Who I am

Hi, I’m Ryan Yates, a multi-hyphenate writer and editor with roots in the queer media, sexual wellness, and B2B worlds. 

My personal mission is to cultivate presence, embodiment, and connection — in communities, between people, and with yourself.

 
 

Who I do

I work with brands, companies, authors, and individuals at multiple stages in the storytelling process, from development to drafting to quality assurance.

My current or past clients include Microsoft, McGill-Queen’s University Press, Panthera, Sanky Inc., ServiceTitan, the Stardust app, Tebra, and others.

 

Why I’m for hire

I love using my skill set in different ways and across contexts, channels, audiences, and deliverable types. I’m passionate about fine-tuning the editorial process, collaborating with cross-discipline creative teams, and developing brand voice through style guides.

I believe that excellence can coexist with flexibility, that honest and direct relationships are the best way to get anything done, and that good criticism delivered the right way can strengthen any foundation.

 
 
 

Why you’ve heard of me

I have bylines in USA Today, the Daily Beast, Nylon, Refinery29, Electric Literature, Curbed, and elsewhere. 

I was notoriously Autostraddle’s NSFW editor (2013–18), literary editor (2016–18), weekly NSFW Sunday columnist (2011–21), and biweekly books columnist (2012–21). I conducted the widely cited Ultimate Lesbian Sex Survey of queer women and anyone who identifies with that experience. 

I’ve been featured in or on the Economist’s 1843, Allure, Vice, Refinery29, Bad with Money, Buffering the Vampire Slayer, Sex City Radio, Sex Lives, and DeAnne Smith’s Questionable at Best.

A little extra

I’m a longtime sex educator and dedicated demo bottom. I’ve led workshops on BDSM 101, DIY kink, sex toys, sexting, polyamory, and more. I know what sex toy you should buy.

I’m queer, femme, and nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them. Some of my bylines and interviews are under my old name — don’t make it weird. 

I grew up in Toronto, moved to Los Angeles from Montreal in 2015, and sometimes professionally explain Canada to Americans. I still get excited about the bougainvillea.