The state of sex education in this country is rapidly deteriorating. I read an article today about “sex educators” who came into a school and had a group of 15 students all chew the same piece of gum. This was meant to illustrate how people who have had multiple sexual partners (or really, any sexual partners at all) are dirty - a piece of flavorless gum that everyone has chewed on.

I won’t even begin to go into the ways in which this stigmatization of sex does not help teens and in fact, erases any questions that most teens would want to have for fear of having their classmates think of them as used up cinnamon gum.

That’s why I have long appreciated websites like Scarleteen. For 8 years now, Scarleteen has been providing open, honest and age appropriate sex education for teens. They handle crisis issues such as pregnancy or fear of an STI while also maintaining a lasting dialogue for teens to want to remain engaged as they grow. Scarleteen lets young adults talk to each other while helping to correct any misinformation so that teens become the agents of their own health care. I also love the way that Scarleteen integrates LGBT concerns into their website.

There are no ads on Scarleteen, they survive from the force of what they do and it’s ability to move people. So if you’ve got a bit to spare, please give it to them.

What could better coincide with Valentine’s Day than National Condom Week? In all of the (appropriate) noise made about HPV vaccines, Emergency Contraception and the possible Male Birth Control Pill, condoms are not praised enough. They’re cheap, relatively easy to use, easy to confirm use of (is it there? check. not broken? check.) and those who don’t like them haven’t learned the trick of putting lube inside the condom. Just trust me.

I love condoms because they can be used in so many ways. Not only do they provide wonderful barriers against sperm and STIs but they made cleaning up a breeze. Just throw a condom on any toy and when you’re done, all you have to do is remove the condom. No washing, no mess, easy.

Condoms also make great impromptu dental dams. Dental dams are wonderful inventions that are perfect for cunnilingus or rim jobs. If you don’t happen to have one on hand, you can cut a condom up the side and you’re set!

When should you use a condom? What are your risks in any given sexual encounter? How do you pick condoms? What kind of lube should you use with them? These questions are all answered by Babeland in our handy how-to section. Check it out, then celebrate National Condom Week in style.