Every ongoing interaction is a relationship, and we talk about all kinds of them: friendships, romantic and sexual relationships, relationships at work and at home, at school and out and about in the world. Dating, breakups, shakeups, makeups; situationships, crushes, love-of-your-lifes. From figuring out what kinds of relationships you want, to navigating change or trouble, if it’s about you + someone else, it’s probably here.
Relationships
Highlighted content
Penny
My mom is super Catholic, and also super homophobic. She doesn't know I'm gay, and I'm not planning on telling her any time soon. Does this make me a bad queer person? I feel really guilty, because...
Advice
I still love my mom even though she's homophobic. Does this make me a bad queer person?
- Heather Corinna
Articles and Advice in this area:
Advice
- Mo Ranyart
Hi there, I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling so lonely. First I want to tackle the fact that your friends in relationships seem to be drifting away from you and your group of friends. It’s unfortunate, but it is common for many people to pull away from their friends when they enter a relationship…
Advice
- Sam Wall
A great part about doing sex ed is that it’s a place where you can ask questions about all aspects of relationships. What can sometimes get forgotten, even in sex positive spaces, is that for some people kissing is as big a deal as sex is. Let’s tackle the first thing I notice in your question: that…
Advice
- Sam Wall
My answer to your question is at once simple and really, really complicated: don’t ask your mom permission. You’re an adult, you don’t need her permission, or anyone’s, to explore sex. Truthfully, you didn’t need her permission when you were sixteen either. Even when you’re a kid, what you choose to…
Advice
- Sam Wall
The tradition of “men pursue, women wait” is still culturally prevalent, and a lot of families (yours included) teach their children that men should be the ones doing the asking when it comes to romance. This notion is problematic for a number of reasons. It reinforces not-so-great ideas about how…
Advice
- Sam Wall
Oof, this is a tough spot, and I’m sorry you’ve found yourself in it. I want to start by saying that your instincts, and what you’ve been hearing, are spot on. When you sense that someone you care about is being isolated by a partner, especially a partner with a history of harassment and assault, it…
Advice
- Sam Wall
Hi Freckle Face, There are a couple of things in your question that I want to address. The first is that you are, correctly, noticing that your friends are applying a double standard when it comes to talking about sex with you. Now, to be clear, people have different levels of comfort around…
Advice
- Heather Corinna
Before I say anything else (and I’ve got a lot, so go on and put your feet up: this is big stuff, so you deserve big responses), I want to make a couple things super-clear. One: you get to have whatever kind of mutually consensual sexual life it turns out feels right for you, even if that turned out…
Article
- Kori
- Andi MacDonald
How do you navigate a relationship when one or both partners are dealing with pain?
Advice
- Heather Corinna
This is one of those situations that I think is telling you it’s time to start claiming – and insisting upon – your independence. I kept the title you chose for this because it’s clear you know what the problem is: control. The solution is about control, too: you taking control of your own life…
Advice
- Sam Wall
Okay, first things first. If the bullying of him and you is at this level, then it’s time to call in the administration at the school and let them know what’s happening. If there’s a teacher that you or he trusts, they might be able to help you with the process. But this is one of those times where…
