The LGBTQIA+ community is sometimes lovingly referred to as the “Alphabet Mafia.” In part, I think this term comes from the sheer breadth of language and terms used by individuals in the community to describe their sexual and romantic orientations and identities. For many people in the community, finding the right word for how they experience the world is really important.

That said, the sheer number of labels can feel daunting, even to those of us who work in this space or identify within the community ourselves. It's okay not to know every term, especially when the definitions shift over time and new labels emerge to capture nuanced experiences. Honestly, I would argue that what matters more is a willingness to stay curious, keep learning, and resist the urge to flatten the complexity of human experience into something more convenient like straight or not straight. With that in mind, let's talk about asexuality: what it is, what it isn't, and language that some people on the ace spectrum might identify with!

Sexual health education is so vital, especially since it’s often subpar in public schools and even in graduate-level academic settings. To help bridge that gap for both students and professionals, the Sexual Health Alliance hosts monthly "Sexceptional Weekends."

This past weekend’s event was all about clinically grounded sexual wellness. We dove into everything from vulva health myths and HIV/PrEP education to the rise of AI in sex education and how to create engaging content for social media. Honestly, I learned things here that I wouldn't have encountered anywhere else!

For those who couldn’t make it (or just want a refresher!), I have put together the most interesting takeaways. If I tried to cover everything, I'd be writing until the next Sexceptional Weekend in June, or at least until the SAR in May! So here are the key highlights from my first Sexceptional Weekend.

In sexual health work, we often meet young people as they talk about a conflict, a breakup, or experiences that have left them confused or unsettled. While these situations may seem personal and immediate, they are rarely just about the incident itself. What emerges are layers of social, cultural, and gendered influences, along with deeply internalised schemas about love, trust, boundaries, and what relationships should look like.

These schemas are not just ideas. They actively shape how individuals feel, interpret situations, and respond to them. Yet, they are often taken for granted rather than examined. For sexual health professionals, it becomes important not only to recognise these schemas, but to critically engage with how they are formed, whose interests they serve, and how they may enable or constrain young people’s ability to build healthy, equitable relationships. The story that follows and the analysis is a reflection of these wider patterns and transitions happening in India.

Recent research has begun to explore the intersectionality of autism with kink and BDSM practices, shedding light on communities and experiences that have long been understudied. Drawing on findings from a recent article and its literature review, this section outlines key concepts and their potential connections.

Picture this: you're sitting with something difficult–maybe a health experience you've never talked about out loud, a part of your identity that you feel passionate about sharing, or a question about your sexual health that you've been quietly carrying for years. You decide to post about it. You choose your words carefully. You hit share. And within hours, the post is gone, or worse, it's still there, but nobody's seeing it, quietly buried by a system that flagged it before it ever reached anyone who may have key insight to share, or could have benefited from what you had to say. This is the everyday reality for millions of people navigating content moderation on social media platforms, and it's the reason a whole new kind of language has emerged: algospeak.

What Is It? The Kink Literature Database does exactly what it sounds like: it pulls together decades of academic and significant community publications on kink topics into one accessible place. We're talking BDSM, consensual nonconsent, and a whole lot more.

Bringing up a new sexual interest with your partner can be a hard conversation to have, and many people have no idea how to approach it. The fear of rejection, the fumbling for words, the not-knowing-when or how: it's incredibly common. I hear that, and as an early career sex researcher, I have thoughts (and also some science to back it up!). Here are some recommendations I have about navigating this process.

Still unsure what affirmative consent looks like in practice? Here are some words commonly used to describe it: clear, unambiguous, ongoing, and enthusiastic. If the agreement to sexual activity doesn't check those boxes, it doesn't qualify.

In this conversation, we sit down with Anita Krishnan Shankar, a certified sex therapist, psychologist, couples therapist, and graduate of Sexual Health Alliance’s Couples and Sex Therapy program. Based in Singapore and working across diverse cultural contexts, Anita offers a powerful, real-world perspective on how sex therapy is evolving and what professionals need to understand to truly support their clients.

Sex coach certification involves completing structured training in human sexuality, coaching techniques, ethics, and client work. Most programs take 6 to 18 months depending on intensity. High-quality certifications, like those offered by Sexual Health Alliance, provide comprehensive education, mentorship, and real-world application to prepare you for professional practice.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of sex toys when in a relationship–often wrapped in narratives of shame, uncertainty, and insecurity. But some couples are flipping the script. Recent research indicates that using sex toys during partnered sex can augment the experience!

What is Consensual Non-Consent? Consensual non-consent is a kink (sometimes referred to as rape play) that includes a negotiated sexual scenario in which participants agree to simulate non-consensual activity.

What is Technology-Faciliated Sexual Violence? It's sexual violence with a digital twist, referring to any time technology is used to carry out or enable sexual harm, whether that plays out online or eventually in person. Examples include online sexual harassment, cyberstalking, and image-based sexual exploitation (aka non-consensual porn). Technology-faciliated sexual violence can happen in two ways: active, where harassment is aimed at a specific person, and passive, where it's not targeting anyone in particular but could still affect people who come across it.

When a show drops a title like DTF St. Louis, you already know it’s not going to be subtle. Characters start throwing around phrases like porn-positive, talking about kinks, the term DTF, and even open relationships, leaving viewers wondering what any of these terms actually mean…and whether they’re being used correctly. Because there’s a big difference between ethical sexual exploration and straight-up cheating with better vocabulary. Let’s get into it friends!

What are Sexual Fantasies? Sexual fantasies offer a window into human sexuality, which is exactly why they're worth understanding! Fantasizing is widely considered a normal, healthy part of sexual life, though like most things, context matters and there are circumstances where it can become complicated. Don’t worry–we’ll talk about it! The simplest way to define a sexual fantasy comes from researchers Leitenberg & Henning (1995): "any mental imagery that is sexually arousing for the individual." These sexual mental imageries often center on common themes.

Are we tired of talking about Heated Rivalry?

Absolutely not.

But why do we love Heated Rivalry so much? What is it that’s keeping us talking?

From the emotional heart of the story, to the timely LGBTQ professional hockey coming-out moment, to the S-E-X, there’s a lot to unpack.

And honestly? That’s exactly why people can’t stop talking about it.

Have you ever said “yes” to something you were unsure about? Or “no” to something that you wanted to do? What about in the context of sexual activity? If yes, you’ve experienced sexual ambivalence!

Researchers wanted to know what happens when therapists get specialized training to work with neurodiverse couples, specifically, couples where at least one partner is Autistic, so they sat down with those therapists and asked. Using a qualitative approach of focus groups and interviews, the study captures what practitioners found helpful, what they wished they had more of, and how the training changed how they support their neurodiverse clients!

When a show becomes a cultural touchstone, it’s often because of chemistry—the kind that makes viewers lean in, blush, or scream into the void at 2 a.m. Heated Rivalry, the queer hockey romance series based on Rachel Reid’s beloved novels, has delivered all of that and more. But beyond the steamy on-screen connection between its two leads—Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov—there’s an essential creative force making it possible: the intimacy coordinator.

Let’s look at what makes Heated Rivalry’s chemistry work so well on screen, how actors cultivate that connection off screen, and why intimacy coordinators are now indispensable in television production.

Is Heated Rivalry the new Fifty Shades of Grey? Not just as a book, but as a screen phenomenon?

Let’s compare.