G&STC Director Jesse Kahn talks with Very Good Light about How To Have Safe Sex During COVID-19

CHECK OUT G&STC’S DIRECTOR JESSE KAHN TALKING WITH CRISTINA MONTEMAYOR AT VERY GOOD LIGHT ABOUT HOW TO HAVE SAFE SEX DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

Here are some highlights:

“In a pandemic, your safest sex partner is yourself, but that doesn’t mean it has to be the same old song and dance rub and tug. Don’t be afraid to mix up your masturbation routine.
‘If you don’t usually get verbal while masturbating, add in some dialogue! Tell yourself what you like, how you like it, and how your body is responding,’ suggests Jesse Kahn, LCSW-R, CST, Director & Sex Therapist at the Gender & Sexuality Therapy Center in NYC.”
“‘If you usually use a vibrator to self-pleasure, have a night where you’re hands-only, explore anal play, or using a dildo,’ says Jesse. ‘Even if you don’t orgasm in a new way, you’ll find more ways to experience pleasure and play in your own body that you can use moving forward!’”
“‘If you’re uncertain about having sex or physical contact with a new person, there are other ways to experience intimacy and contact with others, such as meeting outside, sexting, video-based sex, online play parties, and sexual positions that minimize face-to-face contact,’ says Jesse.”
“There’s a lot of shame around hooking up in a pandemic, and while it may be well-intended, denying people the opportunity to experience some pleasure amidst all this pain seems extra cruel. There’s no guidebook for any of this, so the best way to engage in safe, responsible sex starts with being honest and setting boundaries that make sense for your lifestyle.
‘Regarding rules, I think we all have varying needs and wants, so a more personalized plan is often more helpful and will be easier to follow,’ says Jesse. ‘For example, we know that COVID-19 is primarily spread through respiratory droplets, making kissing a higher risk activity. If kissing is important, we can reduce risk through communication.’”