#1 Virginity is a social construct that has no evidence to support it.

People respond with excitement and surprise when they learn what I do. Often, I’m the first sex professional they’ve met. This can be especially true in communities of color and immigrant populations. Though sex education/coaching is a growing field, finding culturally relevant resources can still be a challenge, especially if you don’t know where to look.

As adults, it’s not unusual to see our reflections (if we even dare to look at a mirror) and name things we don’t like (anyone else remember that mirror scene from Mean Girls?). We live with so many expectations of what beauty is, while also dealing with the stress of a busy day-to-day schedule. It’s a challenge to commit to a healthy lifestyle, but even when we do, looking at ourselves in the mirror can ruin our day.

The thing is, we aren’t born with that critical voice in our heads – we’re just letting it live up there, rent free.

My world is full of sexuality professionals so I was initially shocked when people would share that I was the first sexologist, educator, or coach they had met – especially if we were talking about online spaces. While I see sexuality professionals as loud and proud individuals, our existence continues to be taboo and therefore hidden from many.

We’re not here to hide and we don’t want you to either.

Whether you have some favourite sex folks you follow or you are new to this world, check out the below list for a great mix of people with different foci but all seeking to support individuals in feeling validated and sexually empowered.

If someone with a vagina spreads their legs, you’ll see their vulva. Some people also call this area the vagina, but the vagina is the canal that exists inside the body. As readers, you get to call your body parts whatever feels right for you, but for the article, I’ll use vulva so we’re all on the same page.