Ruth (Ruthie) Neustifter is an openly sex-queer, non-binary gender-queer, poly, and kinky sex-positive advocate that aspires to base their work in anti-oppressive and trauma-informed approaches. Their work includes being the Academic Program Director at the University of Guelph’s Couple & Family Therapy program, faculty facilitator of the Sexual and Gender Diversity Lab, co-chair of the Guelph Sexuality Conference, and author of The Nice Girl’s Guide to Talking Dirty. Their outreach and qualitative research has most recently included topics and focuses such as: trans and genderqueer experiences of micro-aggressions in healthcare, intimate relationships of adult learners, experiences of queerness on campus, defining sex/gender/kink outness, BIPOC definitions of outness, non-physical aspects of dating violence, texting-based sex education, and BDSM & body image. 

Creative, applied, and accessible dissemination of data-driven findings are a major component of their efforts. Ruthie strives to meet potential knowledge users where they are, including at: sex parties & orgies, BDSM spaces such as dungeons, sex toy stores, and kink events, as well as churches, homeless shelters, health centres, universities and more. They are actively engaged with on-going learning and work around anti-oppressive practices and continue to strive to decolonize their work in all areas.