Sex O'Clock News: Abstinence, Kenya and Gay Rats

PENIS ENLARGEMENT IS A TALL TALE
Sorry boys and girls, studies have found that penis enlargement surgeries don't work, and leave patients with psychological and physical scarring. Researchers in Britain reviewed 17 different studies that assessed 21 (both surgical and non-surgical) types of procedures. They found that overall treatment outcomes had low satisfaction rates and significant risk of major complications, including penile deformity, shortening, and erectile dysfunction. I guess size really doesn't matter when you look at the alternatives!

GAY RAT WEDDING OUTRAGES AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES
Alabama is in the news again, and this time it's not because they're up in arms over a woman having bodily autonomy (Jaysus forbid). Instead they've focused their bigotry on - wait for it - gay rats. Yes, you read that right, Alabama Public Television did not air an episode of children's cartoon Arthur featuring two male rats getting married. Although Alabama doesn't approve, we wish the gay rodents happiness as they unite in holy ratrimony.

IRISH SEX-ED IS STILL BASED ON ABSTINENCE
Quelle surprise, a review commissioned by the Government found that sex education in Irish schools still largely encourages abstinence. The majority of students said their sex education lessons were mostly "fear-based", with information about consent, LGBT issues and positive aspects of sexuality rarely discussed. Teachers also believed that sex education was seen as a low priority and not allocated enough time.

END TO AIDS IN SIGHT
There's been a scientific breakthrough, with UK and Danish researchers discovering an antiretroviral treatment that lowers the chances of passing the HIV virus on to zero. The study, named PARTNER2, found that the treatment kept the viral loads of the HIV-positive participants at fewer than 200 copies per millilitre - the point where a virus cannot be transmitted. When not on this treatment, viral load amongst HIV positive patients can reach up to several millions. We've come a long way since the 1980s.

ROBOTIC DILDO REINSTATED FOR AWARD
Back in January, Lora Dicarlo's Os Robotic "Massager" was gifted an annual award at the Consumer Electronics Show. However, it was soon stripped of its prize by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), who believed the dildo did not actually fit the category. The CTA's decision was immediately met with backlash, with CEO Lisa Haddock believing there was sexism at play: thus has the award been reinstated!

KENYA'S LGBT COMMUNITY STANDS STRONG
It was a sad day when the High Court of Kenya rejected a plea to overturn a law banning gay sex. However, LGBT+ activists in the country refuse to be defeated. Writing for the BBC, Kenya-based queer campaigner Kevin Mwachiro said he believes the fact that they were able to go to court was an achievement in itself. "Thirteen years ago," he reflected, "I never would have thought I'd be in the corridors of justice advocating for LGBTQ rights. Not many within the movement would. But we have been."
We hope this is only the beginning of the fight for LGBT rights in Kenya.