May is National Masturbation Month. Like blogger Kelsey at Bitch Blogs, I wonder how I could have missed this?! I guess I need to keep up with Good Vibes news and events more often.

National Masturbation Month was started by Good Vibrations in 1995, to protest the firing of sex-positive U.S. Surgeon General Jocelyn Elders. If you remember, Elders suggested that masturbation should be a part of sex education and was then fired from her post.

Although I'd like to think the climate of fear around sexuality (and masturbation as a part of a healthy sexuality) has changed somewhat, we have to keep in mind that it's only within the past month that abstinence-only education has been de-funded. Small victories.

Here are just a few reasons to celebrate National Masurbation Month:

- Masturbation can help you learn about your body and what feels good for you. Whether it is getting comfortable with your basic anatomy, learning what parts of your body like to be touched during sexual play, or getting used to a new sex toy.

- Masturbation can also help you learn about your partner's body. Watching a partner masturbate can help you learn about what they enjoy, how they like to be touched, and can be a fun alternative to your normal sexual routine.

- For those couples concerned with this, masturbation can also be a great form of sexual release that has no risk of pregnancy or STIs (this only includes masturbating yourself, not a partner – you can still come into contact with bodily fluids that carry STIs). 

- It's fun! Free! And good for you!

Other fun masturbation tidbits from Bitch Blogs:

- Every year in San Francisco there is a Masturbate-A-Thon (also started by Good Vibrations in 2000) to raise awareness and funds for safe, accurate, comprehensive sex education. Fun fact: The record-holder in this event masturbated for 9 hours and 58 minutes straight! Now there is a dedicated philanthropist.

- Feminist sex shop Early to Bed is hosting a masturbation haiku contest this month with some great prizes on the line.

- Think you're a semi-professional masturbator? Test your skills with this masturbation quiz!

Photo by  Abulic Monkey on Flickr.