personal essay
I Was a Jealous Partner Until I Went on a Swingers Vacation
If you told me a year ago that I'd watch my husband get a blowjob from a stranger and not feel jealous, I'd have laughed in your face.
The Old Country Buffet Was My Immigrant Father's American Dream
He saw the abundance of the Old Country Buffet as a symbol of his success, proof that he had transcended his old identity as a poor immigrant.
How a Cis, Hetero Couple Became My Queer Chosen Family
When I came out as trans, when I found out I was infertile, when my queer heart was broken—the Thompsons were always there for me.
Getting Anally Fisted for the First Time Was Unexpectedly Perfect
The idea of getting fisted for the first time was thrilling, nerve-wracking, and entirely sexy.
What It's Like Growing Up with the Belief that Tampons Take Virginity
As a teen, I felt stuck in a miserable balancing act: hiding tampons from my family or being shamed by friends for not using them.
After My Ex Stalked Me Online, I Saw The Dark Side Of Romantic Obsession
Thanks to a childhood spent watching romantic comedies with forceful male leads, I thought love was persistent and never gave up—until my ex stalked me after our breakup.
Instagram DMs Are an Antidote to the Difficulties of Adult Friendships
In these conversations, I feel like we’re keeping the friendship alive, finding ways to fit moments of connection into our weird, sprawling, digital-and-not-digital lives.
When I Met the Now-Arrested Leader of a 'Feminist' Cult and His 'Kittens'
After the recent news of Turkish televangelist Adnan Oktar's arrest for fraud, sexual assault, and espionage, I look back on what it was like to meet him and the women of his "Islamic Creationist" cult, known as his "kittens."
I Learned About My Dad’s Secret Family After His Death
“Even after you’re dead, people are eventually going to find out about who you really were.”
What It Was Like Getting an Abortion Before Roe v. Wade
Jo Baxter opens up about getting an illegal abortion in 1965—and her fears now that abortion rights in the US are under attack.
I Went to a Catholic Hospital During My Miscarriage—And It Nearly Killed Me
At the time, I was staunchly anti-choice, and did not go to the hospital looking for an abortion. But when I found out the pregnancy was ending, I just wanted to get the care I needed.