Taking its cue from heated responses to Paul Ruditis's Rainbow Party, the NY Times asks how common rainbow parties really are. The answer: not very.

"This 'phenomenon' has all the classic hallmarks of a moral panic," said Dr. Deborah Tolman ... "One day we have never heard of rainbow parties and then suddenly they are everywhere, feeding on adults' fears that morally bankrupt sexuality among younger teens is rampant, despite any actual evidence, as well as evidence to the contrary."

... "One of the reasons this is so dubious to me," Dr. Tolman said, "is that girls, particularly early adolescents, are still getting labeled as sluts and suffering painful consequences. The double standard is remarkably intact. So what could be girls' motivations for participating in such parties? And I can't quite imagine, even for a moment, teenage boys comparing their lipstick rings."