Statement from Donna Rice Hughes: Teen Vogue Must Stop Promoting Sexual Activity to Youth
 

Statement of Internet Safety Advocate Donna Rice Hughes on Teen Vogue’s Promotion of "Safe Anal Sex" for Pre-Teen and Teen Audiences. 

July 20, 2017

Great Falls, VA – “Teen Vogue crossed the line by publishing a “how-to” guide on anal sex for its young readers on its online site,” said Donna Rice-Hughes, President ofEnough Is Enough^® (EIE), the pioneering Internet safety organization. “It is irresponsible for a mainstream teen fashion publication owned by the trusted Conde Nast Company, to encourage teens and tweens to explore any type of sexual activity, for that matter. Our children must never be the target of unsolicited sexual advice from a mainstream media publication, and we urge the editors to retract the article immediately, for the safety, emotional and mental well-being of our children.”

Teen Vogue’s article, Anal Sex: What You Need to Know/How to Do it the Right Way (July 7, 2017, TeenVogue.com) contains numerous diagrams of both the female and male genitalia that are labeled gender-neutral as “non-prostate owners” and “prostate owners.” The article states, “This is anal 101, for teens, beginners, and all inquisitive folk. The anus is full of nerve endings that, for some, feel awesome when stimulated.”

Following initial public outrage over the article, Teen Vogue’s digital editor Phillip Picardi responded with a tweet stating: “In conclusion, here's my only reply I'll be giving to any of the messages.” The tweet was accompanied by a photo of what appears to be Mr. Pacardi embracing in a kiss with another man while holding up his middle finger. 

“I can only hope that Teen Vogue will step up to the plate and take responsibility for the content it publishes that is geared to our teens,” said Hughes. “Parents should be the primary source for teaching their children about healthy sexuality.” 

In order to prompt quick action for this article to be removed from the TeenVogue.comwebsite and not to be published in a future print version of the magazine, EIE urges concerned citizens to sign a petition which will go to the digital editor of Teen Vogue.  

Enough Is Enough^® reminds parents that it is critical for them to know what information their child is accessing, since popular magazines or websites geared towards children are not always safe. Parents should serve as the first line of defense in protecting their children from messages and content they are receiving. 

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