Five Meaningful Things To Do for World AIDS Day

Since 1988, December 1st has been designated as World AIDS Day. As a queer person, the issue of HIV and AIDS is close to my heart. I wanted to talk about it today and share some meaningful World AIDS Day activities you can do to make a difference.

Why We Still Need to Care About HIV and AIDS

The AIDS epidemic reached its height in the 1980s and early 1990s. However, AIDS has not gone away and remains a significant global health issue.

AIDS has claimed over 44 million lives since the epidemic began. Amazing advances in treatment mean that HIV (the virus that, if untreated, leads to AIDS) is no longer an automatic death sentence. However, the disease still kills over 600,000 people every year. The majority of these deaths happen in the global south and particularly sub-Saharan Africa.

Other groups disproportionately impacted by HIV and AIDS include gay and bisexual+ men, sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and incarcerated people. Globally, women and girls account for around 45% of new infections.

Check out this fact sheet to learn more about the ongoing scale of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

What is World AIDS Day?

World AIDS Day was the first-ever global health day. It exists to unite people in the ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS, support people living with the virus, dismantle the stigma, and commemorate those who have lost their lives to the virus.

HIV/AIDS is one of the most destructive pandemics in human history. It’s easy to feel helpless in the face of something this huge. But there is hope, too. UNAIDS is currently working on an incredibly ambitious strategy that aims to reduce both new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths by 90% from 2010 figures by 2030. Amongst other goals, they also aim to have 95% of HIV-positive people know their status, 95% of those who know their status receiving antiviral treatment, and 95% of those on treatment to have an suppressed viral load.

All of this is possible and achievable. World AIDS Day encourages all of us to get involved, in whatever way we can, in the fight to end HIV/AIDS.

5 World AIDS Day Activities to Get Involved and Make a Difference

1. Donate or Get Involved in Fundraising Activities

If you have some money to spare, even a few pounds or dollars can make a big difference to the various organisations doing amazing work in the areas of HIV and AIDs.

Donate to a charity that’s doing important work in the areas of HIV and AIDS. The National AIDS Trust is working to end HIV by 2030 while championing the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Terrence Higgins Trust is another great charity that campaigns, runs HIV testing centres, and provides services connected to HIV and sexual health.

You can also get involved in fundraising activities for World AIDS Day causes. Take on a sponsored challenge, sponsor someone else, or put a collection box in your workplace.

2. Get a Test, Know Your Status, and Learn About PrEP

When was your last sexual health screening? If you haven’t been tested recently, go and book one (or order a home testing kit) now. Everyone who is sexually active should be getting tested at least once per year, and more often if you have multiple partners or have unprotected sex.

The best way to protect yourself and your partner(s) from HIV is to know your status and practice safer sex.

While you’re getting tested, you could also ask your doctor if pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is right for you. PrEP is a preventative medication taken by HIV-negative people that reduces your risk of contracting the virus should you be exposed to it. According to the Terrence Higgins Trust, most people who use PrEP take it every day. A minority of users prefer to take it only immediately before and after having sex.

3. Smash the Stigma and Share Factual Information

Sadly, HIV and AIDS are still heavily stigmatised. This stigma can have a major impact on the quality of life of those living with HIV, even if it is well-controlled. World AIDS Day is not only about ending the HIV/AIDS pandemic. It is also about protecting the rights and dignity of those already affected. One of the simplest but most impactful World AIDS Day activities you can do? Simply get informed, learn the facts, and share accurate information.

Next time you hear someone speak negatively about people with HIV/AIDS, don’t laugh along or let it slide. Instead, speak up.

People living with HIV are not dirty. They are not stupid. Having HIV is not a personal or moral failing. HIV cannot be transmitted through kissing, skin-to-skin contact, sharing food or drinks, water fountains, toilet seats, mosquitoes, saliva, sweat, or modern blood transfusions. It can only be transmitted through infected blood, sexual fluids, or breast milk. Read and share this handy guide.

4. Stock Up on Sexual Health Supplies

Unprotected sex with an infected person is one of the main ways HIV can be transmitted. Every person who practices safer sex is contributing to ending HIV, both directly (by protecting themselves and their sexual partners) and indirectly (by normalising safer sex.)

Take a moment to check your supplies of condoms, dams, and gloves. If you’re running low on anything, stock up. If you can’t afford to buy supplies, ask your doctor or sexual health provider where you can access them for free. This is also a great time to make sure any you have are still in date.

If you’re LGBTQ+, many queer spaces such as bars, community centres, and sexuality-focused events give out safer sex supplies as freebies.

