SEX:
A DIFFERENT KIND OF SAFE SEX words by Megan Adams art by Sam Currier
Has being quarantined made you hornier than ever? Have you been struggling to find ways to stay satisfied and socially distanced? Do you just desperately want to get off all the time? Us too. Fucking, whether it’s by yourself or with a partner(s), during a pandemic can be tricky, but there is hope: let’s talk COVID-safe sex. Everybody hates COVID, but what we hate even more is how staying sexually active is just another challenge brought on by the pandemic. For Syracuse University junior Sarah (names have been changed for privacy reasons), forcibly becoming long-distance dared her and her boyfriend to make some changes to their regularly-scheduled sexual activity. “Because of the distance, we usually FaceTimed each other and had virtual sex until we came back to school and could see each other again.” Still, there are definite advantages to being in close quarters. “My sex life has gotten better and more consistent since the
pandemic because I only have one partner whom I trust completely.” COVID relationships seem to be a common theme over the course of the pandemic. Now that we’re all cooped up, EVERY season is #cuffingszn. Casual hookups have also changed as a result of the pandemic. For Jerk’s Sexplained columnist, Polly, hooking up with friends, rather than randos at Lucy’s, is a safer option. “I would definitely say I’ve been having less random hookups and have been hooking up with friends more often.” In terms of finding regular sexual partners, Polly said she “has a couple that I see more regularly and definitely more regular consistent partners [in her hometown].” Tinder's become a dangerous game lately, especially without knowing someone’s COVID practices or even their testing status. SU sophomore Drew is wary of dating apps, especially now. “On dating apps, I try to find out if the person is real because catfishing is very realistic, especially in the queer community.” Look out for too many professionallytaken photos, reluctance to send any selfies, or even just a certain off vibe — these can all be red flags. Some students aren’t even hooking up in person at all and have become completely reliant on digital options like porn, sexting, and Facetiming as a way to, uh... get off. “When everybody