One thing that I really respect about Babeland is that we’re truly interested in what our customers think of their experiences with us. Every once in a while, a customer will come into a store and tell me about their experience with a certain toy. Learning about that toy from another person’s experience is always helpful for me and makes it easier for me to explain the merits of the toy to someone else.

In celebration of the Thanksgiving season, Babeland is currently offering 20% off our customer’s favorite toys. And let me say, our customers have great taste! From the much-loved Rabbit Habbit to the versatile Blueberry Buzz, our customers picked out some wonderful toys. The Silver Bullet is to me the classic vibe while the Contact High is the latest in cock-ring technology. The Leo is a dick that has just the right amount of softness while the Archer Wand will firmly press in all the right places. Check out the entire list here and give thanks; for sex toys, for pleasure and for exploration!

Just kidding! Got your attention though, didn’t I? It turns out that this very high number is the percentage of Americans who support comprehensive sex education. Although this is exactly what Babeland does, they’re talking specifically here about sex ed in schools.

As you’re probably aware, the Bush administration has spent the last 6 years restricting sex ed in any way it can, starting with giving over 100 million dollars to abstinence only programs which teach, among other things, that condoms don’t work, women are always the more emotional one, and homosexuality is wrong. If you haven’t read the full 8 point definition, I’d suggest doing that here. Some of these abstinence-only programs are horrifying. Read them out loud to your friends – you’ll laugh, you’ll cry….

What’s more, the government just announced that they’re expanding this 8 point definition to pertain not just to people up to 18 years old but for anyone up to 29 who isn’t married yet. That’s right. You’re 28 and marriage is the only acceptable standard in which to be sexually active. (Ninety percent of people have been sexually active by the time they hit 29). How does that sound?

It really doesn’t make sense to me that the government is supporting a policy that only 19.6% of the country even possibly believes in. With rising STI rates and a steady teen pregnancy rate, now is not the time to neglect healthy sex ed. That’s why I’m proud to be doing my part – teaching people about their bodies, pleasuring themselves and their partners and of course, sex toys. One of my favorite parts about Babeland are our how-to articles. Of course, if you live near a store you can come in and ask your questions there, but if you don’t, the how-tos are a great place to go for quality sex ed. Come on, come learn what your government doesn’t want you to learn.

For more information on abstinence only sex ed and the fight against it, check out the National Coalition to Support Sexuality Education.

Getting down and dirty with vegan condoms, dams, and lube.

Did you know that some condoms and lube are not vegan? Many latex condoms are made with casein, a granular milk protein, that is available in two types — edible and technical. Casein can be found not only in condoms but, coffee whiteners, infant formulas, processed cheese, pharmaceutical products, adhesives, paints, concrete, textile fabrics, and cosmetics. There are casein-free products out there, though. Kimono condoms (Microthin, Microthin Large, Type E) and Sheer Glyde Dams which are vegan use cocoa powder instead of casein to produce their animal friendly latex.

Now that we have condoms covered, lets move on to lube, which can be loaded with petrochemicals, animal-based glycerin, and lactic acid, or tested on animals. Some lube that would make any vegan happy is O’My with ingredients like: hemp seed oil, and ginseng. Also Eros Bodyglide, and Sensua Organics would win any herbivores heart.