About

Hi. I'm Ley (she/they). It's pronounced "Lee."

When I'm feeling fancy, I go by Ley David Elliette Cray, PhD. I'm a sexologist, educator, coach, and consultant specializing in gender, sexuality, relationship diversity, and neurodiversity.

Currently, I'm serving as Dialectical Programming Coordinator at Growth Thru Change. Additionally, I co-facilitate the Sexual Health Alliance's Kink Informed Certification Program with Midori and act as a peer facilitator for Plume and affiliate sexologist for Wild Geese Counseling Collective.

Beyond all that, I'm a scholar and researcher working in philosophical aesthetics, social ontology, comics studies, and gender studies. I currently teach at New Mexico State University.

I've previously taught at Texas Christian University, Grand Valley State University, and an Ohio State University, and worked in collaboration with Charlie Health, the International Institute for Sexual Empowerment, MŌN, Plura, Pragmatically Kinking, and others.

My Erdös-Bacon-Sabbath Number is 18.

My full CV is available here.

Note! If you ever read anything by Wesley D. Cray: that's me, too! 'Wesley' is still my name, but unless you're either citing me or dating me, please don't use it.

Coaching

Are you struggling with questions of identity? Of meaning and relation, of purpose and place? Do you want to cultivate a more radical and aligned sense of self and of community?

Let's talk.

Through queer-affirming, sex-positive, trauma-informed coaching and consulting sessions, we can explore:


As a coach, I neither diagnose nor pathologize. Instead, you can expect our sessions to integrate neuroinclusive mindfulness, contemplative embodiment, and philosophical exploration in an individualized combination that best suits your particular needs.

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When you're ready to start our work together—or just want to chat to see if we're a good fit—you can schedule a free initial consultation through my Calendly.

All sessions are held on Zoom.

Session pricing is available in three tiers:


Community (C): for clients who would benefit from a little financial assistance.

Regular (R): default price.

Benefactor (B): for clients who would like to chip in and aid in others receiving affordable care.


Per Session — $50 (C) | $70 (R) | $90 (B)


4 Sessions — $175 (C) | $245 (R) | $315 (B) 


8 Sessions — $325 (C) | $455 (R) | $585 (B)

Research & Scholarship


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•Book•


Philosophy of Comics: An Introduction (with Sam Cowling). 2022. Bloomsbury Press


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•Scholarly Articles•


Picture-Reading the Complexities of Transgender Experience. Forthcoming. Canadian Journal of Philosophy.

LGBTQIA+ Adapted Telehealth Intensive Outpatient Program for Youth and Young Adults: Subgroup Analysis of Acuity and Improvement Following Treatment (with Kate Gliske, Katie Berry, Claire Schmidt, Michael Killian, and Caroline Fenkel). 2023. JMIR Formative Research. doi: 10.2196/45796


Batman: A Case Study in Ontology and Appreciation. 2022. Bloomsbury Contemporary Aesthetics


Some Considerations Regarding Adornment, the Gender "Binary," and Gender Expression. 2021. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 79(4): 488-492


Aesthetics from the Closet. 2021. American Society for Aesthetics Newsletter 41(1): 1-3


Some Ideas About the Metaphysics of Stories. 2019. British Journal of Aesthetics 59(2): 147-160


Transparent and Opaque Performance Personas. 2019. Journal of Aesthetics of Art Criticism 77(2): 181-191


Psychologism about Artistic Plans: A Response to Rohrbaugh. 2018. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 76(1): 101-104


How to Be Omnipresent (with Sam Cowling). 2017. American Philosophical Quarterly 54(3): 223-234


Abstract Generationism: A Response to Friedell. 2017. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 75(3): 289-292


A Return to Musical Idealism (with Carl Matheson). 2017. Australasian Journal of Philosophy 95(3): 702-715


Unperformable Works and the Ontology of Music. 2016. British Journal of Aesthetics 56(1): 67-81


An Ontology of Ideas (with Timothy Schroeder). 2015. Journal of the American Philosophical Association 1(4): 757-775


Yellowism and Ontology: A Skeptical Analysis. 2015. Contemporary Aesthetics 13


Conceptual Art, Ideas, and Ontology. 2014. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 72(3): 235-245


Team-Teaching the Atheism-Theism Debate (with Steven Brown). 2014. Teaching Philosophy 37(4): 465-480


Inconstancy and Content. 2014. Dialectica 68(3): 337-353


Omniscience and Worthiness of Worship. 2011. International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 70(2): 147-153


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•Scholarly Book Chapters•


Taylor's Versions and Versions of Taylor. Forthcoming. In Taylor Swift and the Philosophy of Re-Recording: The Art of Taylor's Versions. Polite, ed. Bloomsbury Press.

Omnipresence and Mathematical Reality (with Sam Cowling). Forthcoming. In The Oxford Handbook of Omnipresence. Marmodoro and Migliorini, eds.. Oxford University Press.

Bands, Personas, and the Evaluative Import of (Some) Social Ontology. 2024. In The Ontology of Music Groups: Identity, Persistence, and Agency of Creative Groups. Peterson and Janson, eds. Routledge.

