Words by: Natalia Godinez
Art by: Steph Bridges
It was a typical Monday afternoon. I was in the communal laundry room, tackling the mountain of clothes that had piled up over the past week.
The communal dryers were humming along, and I was folding my clothes when, like a scene out of a rom-com, the guy I had a massive crush on walked in.
… Love in the Time of Laundry
Words by: Lizzie Tooth
Art by: Nikole Bradbury
It can get a little awkward when you are watching a movie with your family, and the characters start having sex. But don’t fret, your parents aren’t watching right now! It’s time to sit back, grab your popcorn and enjoy the following steamy scenes as they were intended.
… Sex Scenes 101
Words by: Esperanto Team
Sexologist: Chantelle Otten
Chantelle Otten is the sex therapist of sex therapists. Based here in Melbourne but globally renowned, Chantelle’s passion is to help people feel free and confident in their sensual selves. She is an award-winning sexologist, a published author and a Sexual Health and Wellness ambassador for Lovehoney and Bumble. Chantelle is all about making sex ed sexy through her practice as a sex therapist, short explainers on Instagram, her podcast ‘Give Me A Buzz’ and much more.
… Espy Asks: A Sexologist
Words and Art by: Janae Hunter… Even How I Know You Now
Words by: Ash Dowling
Art by: Jen Chen
As a law student, I’ve gotten pretty intimate with the affirmative consent laws that came into effect in Victoria in July last year. They require a person to actively take steps, through words or actions, to obtain the affirmative consent of the other person, which means willingness and permission, rather than a mere lack of protestation.
Sorry — talking about law reform is probably a turn-off, but asking your sexual partner for consent shouldn’t have the same effect.
… Talk Directly To MeWords and Art by: Anonymous
Rating: ★★★★★
Prep: 3 mins – 20 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Serves: As many as you like
Written and tested by Anonymous
Vanilla sex gets a bad wrap. Is it slow? Yes. Can it be a little repetitive? Maybe. Is it boring? Absolutely not. Vanilla might not be your cup of tea, but it’s definitely mine. There is nothing better than feeling loved and being caressed like a delicacy by your partner. So here is my recipe for decadent, craving-satisfying vanilla sex that can be enjoyed in the bedroom, sprawled across the living room rug, on the kitchen counter or anywhere else you might fancy a little something sweet.
… The Perfect Vanilla Sex
Words by: Dayna Lim
Art by: Jennifer Hoang
I ventured into watching porn some time shy of 18-years-old, and like many others, I started on Tumblr. A platform that marks a bygone era and that will be missed by many.
On Tumblr, my primary viewing platform, most of the content I encountered was cis and hetero-centric. While this did not bother me as much back then, I look back in hindsight with a lot more potential concerns regarding my personal curation of pornography. I had not encountered the concept of ethical porn back then.
… Porn Supremacy: The Female POV
Words by: Ash Dowling
Art by: Luca Maclssac
But it’s time to stand up to the industry and debunk some of the tools that are at best, unnecessary, and at worst, harmful to our sexual health.
… Femfresh, No Thanks!Words and Art by: Anonymous
Much like the sexually active teens from Netflix’s reboot of ‘Heartbreak High’, I too have made some interesting willy-nilly choices in my youth. In hindsight, these horny choices might seem regrettable, but now I have some entertaining stories to tell. So, I guess there are positives to everything!
… Heartbreak Highs and LowsWords by: Anonymous Art by: Gina Day
“It’s a superpower”, they say.
“No it’s not,” some of us reply.
At the current stage in my journey, I would argue on the side of both. It’s simultaneously a disability… and a superpower.
… My Neurodivergence Loves Sex
Words by: Ilana Cohen
Art by: Dora Chung
It has been one hell of a year. Without getting too Carrie Bradshaw on you, I’ll tell you how my sex life was impacted, and how my partner and I were brought closer together because of it.
A lot of things can impact one’s sex life. Grief being one of them. recently lost someone close to me, someone I spent a lot of time with and who welcomed me into their life amidst a terminal diagnosis. To add to the heartbreak, she was my partner’s sister. He experienced a loss and pain can’t even imagine. Because of that, my relationship felt stagnant at times, and at others, couldn’t have been more enthralling.
… The Intimate Moments
Words by: Angel Tully
Art by: Jess Heng
I’m not looking for a man in finance with a trust fund who’s 6’5 with blue eyes — sue me.
I know some people may argue that there’s nothing sexier than a corporate slave who dresses himself with Daddy’s money, but I’ve got my eyes on a different prize.
… Sexy Fireman Pants
Words by: Shabnam Sidhu
Art by: Evelyn Johnson
This was never the way I planned, not my intention…
I was 12, belting out the lyrics to Katy Perry’s ‘I Kissed a Girl’, curious about what Cherry Chapstick off someone else’s lips would taste like. I thought to myself, I would kiss a girl, but I would never do anything more than that.
… Could You Eat That Girl For Lunch?
Words by: Akira Kerr
Art by: Sama Harris
Maren is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met.
I met her while I was studying abroad, and she quickly became a beloved member of our group of kindred international folk. One time we all sent a picture of ourselves from when we were little to our group chat and she took it upon herself to categorise us by whether we would have been a kid who stabbed other kids with pencils or who were the unfortunate stab-ees. Maren is very flirtatious. She threw winks at people across the table, once suggestively told me she would ‘tell me about it later’, and tenderly slow-danced with people when we went to karaoke.
She is also asexual and aromantic.
… Hearts and AcesWords by: Karen Grace Prince
Art by: Jess Whelan
It’s the summer of 2016, and I’m watching the infamous City Hunter for the first time. And if you’re not in the loop, it’s probably THE quintessential hard-boiled crime anime — a cult classic that follows a private detective with a sharp aim and penchant for shameless womanising.
Even at fifteen, I couldn’t shake my youthful discomfort: why were the female characters simply there just to be props for sexualisation or violence? What was the point of their existence beyond advancing the male character’s story? Why are the women reduced to mere objects for lust and trauma in the narrative, and nothing more?
… Keep Your Panty (Shots) To Yourself
Esperanto Magazine 