I was lucky to be raised by two vibrant communities. My father’s side was a huge family of Irish Catholics from the Midwest. My mother’s side was a gaggle of Puerto Ricans from the Bronx. They were similar in that they were both boisterous, social, and opinionated. Yet neither group dared speak on sex or queerness. Growing up and knowing confidently I was both a sexual person and a queer person supplied me with insatiable curiosity and a passionate desire to have the conversations that weren’t being had. It’s been a beautiful realization to see that simply having the conversation, the demystifying and debunking, all in a non-blaming and non-shaming environment, can be the most therapeutic intervention of all. I’m proud of my personal journey of gaining self-awareness, deconstructing internalized barriers, and gaining sexual empowerment. It’s one I believe PNW Sex Therapy Collective works to model in their clinicians and inspire for their clients.