Sexual Safety

Only you can decide if you’re ready for sex… and sex can mean vaginal, anal or oral sex… if and when you think you’re ready, you should talk with your partner so you both can set your boundaries and limits with each other, and so you both can consider getting tested.

Remember, anyone who has sexual contact with someone else, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity, is at risk for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV. Some behaviors are riskier than others, so make sure you are keeping yourself safe and making healthy decisions to protect your body. How do I do that, you may ask?

Well, check out these websites for information on how to keep yourself safe when it comes to sex, and to find out how to get tested for HIV and other STIs.

Sex, Etc. www.sexetc.org
A website by teens, for teens. They have a great section on GLBTQ issues!

teenwire.com www.teenwire.com
teenwire.com is an award-winning sexual health Web site for teens. We are committed to giving you the facts about sex so that you can use this information to make your own responsible choices. We provide honest and nonjudgmental information about sexuality in language you can understand with the hope that you will use this knowledge to reduce your risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Planned Parenthood www.plannedparenthood.org
Planned Parenthood health centers offer high-quality sexual and reproductive health care, including family planning, gynecological care, STI/STD testing and treatment, pregnancy testing, and abortion services.

AIDS Project RI www.aidsprojectri.org
AIDS Project Rhode Island is the state’s first AIDS service organization. Their mission is to provide compassionate, non-judgmental and collaborative response to the needs of people infected, affected and at risk of HIV/AIDS. This website provides a list of places in Rhode Island to get tested.