers safe, as many sex workers don’t report assaults or rapes because they’re afraid of being penalized for breaking the law with their profession. The ESPU has a bill on the ballot this fall that would decriminalize sex work in the city. They argue that when the pros have to sneak around to handle their business, it makes them exponentially more susceptible to abuse and exploitation. [Newsweek]

So what do you all think: should sex work be decriminalized (in San Francisco or anywhere else in the U.S.)? Keep reading »

The Daily Hotness: David Beckham’s Billboard

Amelia McDonell-ParryJune 19, 2008 //

The citizens of San Francisco are lucky enough to be getting an eyeful of David Beckham’s hot, Armani-clad package right now. His ginormous billboard went up in front of Macy’s in SF’s Union Square this week. This could definitely be a driving hazard. Keep reading »

Lesbian Couple Of 55 Years Plans To Finally Wed

Amelia McDonell-ParryJune 16, 2008 //

Congratulations to Phyllis Lyon, 84, and Del Martin, 87, a lesbian couple that has been together for 55 years — they plan to become the first same-sex couple to legally exchange marriage vows in San Francisco. SF Mayor Gavin Newsom will officiate the ceremony. Enjoy it ladies — you should have never had to wait! [Yahoo News] Keep reading »

Happy National Masturbation Month!

SimchaMay 16, 2008 //

May is National Masturbation Month. In the mid-’90s, when U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders recommended masturbation be taught as a form of safe sex, she was fired. To protest, Good Vibrations, a San Francisco based sex toy company run by Dr. Carol Queen, started the annual celebration of self-love. This year, the company will host its 11th Live Masturbation-A-Thon, a benefit to raise privates and private funds for community-based sex education and health organizations. So far, the event has set a world record — Norine Dworkin got off for over 6 hours. Impressive! [AC via Nerve] Keep reading »

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