"We've been teaching abstinence for 1000 years and what do we have?"Does NPR know that it was Masturbation May because they have a great interview with Joycelyn Elders (former Surgeon General) where she speaks at length about masturbation, sexuality education. I love this southern woman born in the 50's who speaks about sexual health with an eloquence many professional sex educators can't even muster. She makes me want to be that edgy, fierce and well-spoken when I'm her age.Dr. Elders has a few great points:

• Even though sex is everywhere and we use it to sell "everything from toothpaste to houses", we don't want to teach our children about sex.
• We don't talk about sexual health, we talk about sexual disease.
• People fear that telling kids about sex will make them do it. We've already got some of the highest rates of pregnancy and STIs in the world so we're already doing it.
• Teaching kids about sex is not only about protection and disease but also about healthy relationships and communication.
• Sexual health is a part of our overall health.

Rock on, Dr. Elders.