Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders has lived to fight another day. She traverses the country speaking, with great charm and humor as evidenced in the video above, about the powerful anti-sex forces (and hypocrites) that caused her to step down as Surgeon General during the Clinton Administration. Her top priority coming into office (the reason she accepted the post in fact) was to improve sexual health and prevent teen pregnancy. Thankfully, she has not given up that mission. These days she's telling the real story behind her resignation, which had more to do with the shame we as a country feel about sex than with any specific infraction. (Some will remember that the apparent "scandal" that led to her resignation was that she used the word "masturbation" in answer to a question. She seemed to feel - how radical! - that masturbation isn't a terrible evil.) For Elders, it's in part our collective, self-imposed shame that is a root cause of STDs and unintended pregnancy. One can only imagine the impact she would have had if given the chance to prioritize prevention. Lucky for all of us, she continues to be a passionate, honest voice for girls, women, family planning and sexual freedom. Listening to Elders, it's clear we have lots to learn from the veterans of this war on sex.