5. Wear Your Red World AIDS Day Ribbon

The red ribbon is the internationally-recognised symbol of HIV/AIDS awareness and advocacy. You can buy one from the National AIDS Trust, request them for free if you’re planning to do any World AIDS Day fundraising activities, or pick one up from the many stores and public spaces that are selling them at this time of year.

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What is Subdrop and What Can You Do About It? 25 Subdrop Aftercare Ideas

Subspace is a kind of high, fueled by adrenaline and endorphins and all the other happy-fuzzy brain chemicals that come out when you do BDSM play. But what goes up, as they say, must come down. That’s where subdrop comes in. But what is subdrop exactly, what causes it, and what can you do about it? Let’s learn about subdrop and some subdrop aftercare ideas to help you get through it.

What is Subdrop?

Subdrop is what can happen when all those lovely chemicals wear off and reality sets back in. For some, it can hit as soon as the subspace high has ended, while for others it can hit a day or even several days later. Everyone is different. I most often drop somewhere between 12 and 24 hours after an intense play session, though it has been known to be quicker.

Not everyone who engages in BDSM gets subdrop at all. Some do, some don’t, and either way is fine.

How Does It Feel?

Subdrop looks different for everyone, and it can be physical, mental, or both. You might feel sad, low, or depressed. You might cry a lot. Some people report feeling exhausted, listless, or low on energy. You might be ravenously hungry or completely lose your appetite. For some, the symptoms are akin to having a bad cold or virus! When you’re in the middle of it, subdrop can be overwhelming and horrible. If you’re new to BDSM, it can be confusing and distressing if you experience it unexpectedly.

By the way: if you’re a Dominant or Top and any of this sounds like your experience, you might be experiencing the equivalent: Dom drop or Topdrop. Much of the same advice applies to you.

25 Subdrop Aftercare Remedies

Subdrop, like everything in BDSM, is personal. This is a list of subdrop aftercare suggestions, not a prescription. Not everything on this list will work for everyone, and that’s okay. Pick out just one or two that appeal to you, and try them out.

  1. Cuddle someone/something! Your partner, a friend, a stuffed toy, your pet.
  2. Make your favourite hot drink and sip it slowly, noticing how it tastes and letting the cup warm your hands.
  3. Eat some chocolate or whatever your favourite sweet treat is. Not enough to make you feel sick, just enough to give you those feel-good chemicals. What is subdrop, after all, but a reduction in happy brain chemicals?
  4. Cook (or order in) a simple, healthy meal and enjoy eating it slowly. Something with protein and vegetables is ideal, but getting food into your body is the most important thing so if all you can manage is toast, go for it.
  5. Watch your favourite film or an episode of your favourite comfort show. Something lighthearted is best when you’re experiencing subdrop. Unless gory horror movies are comforting to you, I guess, in which case you do you!
  6. Write in your journal.
  7. Post to your blog or Fetlife page, if you have one.
  8. Share how you’re feeling with a kinky friend or kink-positive friend. Sympathy and virtual cuddles from people who get it can be cathartic.
  9. Listen to a comedy podcast or watch some stand-up and laugh until your stomach hurts.
  10. Curl up under a cozy duvet with a good book or a magazine.
  11. Meditate. There are thousands of free guided meditations on Youtube.
  12. Masturbate or have sex. Having an orgasm can perk you up no end. Again, subdrop is what happens when you experience the low after the high. There’s no shame in topping those endorphins up a bit.
  13. Go for a walk. Preferably somewhere with flowers and trees, but to the shop at the end of the street and back will work in a pinch.
  14. Sit in your garden, if you have one, or a nearby park. Fresh air is important.
  15. Buy yourself something, if you can comfortably afford to. This could be as elaborate as that high-end vibrator you’ve been lusting after for months, or as simple as a fancy coffee.
  16. Tidy up your room or work space. I always feel better and more clear-headed when my safe spaces are neat and tidy.
  17. Take a bath or shower. Spend as long as you like luxuriating in the hot water. Use your most decadent scented shower gel or that fancy bath bomb you’ve been saving.
  18. Play loud, upbeat music. Optional extras: sing along loudly, dance around your room for the length of a song or two. When I’m in subdrop, there’s nothing like my “queer bangers” playlist to help me feel like me again.
  19. Call someone you miss. Your mum. A grandparent. Your best friend in another city. Just pick up the phone, say hi and catch up.
  20. Create something. Whatever your creative talent is, use it. Play your instrument, bake a cake, write a page of your novel, knit a few rows of your latest project.
  21. Take a nap. Even an hour of rest will help recharge you a little.
  22. Exercise. Hit the gym, go for a run, or do some yoga. Moving your body releases tension and clears your mind.
  23. Get your hair cut or your nails done. No drastic changes right now! But a bit of pampering can really raise your mood and make you feel good about yourself.
  24. Just sit with the feeling. This is a mindfulness technique. Sit, feel, and think: I am feeling rotten right now because I am subdropping, but I know this feeling will soon pass and I will be okay.
  25. Do something for someone else. Whether it’s a chore that’s normally your partner’s but they’re super busy today, or getting shopping for an elderly neighbour, caring for others takes you out of your own head.

