It all started in 1994 in the United States of America, when the Clinton-Chairman U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders was fired because she said that it be a good idea if children learned to masturbate as a part of sexual-education, and that masturbation should be more public subject for debate.
The firing of Joycelyn Elders made the toy-store "Good Vibrations" in San Francisco to imply a so-called "National Masturbation Month". The goal was to make masturbation more visible and accessible as a subject for debate, by dedicating one of filled with fun events and education.
Good Vibrations dedicated May as the masturbation-month. Part because the happy and mild month of May for a long time has been viewed as a symbol of sexual awakening. May and masturbation both begin with letter M which is also reason why this month was dedicated to masturbation.
Since its birth in 1995 National Masturbation month has been subject for debate. If you search Masturbate-a-thon on google you will almost get 10.00 hits. Some are critical and moralizing, but most of them are positive and describes the many joys and advantages this great solo-sport give occasion for.
In 1998 Good Vibrations decided to expand their masturbation-month with a Masturbate-a-thon. It all started with a sponsored-event which lasted one weekend, where the participants had friends which promised them an amount of money for each minute they masturbated. The masturbation itself took place in private housing. The first couple of years masturbate-a-thon worked as a do-it-at-home-event which raised 25.000 dollars. 66.000 sponsors and where 1.700 people participated from 6 different countries.
In the year of 2000 Dr. Carol Queen and other enthusiastic activist from Good Vibrations were juggling with the idea of creating a live Masturbate-a-thon event, instead of people hanging out at home masturbating. Good Vibrations gave the Masturbate-a-thon-concept to Dr. Queen and her partner Dr. Robert Lawrence so that they could develop further.
Carol Queen is a sex-instructor, writer and doctor in human sexuality. She and Robert Lawrence are the founders of the center Sex and Culture - a non-profit organization, which the couple founded nine years ago.
Since they took control of the event, Masturbate-a-thon has raised money for all kinds of health-initiatives for women, hiv-prevention and a great deal of sex-education and treatment activities. It has also contributed to countless debates regarding safe-sex and alternative safe sex methods.
The event has also developed into a sport where the participants become athletes in competitions:
Timer records:
In september 2006 Masturbate-a-thon event moved to Europe where the first European Masturbate-a-thon took place in London. No controversies were opposed to this happening. Channel 4 created a documentary on the event, which has not been released yet due to conservative forces.
And now Copenhagen will be the next host for Masturbate-a-thon in may 2008. Everyone in the sex-positive movement is thrilled!
More information on Masturbate-a-thon on:
1) www.masturbate-a-thon.com
2) www.masturbate-a-thon.co.uk
3) www.masturbate-a-thon.org
Several Masturbate-a-thon competition record can be found on Wikipedia