Get ready for another Sexual Health Alliance Sexceptional Weekend! This September, we are bringing you an incredible conference you don't want to miss! The Science Behind Relationships: Understanding Attachment, Maintenance, Infidelity and the Dissolution, is a special two-day event with expert speakers in the field of sexuality and relationship science. 

Everything takes place online (hello pajama bottoms) and you’ll have a chance to network and learn from some of the top sexual relationships experts. Where else do you get the chance to rub virtual elbows with the top sexuality scientists? 

Now let’s dive in and learn a bit more about each of the expert speakers and their Sexceptional research! 

Hey there, exciting news on the horizon! We're stoked to roll out something game-changing: introducing the SHA Business School. 🚀 Whether you're a newbie diving into your first venture or a seasoned pro with your next big idea, we've got your back.

Maybe the condom split, perhaps someone forgot to take their pill, or you thought it would be okay to just this once skip your preferred barrier protection method. Enter emergency contraception! This magical medical advancement helps prevent over 95% of unintended pregnancies when taken within five days of unprotected intercourse. So, join us as we delve into the ins-and-outs of this essential aspect of modern reproductive healthcare. 

As a kid, I always wondered why certain  persons were “allowed” to roam around shirtless all over the world—but only if they didn’t have breasts. It was confusing to understand why chests could be displayed out in the open like some sort of trophy, while breasts were to be locked away and hidden behind bras as if for generations they had committed crimes. However, eventually, I learned about patriarchy and all my whys got their unfortunate answers. 

For persons with breasts, public nudity becomes synonymous with indecency, vulgarity, and sluttiness. Shame is thrown at them far more than at male-bodied individuals who freely leave the house shirtless when going for a run or sunbathing in a park. With these considerations in mind and with the hope of campaigning and celebrating gender equality, Go Topless Day originated in 2007.

A recent Forbes article published on August 22, 2023 lists Sexual Health Alliance as one of the top three options for sex therapy certification and training. The article titled Sex Therapist: What They Do And How To Find One Near You provides an overview of sex therapy and the requirements to become a sex therapist. 

The Forbes publication includes common questions like “What Does a Sex Therapist Do?” and “Is Sex Therapy the Right Choice for You?”. Along with these questions is a section about how a professional therapist, medical professional, or social worker can become certified in sex therapy. The author asks Nicoletta Heidegger, a licensed marriage and family therapist and sex therapist based in Los Angeles, about the certification process in sex therapy. Nicoletta has previously presented multiple times with Sexual Health Alliance and played a significant role in launching the Sexual Health Alliance in LA and California.

Conversations about sexuality have certainly always been a part of our school life, but mainly in the form of gossipy whispers in the hallways or roars of abstinence in the classrooms. Unfortunately, healthy discussions about sexuality and relationship rarely (if ever) really made it into the curriculum. Growing up, most of us were taught more about the perils of getting naked with others and less about its potentially sublime perks. Considering sex as synonymous with devil-may-care “slut” behavior, deadly infections, zero self-worth, and ramshackle reputation is the package most of us were served by a sex-negative education culture. It’s no wonder that navigating sexuality in adulthood becomes more challenging and unpleasant.

It happens every year. The clock strikes midnight and it is now July 1st. Every big corporation is working tirelessly to un-rainbow their logos and take down their limited edition Pride merchandise from the shelves. Pride month is over, and the window to commercially exploit LGBTQIA+ consumers—who still only make $0.90 to every non-LGBTQ person's dollar—has closed. 

Rainbow washing is the performative use of rainbow colors on logos, products and advertisements to appeal both to LGBTQIA+ consumers as well as signal to others that the company is progressive and “woke”. A core characteristic of this allyship is just how performative it is, which can be seen clearly by attending to the fact that this support and focus on the LGBTQIA+ community seldom (if ever) extends beyond Pride month. 

Yaoi, sometimes referred to as boys’ love, is a type of media that showcases homoerotic relationships between male characters. Originating from Japan, it is a distinct genre separated from gay manga by its demographic of creators and target audience. Rather than being created by gay men for gay men, yaoi is typically written and illustrated by women, for women. Although yaoi may work to destigmatize homosexuality, it often features ethically questionable content, supporting misogynistic practices and sexualizing r-pe. But more specifically, as these subjects are not exclusive to yaoi, yaoi sexualizes gay relationships.

The Sexual Health Alliance had an incredibly interesting and engaging weekend learning from a range of professionals in the sexuality field, including Dr. David J. Ley, Dr. Justin Lehmiller, Dr. Chris Donaghue, Suki Dunham, Alyssa Ljubcich, Shakun Sethi, Soum Rakshit, Athena Gayle, Dr. Donna Jennings and Jacques Gerard. Whether you're a clinician, educator, erotic writer, or working in the sex tech industry, this conference included truly useful tips and insights for everyone and anyone interested in the business of sexuality. Our students learned how to build and maintain an audience through email marketing and social media, as well as how to navigate the risks associated with being a clinician on social media or testifying as an expert witness on sexuality. 

