Here's the news.
London to stage the UK’s first ‘masturbate-a-thon’
London will be hosting the UK's first "masturbate-a-thon" next month in which hundreds of men and women are expected to pleasure themselves for charity.
The setting in Clerkenwell Road, London will feature soft lighting, softer furnishings, relaxing music and solo booths.
The sponsored event takes place on August 5 and will raise money for the Terrence Higgins Trust and sexual and reproductive health agency Marie Stopes International.
The Marie Stopes International says the day aims "to act as a public education device to increase the use of self pleasure as a strategy for safer sex."
The charity's spokesman, Tony Kerridge, said: "As a global family planning agency, at its core Marie Stopes International is concerned with promoting the individual's right to enjoy sex safely and, should they choose, without the risk of conception.
"The Masturbate-a-thon seeks to raise awareness of, and dispel the shame and taboos that persist around this most commonplace, natural and safe form of sexual activity."
"In our work all over the world, every day we see the consequences of fertile orgasms, in the form of unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections and HIV/Aids.
"So it is absolutely right that we associate ourselves with this initiative to promote this risk and consequence free method of sexual expression."
The charity masturbate-a-thon has taken place in San Francisco for the last five years.
Participants are sponsored for every minute they masturbate.
Production company Zig Zag says, on its website, that the event was originally started by sexologist Dr Carol Queen.
It says: "This year it's time to bring the event across the pond to see if the Great British public can embrace mass public masturbation.
"It's time to find out if the only things allowed to be stiff in Britain are upper lips."
Organisers, the Centre for Sex and Culture, said: "The US Masturbate-A-Thon is hoping to see new challenges to the current record of 8 hours and 30 minutes.
"We hope to maintain the US record - but we just may lose it. If the winner of the English event goes beyond this time it will mean a new international record. If they do not then a first English Record shall be established."
Channel Four has commissioned a "provocative and mischievous" series of programmes, which includes the UK "masturbate-a-thon".
Channel Four factual entertainment commissioning editor, Andrew MacKenzie, said: "We feel this is exactly the type of provocative and mischievous programming that Channel 4 should be covering in the 11pm slot. Masturbation is something many people do but not many people talk about."
The US Masturbate-A-Thon is hoping to see new challenges to the current record of
8 hours and 30 minutes.
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