Masturbation isn't cheating, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily comfortable to speak about with your partner. Thanks to a new survey of over 4,000 users of LGBTQ dating app HER, however, we know that many queer people are open about their self-love habits: 71 percent of respondents have discussed masturbation with their partner — while 65 percent engage in mutual masturbation. HER users are FLINTA, an acronym meaning female, lesbian, intersex, nonbinary, trans, and asexual/aromantic.
The Pride and Pleasure report(opens in a new tab), as HER calls it, also reveals that a staggering 97 percent of respondents masturbate, with 77 percent doing so weekly and 14 percent daily. They use a variety of methods to get off — 82 percent watch porn occasionally, with Gen Z more so than Gen X and Millennials. Meanwhile, more people (around 56 percent) think about someone they know than their partner (around 30 percent). About 35 percent masturbate to someone imaginary, while 18 percent are thinking about their sex.
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Seventy percent use sex toys while masturbating, with vibrators taking the lead, followed by dildos. Suction toys, anal toys, and shower heads are in the mix, as well. Someone's bed or shower is the most popular destination for getting it on with oneself.
"The queer community's commitment to self-pleasure not only showcases their passion for exploration and intimacy but also highlights the importance of self-love and acceptance," HER's press release reads. "By boldly embracing their desires, queers are challenging societal norms and paving the way for a more inclusive and liberated future."
