with his theories on working with marginalized communities, which were pivotal in how I framed my role as an educator working (and learning) with (and from) underserved communities.

with their informative, judgement-free and highly engaging podcast Speaking of Sex, as well as their commitment to connecting with and supporting their community.

with their honest, rightful and constructive work on normalizing and de-politicizing gender-nonconforming people through unconditional love.

with her easily-implementable tools on navigating societal messages and outdated mentalities, and her approach to good sexual citizenship as a means of breaking down sexual hostility. 

with multiple second-to-none online summits on connecting to self and others, pleasure, and radical business that shifted my views on productivity, citizenship, and prioritizing (mental) health and wellbeing.

with her admirable approach to de-mystifying scientific knowledge, and normalizing a variety of aspects of sexuality that cause many people shame, self-doubt, and isolation.

with her consistently compassionate approach to talking about racial equity and social unity, which makes the (necessarily) uncomfortable reflections so highly approachable and actionable.

with his pro-active work mobilizing inter-sector partnerships to eradicate poverty in Brazil’s favelas through access to education and opportunity, always centering Black pride and potential.

with her work that boldly highlights how systemic patriarchy and anti-black standards of beauty affect sexual health, and how sexual expression, gender, race and chronic illness inextricably intersect.

with her reflection provoking work on whiteness and effective anti-racism, and how she acknowledges and leverages (and overcomes) her own intersecting identities in the work that she does.

with her amazing sexuality education supervision, especially in terms of refining my blend of applying a global lens with a cultural relative approach in my education work.

with his enlightening seminars on teaching about gender, as well as his amazing ability to successfully and engagingly deliver days of content online at the beginning of the pandemic.

with his thought- and conversation-provoking work that disentangles notions around gender identity and sexual orientation, including how these concepts are restricted through language.

with her eye-opening content on how to humanize motherhood, recognize the extent of motherload, and pinpoint how capitalism and the patriarchy show up at home.

with their insightful and culturally responsive work and words on connecting generations and actively decolonizing oppressive parenting practices in Latin families.