San Francisco, CA — Twenty five years after after Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was forced to resign for saying something brief and sensible about masturbation, Good Vibrations’ response, International Masturbation Month, is back with a DIY theme — because “If you want something done right… do it yourself!”

First launched in May 1995, this month continues to operate as a strategy to fight shame and misinformation about a very common sexual practice, as well as to get people talking about it. From the Masturbation Hall of Fame, the Favorite Masturbation Euphemism contest and the Masturbate-a-Thon, each year Good Vibrations has sought to further educational activism and get masturbation the respect it deserves. Masturbation is still controversial in some quarters, but because it’s so central to our ability to learn about our own bodies and sexual responses, Good Vibrations is still proud to speak out about solo love.

As Staff Sexologist Carol Queen explained, “[Masturbation is] stress-relieving, pain-relieving [and] for many people the key to unlocking the ability to orgasm… As such, it’s related to humans’ ability to feel pleasure. It’s an act that doesn’t hurt anyone and has so many positive effects. Masturbation should be out-and-out celebrated!”

Several of Good Vibrations’ Bay-area stores are planning Masturbation Month celebrations, which are listed below. The organization is also asking community members to stay tuned for a very special announcement as they launch our newest masturbation-positive project in collaboration with O.School. The announcement will come on May 7.

Here are Masturbation Month events at a glance:

May 3, 7-8pm — May is Masturbation Month! Self-Love, Sips and Shopping Discounts at Kearny (free)
May 4, 6-7pm — Masturbation Month Mini-Lesson: May Flowers, Happy Hour at Polk (free)
May 6, 5:30-6:30pm — Masturbation Monday! Sips and Shopping Discounts at Lakeshore (free)
May 11, 7-8pm — Masturbation Month! Self-Love, Sips and Shopping Discounts at Berkeley (free)

For San Francisco Bay Area event details, go to eventbrite.com/o/good-vibrations-16993066594

For additional information on Good Vibrations, visit goodvibes.com and follow Good Vibrations on Twitter at @goodvibestoys.