I hope you find some of these subdrop aftercare ideas helpful. Subdrop is a normal part of kink and BDSM for many people, and it can be hard. But understanding what subdrop is and why it happens, and knowing some basic aftercare techniques for dealing, with it can make all the difference.

Long-Distance BDSM: 5 Ways to Keep Your Dynamic Alive When You’re Apart

Long-distance relationships can be challenging in all sorts of ways, from the emotional strain of missing each other to the expense and time involved in visits. Long distance BDSM adds another layer to this, and many kinky couples (whether their dynamic is 24/7 or not) find it hard to maintain their dynamic across the miles. If you’re trying to stay connected with your long distance sub or Dom and keep your dynamic alive, these tips might help you.

Long-Distance BDSM Tips for All Kinky Dynamics

I have some experience of long-distance relationships, including long-distance polyamory and long-distance BDSM, and so do many of my friends and loved ones. That means I’ve learned a few things about how to keep a kink dynamic alive and thriving no matter where you both are in the world.

Here are five things you might want to try. As always, take the ones that work for you and leave the ones that don’t.

Sext Each Other

Sexting is brilliant if, like me, you’re a wordy person. I love the anticipation when the other person is typing. I love tapping out my fantasies, planting ideas and imagery into my lover’s mind with my words. If you’re in a long-distance BDSM relationship, it’s easy to add a D/s element to your sexting. The Dominant partner can give the submissive partner instructions, or you can share fantasies of a scene you might like to do when you’re next together… or memories of one you already did.

There’s a kind of delicious collaboration that comes with building a scene or sexy story together in this way. Another advantage of sexting is that you can read the messages back at a later date if you want to.

Check out my tips for better sexting if you want to get better at fucking your partner with your words.

Have Phone Sex

Phone sex (or video call sex) is a bit like sexting, only more immediate and more visceral. You can hear your partner’s tone, hear their voice catch when you say something that really gets them, hear them gasp or moan as they touch themselves.

Long distance vibrators and other remote control toys can be a great addition to virtual or phone sex.

Instructions and Accountability for a Long Distance Sub

If your D/s relationship incorporates instruction or tasks outside of designated scene space, providing these from a distance can help to keep the submissive accountable and the long-distance BDSM dynamic strong.

This can take virtually any form you like. Instructions can be sexy (“send me a picture of your panties next time you go to the bathroom”), self-care based (“I want you to drink a pint of water before noon”), or anything else you can think of that fits your desires and context.

Plann and Negotiate Future Scenes

One nice thing about long-distance BDSM is that you have to be super intentional with your playtime. This means making plans, negotiating scenes, and talking about desires, limits, boundaries, and possibilities upfront. But BDSM negotiation isn’t just a necessity; it can also be a part of your dynamic in itself.

You know how, when you start planning a trip or vacation, you get those lovely feelings of excitement and anticipation about all the fun you’re going to have? It’s exactly the same when you start planning a kink scene you might play out in the future.

Not sure where to start? A Yes/No/Maybe list is a great way to get some ideas and find out more about where your kinks overlap.

Keep a Physical Reminder of Your Dynamic When You’re Apart

This is something I recommend for all long-distance relationships, but it can work particularly well for long-distance BDSM. A physical reminder – something you can look at, wear, touch, or hold – of your partner and your dynamic can help you to keep feeling connected and close when you’re apart.

A collar is an obvious example for a long distance sub, if that’s your thing. Other options could include a wearable such as a piece of jewellery or a pair of pet play ears, a kinky object such as a chastity device (or your partner’s device key), an item of your partner’s clothing or some of their perfume/cologne, a cuddly toy, a card or letter… whatever is most meaningful to the two of you and your dynamic.

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5 Pervertables You Probably Have in Your House Right Now

Quality BDSM gear can be expensive. Sex shops sell some stuff, of course, though its quality is highly variable. A custom flogger or handmade paddle can cost anything from tens to hundreds of dollars. Many people simply don’t have that type of money and want to enjoy BDSM on a budget instead. Enter: pervertables.

What Are Pervertables?

Pervertables are innocuous everyday household items, reimagined and repurposed for kink. They are ideal for kinksters looking to do BDSM on a budget, anyone who is new to BDSM or wants to try a new type of sensation without blowing a lot of cash, or for those occasions when you find yourself somewhere without your toybag and want to have some fun.

