The Gets Better Project was created to show teenagers of the LGBT community that they are not alone and that things will get better. Since its creation in 2010, more then 40,000 videos have been made and they have been viewed millions of times. Video submissions have been received from people like President Obama, Ke$ha, Tim Gun, and the staff of Google. As a part of the It Gets Better Project, students and staff at the University of South Florida put together their own video. To view, please click the link below.
www.youtube.com/watch

Did you know that there are 12 steps to using a condom? Often we hear that people think the only thing you need to do is put on a condom or use a dental dam. To keep us all safe and aware, REACH would like to explain the 12 steps. The 12 steps denote important aspects to engaging in sexual activity, from asking for consent all the way through proper disposal.

Step one: Store condom properly.
• There are some places that you would not want to store a condom because it can be damaging to the condom (ie. The condom may become punctured). These places include a wallet, handbag, car, freezer, refrigerator etc. A condom should be stored only in a cool, dry place that is convenient for use.

Step two: Question partner about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and birth control.
• A person would want to question their partner about STIs because not all STIs have symptoms that you can see. You may want to know the last time they were tested and what the results were. You and your partner can also go get tested together as a bonding experience and to be sure of the results. You would also want to ask about birth control because birth control methods like the pill do not prevent against STIs, but can be a good back up method against pregnancy if the condom breaks.

Step three: Get consent.
• Consent is getting permission from both partners on what sexual acts they would like to engage in without coercion. Once someone has given their consent they can also take it away at any time. There are 3 groups of people that cannot give consent as stated by law; these groups are those who are mentally handicapped, under the influence of alcohol or any other drugs, and minors. If consent has not been given, sexual act would be considered rape.

Step four: Check condom type and expiration date
• Condoms come in many different types so it is important to know what kind you have. One reason this is important is because some people may be allergic to latex. If they use a latex condom it can cause irritation which can then increase the chances of contracting a STI. There is also a type of condom that only prevents against pregnancy called a lamb skin condom, and you would not want to use this condom if you want protection against STIs. The expiration date of the condom is also important because the material the condom is made of can breakdown over time. After the expiration date the condom is more prone to breaking and is less effective.

Step five: Check for air bubble in package
• An air bubble in the condom package means that the package and condom have not been punctured. The way to check for the air bubble is to fold the condom pack in half and lightly squeeze back and forth, feeling for the air. If there is no air bubble do not use that condom because it could mean that the condom has been punctured or dried out.

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Many people believe that the leading cause of oral cancer is tobacco use. Although this may have been true thirty years ago, it’s not the case today. Now, 64% of oropharynx cancers in the United States are caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection that can be spread during the act of oral sex. Isn’t HPV what causes genital warts and cervical cancer? Yes, but that’s not all! Many people don’t know, but there are over 100 strains of HPV, all of which affect the body in different ways. Of particular concern is HPV16 which has been shown to cause more than half of all oral cancer cases in America.

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 37,000 people are diagnosed each year with oral cancer in the United States. Of these people, 25 percent will die because of the disease. However, of all diagnosed cases, 57 percent of oral cancer patients will be alive five years later. The reason for so many deaths is not because it is so virulent but because it is not detected. In America, approximately 100 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer every day, and one person will die every hour. What may be even more shocking is that there has been a 225 percent increase in oral cancer cases in the United States between 1974 and 2007. Quite often, dentists are among the first to notice the signs and symptoms of oral cancer. The symptoms can be visually observed by a 3 to 5 minute visual and tactile exam.

The risk for oral cancer increases with the number of different oral sex partners that a person has, this is due to the fact that it increases the chance that one of their partners is a carrier HPV. If people are looking for ways to protect themselves a few things that they can do is, 1) see a dentist regularly and ask for the BrushTest by your dentist which checks for abnormal cells, 2) discontinue the use of alcohol and tobacco, and 3) always use a condom or dental dam when performing oral sex. Scientists have shown that it is probable that the vaccines Gardasil and Cervarix, used for protection against genital HPV, may be useful in the protection of oral cancer.

Sources:
http://oralcancerfoundation.org/
http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/OnCall/story?id=6034244&page=1
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2008/02/05/oral-sex-a-factor-in-oral-cancer-increase