SAN FRANCISCO – For 21 years, people the world over have “given themselves a hand” during International Masturbation Month, which takes place annually in May. Founded in 1995 by adult products retailer Good Vibrations, the celebration encourages folks to learn, practice and embrace the art of self-pleasure.

The month-long, global exploration of masturbation is as important and culturally relevant today as it was in the beginning, according to Good Vibrations staff sexologist and author Carol Queen, Ph.D.

“Too many people still feel uncomfortable about masturbation and guilty about doing it,” Queen said. “If only so much of U.S. culture were not so burdened with ideas that masturbation is shameful, a sin or a poor second choice to partner sex.”

Queen was among the creators of the Masturbation Month concept. Originally, the event protested the firing of then-Surgeon-General Joycelyn Elders, who evoked conservative wrath when she opined that discussion of masturbation might have a place in sex education curricula. Dumfounded that one simple, sensible mention of solo pleasuring was enough to cost a respected physician her job, the Good Vibrations staff set about creating a program to counter conservative bias against “safe sex” in its most basic form.

This year, Good Vibrations will celebrate International Masturbation Month May 15 with an event on each U.S. coast. Author Jenny Block will launch her new book, The Ultimate Guide to Solo Sex, in the San Francisco store. The Brookline, Mass., store will host a free workshop entitled Love Yourself, Literally: Empowerment Through Masturbation. Both events are open to the public.