And, of course, some pervertables can be sexy for their own sake. A lot of people fetishise, for example, the feeling and aesthetic of being spanked with a hairbrush.

Doing BDSM on a Budget? You Probably Have These 5 Pervertables in Your House Right Now

When it comes to using pervertables for BDSM and bondage at home, you’re limited only by your imagination and basic safety precautions. Here are five ideas for items you might have to hand right now that can have a kinky use.

Clothes Pegs

Clothes pegs are an amazing alternative to clamps and such an underrated kink toy! Choose the plastic ones with soft pads on the teeth if you’re after something less vicious. The wooden ones are often more pinchy. This can vary, though, so test them out on your finger before you apply them to anywhere more sensitive.

Use clothes pegs on nipples, labia, clits, cocks, or most sensitive fleshy areas. Keep them away from the face and neck. After a more intense or painful experience? Try putting a line of clothes pegs along your masochist’s back, tying them all together with string or twine, and pulling them all of at once. (Don’t surprise someone with this the first time you do it; it’s not for everyone, so always get consent first.)

Pro tip: the longer you leave clamps or pegs on, the more they’ll hurt when they come off.

Chopsticks

Chopsticks are another option for makeshift clamps. Simply squeeze a nipple (or other sensitive area) between two chopsticks and secure the ends with small elastic bands or hair ties. For a tighter squeeze, secure closer to the centre. To loosen them off, move the bands outwards.

Wooden Spoon

Arguably the ultimate household spanking implement, wooden spoons can deliver a surprisingly sharp and stingy sensation. Much like canes, their pain comes in waves – the initial sting when the blow hits, and then a second or two moments later as all the nerves fully register the impact.

Pervertables like wooden spoons are pretty safe when used on fleshy places like butts, but you should always start slowly and gently, checking in with your partner along the way. You’d be surprised how much they can hurt!

Hairbrush

Traditionally associated with over-the-knee spanking, hairbrushes remain enduringly popular impact implements. Different sizes, shapes and materials can feel very different, so make no assumptions, build up slowly, and communicate with your partner as you go about how it feels.

Ice

Ice is brilliant. You can use it on its own or alongside something like wax play for a fun temperature-based scene. You can run ice over your partner’s body for a cold tease, press it to a nipple or clit, or trail icy droplets all over them.

Ice play doesn’t have to be painful and can be purely sensual, but it definitely can be painful if that’s what you want. Typically, ice in sensitive places will become painful quite quickly. Keep the ice moving (i.e. don’t rest it on one spot for too long) and make sure that the bottom gets dried off and warmed up as quickly as possible after play.

…And 5 Things You Shouldn’t Use as Pervertables

All the pervertables and activities I’ve suggested here are relatively low risk as long as you communicate with your partner, practice risk-aware consensual kink (RACK), and observe some basic safety precautions such as understanding no-hit zones.

But there are also some things you absolutely should not use as pervertables. Here are a few of them:

Cable Ties

Cable ties (also known as zip ties) are not a safe way to restrain someone. They can tighten easily, cutting off circulation or causing nerve damage. They’re also thin bands of rough plastic, meaning there’s a high risk of them cutting or chafing the skin.

Household Candles

There are different schools of thought on this. Some people say that basic, unscented paraffin wax candles are okay. My stance, though, is it’s not worth the risk. Different wax blends and quality levels burn at different temperatures and it can be hard to know what you’re getting. Instead, choose wax play candles from a reputable maker or supplier.

Fruits and Vegetables

Please don’t insert fruits and veggies into your body. They can carry harmful bacteria, pesticides, or other contaminants which can lead to irritation or infection. They can also have rough or sharp areas which can cut you. It is particularly dangerous to insert anything without a flared base anally, as it could become stuck (leading to an embarrassing emergency room visit if not a serious injury.)

This applies to virtually any household items you might be tempted to insert, by the way. There are safe(r) ways to repurpose other items or make your own sex toy, but when you can get a basic silicone dildo for under $20, it’s just not worth taking risks with unsafe items.

Bamboo Garden Canes

Tempted to reach for one of those cheap bamboo gardening canes and repurpose it as a BDSM implement? Please, please don’t. Here’s why: when bamboo breaks, it splits horizontally along the shaft. This can result in razor-sharp long edges, putting the recieving partner at risk of a deep and dangerous cut.

Scarves

Scarves, particularly those made of slippery materials like silk, are popular “beginner bondage” materials for those wanting to practice BDSM on a budget. Unfortunately, they’re also far more dangerous than you think. They can easily tighten unintentionally, cutting off circulation, causing nerve damage, or making them difficult to undo quickly. Grab some basic jute or hemp rope and learn how to do some fundamental ties instead. You’ll be much safer.

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