These 20 Black Sex Educators Are Changing The Way We Think And Talk About Sex
So, first things first: The number of Black sex educators and sex-positive influencers on IG is not finite, and I know that there are a lot more. Trust me, my feed is continuing to grow by the day.
If there's anyone you feel deserves a shoutout on this list, drop their handle in the comments and let us know! You'd be helping other readers upgrade their IG feeds, and my feed and I would be eternally grateful.
At first, Instagram would not let people (read: women and femmes) post their nipples. OK, nudity, sexism, we get it. But then, the platform began "shadowbanning," which is limiting the reach of users' content that Instagram deems inappropriate for the platform.
After the FOSTA-SESTA Act — which was created in an effort to put an end to online sex trafficking — was passed in 2018, many websites and platforms amended and updated their rules accordingly. Instagram — which is owned by Meta (formerly Facebook) — updated its Community Guidelines and terms of use in a way that posed a greater threat of shadowbanning or account deletion for anyone who was a sex worker, sex educator, sex toy retailer, etc. Things that may get an account flagged or removed include uncovered female nipples, visible genitalia, sex toys placed near the mouth, implied sexual activity, and stimulation.
To avoid losing their account, many sex workers edited their feeds to remove images that might get them flagged, and several left Instagram altogether for more sex worker-friendly platforms, such as Only Fans, Twitter, and Patreon. The language people use has also changed, with preemptive censorship and use of words like "seggs," "secks," and "s3x" on posts.
It's been a hard couple of years for sex workers and educators on the internet, so many of the creators included in this posts have platforms you can support outside of IG, too. But this is a great place to start.
1.Gabby Alexa (@gabalexa) is an author and sex-positive influencer who uses her content to educate the masses on bisexuality and polyamory.
2.Jimanekia Eborn (@jimanekia) is a queer sex educator whose work focuses on trauma-informed sensuality and sexuality for survivors and their allies. She is the creator of Trauma Queen, a podcast miniseries for assault survivors.
3.Shemeka Thorpe, PhD (@drshemeka), is a sex educator and researcher who hopes to change the narrative around Black sexology into a sex-positive one by focusing on pleasure, relationships, and sexual agency.
4.Kevin A. Patterson is an award-winning author and polyamorous educator, who founded Poly Role Models (@polyrolemodels). The website and platform were created to educate and inform people about the realities of polyamory and other alternative lifestyles, by highlighting poly individuals and couples.
Patterson is the author of Love's Not Colorblind: Race and Representation in Polyamorous and Other Alternative Communities and a co-writer of the sci-fi novel series, For Hire.
He also co-runs the course Unfuck Your Polyamory with Dr. Liz Powell.
5.Shanae Adams (@honestlynae) is a queer, trans-masc sex educator focused on providing melanated representation and normalizing discussion of sex with an intersectional focus.
6.Daleychia and Rafaella are the minds behind @afrosexology, an online educational resource that promotes sex positivity and exploration in hopes of dismantling the stigma that white supremacy has historically imposed on Black bodies and sexuality.
7.Tara Michaela Jones (@tara.michaela) is a Black and queer sex educator based in NYC whose content and work focuses on the impact of injustice and racism on sex and explores stigmas around sex in hopes of closing the orgasm gap.
8.Ashley Cobb (@sexwithashley) is the sex advice columnist for Madame Noire. In her weekly column, she answers anonymous questions about everything from threesomes and dating to anal and blowjobs.
9.Venus Cuffs (@venuscuffs) is an NYC-based nightlife mogul, retired dominatrix, and activist who advocates for inclusive and safe, kink-friendly spaces for marginalized people by hosting and organizing fetish and dance parties.
While COVID-19 numbers had NYC on lockdown, Venus Cuffs suspended throwing in-person parties, putting the health and safety of the community first, and pivoted to hosting online workshops on BDSM and more. She also advocates for sex workers by raising funds and going on shopping runs to help provide groceries and other essentials for sex workers in need.
10.Ericka Hart (@iharterika) is a queer and nonbinary sex educator, writer, activist, and breast cancer survivor whose work explores the intersectionality of sexuality and sexual expression with race, gender, chronic illness, and disability.
11.Tyomi Morgan (@realglamazontyoni) is a sensual fitness instructor and certified sexologist. She founded the Cowgirl Workout, which is created for vulva owners to help build stamina and confidence in the bedroom (or wherever you have sex).
12.Saniyyah Lateef (@heauxonthegeaux) is a queer, nonbinary pleasure activist and abortion doula who is working to provide accessible and free sex education to members of the Black community, with a focus on liberation, decolonization, and harm reduction.
13.Madame Namio (@lisaspliffson) is an esthetician, retired dominatrix, kink educator, and comedian using her platform to celebrate Black and POC sex workers, comedians, and creatives and to promote "Black Thot Supremacy."
On a more serious note, Madame Namio is known for her quick-witted criticisms of misogynoir on social media and her work amplifying the voices of queer, POC sex workers and survivors. She gained notoriety for her "Reclamation" project, which is a photo series of Madame Namio posing in front of white frat houses in fetish gear holding leashes attached to gagged white men in crop tops.
14.Ev'Yan Whitney (@evyan.whitney) is a queer, nonbinary sex educator, sexuality doula, and author whose mission is to help others become sexually liberated and develop a healthy relationship to their sensuality, body, and sexual expression.
15.Shakira Scott (@scottyunfamous_) is a London-based erotic and romance author, and a new sex-positive influencer and educator on the scene. She uses TikTok and her blog to help women of color explore their sexuality and sensuality while also promoting body-positivity.
16.Marla Stewart (@1marlastewart) is a queer sexologist and author, as well as the creator of Velvet Lips Sex Ed. She uses her platform to discuss human sexuality, pleasure, and kink.
17.Raquel Savage (@raquelsavage) is a therapist, sex educator, and sex worker who creates educational videos, infographics, and other sexual health content on IG, Twitter, OnlyFans, and Patreon to provide an IRL alternative to sex ed (like putting a condom on an actual penis and not a banana).
She also founded the Zepp Wellness Center, an online and in-person support group for femme-identifying sex workers that offers courses, trauma-informed yoga, STI testing, and more.
18.Bubbles (@dawnsparkles) is a queer, pansexual shibari enthusiast and sex worker who uses their platforms to promote education on kink culture and other BDSM topics. They also curate and host educational events and live demos on different aspects of the kink and BDSM community.
19.Samia Burton (@miabuggzy) is the host of Not Just Another Sex Podcast and CEO of Sexual Essentials, a lifestyle brand that offers masterclasses on different topics, merchandise, and even event opportunities to help you manifest and create the sex life that you want and deserve.
20.Sam, Rob, Akua, and Rebecca are the queer, Black, and twentysomething hosts of Inner Hoe Uprising (@innerhoeuprising), a feminist podcast that focused on sex, love, and dating through intersectional lenses. After 10 seasons, this podcast aired its final episode in November 2022, but you can still go back and listen to all its goodness wherever you listen to podcasts!
BTW, we looked for and want to include more sex-positive men and male influencers and sex educators in this space, too, so if you know of anyone worth the follow, tell us in the comments!
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