One of the activities of my organization, amongst many other things, is to demonstrate the proper application of condoms during educational talks and VCT (Voluntary (HIV) Counselling & Testing) sessions. Unfortunately, because of the enormous expense of anatomically "more" correct dildos, my org has been unable to afford anything more than wooden dildos....you know the kind you saw in high school sex ed classes (pre Bush& before sex ed classes were stripped out of the classroom because of those people who feel that abstinence is the ONLY way to prevent everything from STIs to ADHD).
In an effort to address the need, I recalled how, many months ago, one of my dear friends from Chicago asked me what I wanted/needed. At the time, she was a board member of amazing organization that supports the social, health, and all around well-being of African American women loving women, Affinity. In her on rite, she's an activist, educator, student, friend and divine diva! I knew that Gaylon would be the perfect person to ask, and sure enough, she jumped at the request. I wasn't exactly sure, however, if a big box full of dildos would be allowed through customs (and since I've had a bad history with the South African Postal Service not delivering my packages), I was particularly concerned...but hoped that it would shock them enough to actually deliver it. I had her write "used educational materials" on the outside of the box, but really wanted her to write "for needy sexy people". I'm not sure which one sounds worse, but I figured that I'd go for the former instead. Needless to say, the package arrive yesterday! I just can't tell you how excited people were at my office. I think this is probably the first time many of them have ever seen a "life like" dildo. Actually, this is probably the first opportunity that many of the female counsellors will be able to freely explore the male sexual anatomy. I say this because, as a part of some of the cultures present in South Africa, it is taboo for a woman to talk to her male sexual partner about how and when to engage in sex. In some cultures it is taboo for a woman to touch her male partner's penis. Some women have never seen their partner's penis. One thought is that it is not proper for a wife to touch or see her husband's penis. That job is reserved for girlfriends only (and having a wife and a girlfriend is culturally accepted, but that's a whole other story).
I think that these dildos will not only help educate people coming in for VCT, but will help in the empowerment of women (both counselee and counsellor).
I would really like to thank Gaylon for her overwhelming support of me, my organization, and the movement to combat the spread of HIV and empower people everywhere to take control of their sexuality! Ke a leboga thata gape!
Saving one tree and one person at a time!
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