Gifts & Resources

Looking for information & inspiration that might support you in your journey? Here is a curated collection of resources I’d like to offer. Is there something you think should be added or removed from this list? Awesome - please let me know.

Sex, Pleasure & Justice Educators and Resources:

Luna Matatas - Luna supports folks in building confidence, creativity and communication in and out of the bedroom. Luna loves teaching workshops that inspires her viewers to shed shame and empower them to reach for more pleasure.

Andrew Gurza - Andrew Gurza is a Disability Awareness Consultant and Cripple Content Creator. In his work, he seeks to explore how the lived experience of disability feels, as it interplays with intersectional communities.

Kai Cheng Thom - Kai Cheng is a somatically trained coach, consultant, and conflict resolution practitioner working at the intersection of mind, body, and collective soul, as well as being an internationally published, award-winning author of a number of books including I Hope We Choose Love.

Onika Henry - Onika Henry lives on the island of Tobago, in the Caribbean, and is a sexologist and qualified Sex Coach who has a B.A. in Theatre Arts, with a minor in Psychology. She uses this combination of specialties for the benefit of her clients in an environment that is healthy, fun, productive and most of all, safe and non-judgemental.

Emily Nagoski - Emily Nagoski is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestseller Come As You Are, as well as Burnout. Emily is an expert on sexual wellbeing, healthy relationships, and the prevention of sexual violence and harassment. Emily’s work is available at Medium.com, plus she has three TED talks available on TED's website.

Peggy Kleinplatz - Peggy is a Canadian sexologist who recently co-authored the book Magnificent Sex, which asks the question “what makes sex magnificent?”. This book is the largest in-depth interview study ever conducted with people who self identify as having magnificent sex. It gathers wisdom and information to support readers in learning more about how to cultivate great sex.

Cory Silverberg - Cory is the author of a number of important sex education books - The Ultimate Guide to Sex & Disability (an as of yet unparalleled resource) plus What Makes A Baby and Sex Is A Funny Word. Cory also co-founded Come As You Are - an anti-capitalist and sex-positive sex store that I was involved with for 10 years. Be sure to savour the amazing artwork by Fiona Smyth in Cory’s children's books and on CAYA’s website!

Audre Lorde - Audre Lorde was an American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist. She was a self-described "black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," who "dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, and homophobia." Her article The Uses of the Erotic: The Erotic as Power is a powerful read, as is much of the rest of her writing.

adrienne maree brown - The question of ‘how do we make social justice the most pleasurable human experience’ sits at the centre of my own personal inquiries, and of the work I do in the world. It feels important that changing the world should be fun, sexy, erotic, playful, and restful if it’s going to be sustainable, and if it’s going to result in a world that we actually want to live in. I deeply celebrate amb’s writing via Emergent Strategy and Pleasure Activism.

Mantak Chia - Author of the Multi Orgasmic series of books, Mantak offers holistic and rich education about sexual health and wellness from his journey as a Taoist Master. Of particular importance for me are his contributions to the conversation about cis men’s sexuality, specifically regarding cultivating awareness and control of arousal patterns, ejaculation, plus separating orgasm from ejaculation in The Multi-Orgasmic Man.

Dr. Shemeka Thorpe - Dr. Thorpe is a sex researcher and educator who centres the experience of Black women, and creates space to prioritize their erotic wellbeing. She has created a Google Doc of Black Sexuality, Feminism, and Pleasure Reading List - which includes 34 titles. She also has a list of BIPOC pelvic floor therapists in the USA/Canada on her website.

Sex Toys, Tools & Media:

Come As You Are - As I’ve mentioned elsewhere on my website, I spent 10 years as a worker/owner at this anti-capitalist and sex positive co-operative sex store. During my time at CAYA I produced a number of videos reviewing products that are near & dear to my heart. Over on YouTube there are 16 videos where I offer a breakdown of how different toys are meant to work, the pros and cons, plus education about the manufacturers that are producing sex toys these days. I focus on high quality and ethical products that are made in Canada or the USA. Learn more here. Or, check out CAYA’s bestselling sex toys and sex information.

PinkLabel.tv - PinkLabel.tv is created and curated by Shine Louise Houston, a black queer indie porn producer. She decided to create PinkLabel.tv, a subscription porn site where audiences around the world could experience the kinds of films she was enjoying at indie porn showcases, as well as the types of bodies and desires that aren’t often depicted on conventional adult websites.

Cine Sinclaire - Cine Sinclaire is an indie porn company based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They prioritize hiring and representing LGBTQ+ folks in their porn productions, and take a stance of ensuring that their portrayals of pleasure are true, intimate, and beautiful.