A significant but often forgotten segment of third-wave feminism and the punk movement of the 1980s and 90s is the Riot Grrrl movement. Like many other types of feminism, Riot Grrrl developed due to an exclusion—in this instance, from the mainstream, male-dominated punk space—and evolved into a loud feminism which sought to redefine and reclaim femininity as something powerful and assertive.

Despite the core of the punk movement being anti-establishment and anti-hierarchy, sexism ran rampant. This sexism can be traced back to the 1970s and to the very origins of the movement.

Undoubtedly one of the most beautiful, toe-curling org-sms I have ever had was with a battery-powered friend. My blush-nude vibrator is the bedroom mate I had always hoped for, and it sits proudly on my night table. Reflecting on the fact that I use it almost every day has made me realize how most of my org-sms come from this bot rather than from all the people I go on dates with: I am choosing guaranteed c-m-fests over doubtful one-night stands.

Unsurprisingly, I am not the only one! Like me, more and more people are prioritizing pleasure—and if it’s not accessible through traditional methods, we are not afraid to find other, convenient, tech-friendly ways.

The nationwide legalization of the birth control pill in 1965 was a key milestone for the second-wave feminist movement. Today, the pill empowers its 151 million users worldwide to decide if and when they have children and has thereby granted many the opportunity to access higher education and the labor market in new ways which are not dictated by their biology. Meanwhile, the narrative that birth control is solely liberating has developed primarily out of white liberal feminism and has overshadowed the experiences of WOC (Women Of Color). By assessing the introduction and use of the birth control pill in the USA through an intersectional lens, it is evident that the experience of the birth control pill is not homogenous and that the dominant discourse surrounding the liberating power of the pill is not a universal truth.

In the realm of BDSM and Kink, education wasn't merely a pathway to knowledge; it was a gateway to expanding horizons, embracing diversity, and nurturing understanding. It was with this profound commitment to enlightenment that the Sexual Health Alliance (SHA) proudly presented an innovative initiative at the Guild of Deviated Standards, fondly known as G.o.D.S.

Summer is here and school is out—but sexual development and education continue. As kids start their summer holidays, it is a good time for parents, guardians, and teachers alike to reflect on their children’s education, which should always include comprehensive sexuality education as a core part of their learning journey. 

I am an advocate for an every day, open, comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) and see any adult  who plays a significant role in a child’s life as a potential comprehensive sexuality educator. But, at the same time, these potential educators (as well as the children they are educating) need the right tools. 

Underwear: a supportive friend you’ve been unknowingly ghosting! As we grow up and find everything rapidly changing around us, the one thing that keeps constant is our relationship with underwear. But have we genuinely appreciated their presence in our drawers? Did we ever wish ourselves and our loved ones a happy National Underwear Day? Better late than never to discuss the history and notability of this fantastic day of underwear celebration! 

We’ve all heard of the infamous squirt—and if you say haven’t, you’re probably lying. Squirting, sometimes confused with “female ejaculation,” is most commonly thought of as fluid expelled from the vagina during orgasm, as explained by WebMD. Many have characterized the release of this fluid as a new form of liquid expulsion from the vulva, separate from peeing. Others, however, disagree with this, posing that a squirt is merely the release of pee from the bladder. So what is a squirt really, and what is it made of? 

In a world that often leaves little time for personal exploration and indulgence, creating a space dedicated to intimacy can be a transformative experience. Whether you are an individual seeking to reconnect with your desires, a couple looking to enhance your connection, or a group eager to explore new dimensions of pleasure, having an in-home intimacy space like a custom adult playroom or luxury bedroom makes perfect sense. Let's delve into why Fantasy Suites can be the key to unlocking your deepest passions and enriching your intimate experiences.

I am sure that by now we have all at least heard of sites like Onlyfans and Fansly: websites that allow for people to subscribe to creators for various reasons, notoriously including sexual content. During lockdown, these sites became a beacon of light for many of these creators, as they found a source of income that allowed them to work from home. Subscribers latched on, perhaps because of the new stay-at-home rules, which meant more cash for creators and therefore more motivation and freedom to continue what, for some, might have been their biggest (or only) source of income.

I have been following some of these creators for a long time. Aside from their sexual content, the Onlyfans creators that I follow also post about personal, social, and even political topics. They are queer, creative, and artistic creators and many share with their audience the realities of what it is like to live their lives. This personal touch to their platforms is what I and many others like about their online personas: they are “real” people, relatable in many ways, and honest about their opinions on online sex work. 

Hey there, future sex therapist rockstar! Choosing the perfect sex therapy certification program might feel overwhelming, but don't worry, we've got your back! Let's break down the essential factors you need to consider to kickstart your journey as a certified sex therapist.

Ready to dive into the awesome world of sex educator certification? We're talking about equipping yourself to provide comprehensive sexual health education that truly empowers individuals. In this article, we'll highlight the importance of certification, focusing on evidence-based education that rocks. So, if you're passionate about making a difference and spreading knowledge, buckle up, and let's explore the exciting world of sex education!