The Karmic Tragedy of Bruce Wayne: Batman as Anti-Buddha. 2022. In Theology and Batman: Examining the Religious World of the Dark Knight. Brake and Robertson, eds. Lexington Press 


Sabbath Doesn't Need the Ozzman. 2012. In Black Sabbath and Philosophy: Mastering Reality. Irwin, ed. Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 126-139


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•Scholarly Book Reviews•


Review of Why It's OK to Not Be Monogamous. 2023. Teaching Philosophy 46(4): 576-570


Review of Uncommon Sense: Jeremy Bentham, Queer Aesthetics, and the Politics of Taste. 2023. British Journal of Aesthetics 63(4): 608-611.


Review of Sonic Flux: Sound, Art, and Metaphysics. 2020. Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism 78(1): 126-129


Review of The Aesthetics of Videogames. 2018. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews


Review of The Aesthetics and Ethics of Copying. 2017. Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

Other Writings

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•Aesthetics for Birds•

Nine Scholars Discuss the Philosophy of Comics (contributing author). 2023. Aesthetics for Birds


Minimizing Misgendering: A Plea for Better Pronoun Practices. 2021. Aesthetics for Birds


Why Genderfucking is Awesome. 2021. Aesthetics for Birds

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•queerview•


"Where Were You When We Lost the Culture War?" — Trauma and Fascism in Alison Rumfitt's Tell Me I'm Worthless. 2023.


"We've Never Felt Whole" —  Non-Binary Binaries in Season 2 of Chucky. 2022.

"Enough is a Myth" — Kink, Consent, and Trans Representation in Hellraiser. 2022.


"Don't Let Anyone Make You Disappear"— Heartstopper and the (Re)Discovery of Queer Youth. 2022.


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•Nymphomedia•


Some Reflections on Queerplatonic Anarchy. 2024.

Committing to Action on International Day to End Violence Against Sex Workers. 2023.


What is Mononormativity? 2023.

In Honor and Observation of Trans Day of Remembrance. 2023.

Eroding Allonormativity During Ace Week and Beyond. 2023.

A Pronoun Primer for International Pronouns Day. 2023.

Considering the Complexities of National Coming Out Day. 2023.

National Kink Day: Centering the Erotic Non-Normative. 2023.

A Few Tips for Dating Neurodivergent Persons. 2023.

Drag: A Celebration of the Art of Gender Expression. 2023.

Queering the Binary/Non-Binary Divide. 2023.

Rights, Not Rescue: Acknowledging and Honoring International Sex Workers' Day. 2023.

How Can Allies Show Up for International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia? 2023.


Is Capitalism a Threat to Sexual Health? 2023.

International Asexuality Day. 2023.


Trans Day of Visibility and Advocacy — Today and Every Day. 2023.

Why Sex-Positivity Requires Aromantic Inclusion. 2023.

International Fetish Day. 2023.

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•Others•


An Open Letter to New Parents of Transgender Children. 2022. Clarity Child Guidance Center Blog


Bald and Genderless. 2021. Just Femme & Dandy 1

Interviews & Press

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•Videos & Podcasts•

Dispelling Trans Myths. 2024. Story Time with the Intimacy Ally

Welcome Back Ley! 2024. Cum with KC

Exploring Aexualities. 2023. Sexual Health Alliance / LinkedIn Live

BDSM & The Aesthetics of Gameplay. 2023. Philosophers Discussing Art

Walmart Kink Shopping. 2023. Alyssa Explains It All

A Fleeting Exhibition. 2023. Cum with KC

Transentience Rising. 2023. The Flaming Yoni

Sexplorations with Sexologists. 2022. Sacred Sexual Science

Gender Euphoria, Queer Magic. 2022. Wild & Sublime

Personas, Bowie, and Taylor's Versions. 2022. Philosophers Discussing Art

Autosadomasochism and Self-Consent. 2022. Consent Dojo with Midori

Raising LGBTQIA+ Kids & Fostering Resilience. 2022. Be a Part of the Conversation

The Search for Identity (and Freedom from Expectations). 2022. Be a Part of the Conversation

The Metaphysics of Bands (Part 1 & Part 2). 2021. Philosophers Discussing Art

The Metaphysics of Fictional Characters (Part 1 & Part 2). 2021. Philosophers Discussing Art

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•Print•

Sexual Well-Being in Partnerships: How to Nurture Connection, Intimacy, and Mutual Joy. 2023. Respark

Why LGBT+ Kids Need Out LGBT+ Teachers and Mentors. 2022. Healthline

Interview: Meet Ley David Elliette Cray, PhD. 2022. Canvas Rebel 

Yoga & Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth. 2022. Yoga Digest

Gender Creative Parenting: What is it and is it Right for You? 2022. Care.com

Reflecting on Pride Month, Industry Leaders See Progress—and Persistent Challenges—for Better LGBTQIA+ Healthcare. 2022. Fierce Healthcare

What Does It Mean to Be Panromantic? Sexuality Experts Explain. 2022. Mindbodygreen

6 Science-Backed Reasons Why Trans Youth Need Gender-Affirming Care. 2022. Verywell Health

A Guide to Neopronouns, From Experts & People Who Use Them. 2022. Mindbodygreen

Patreon

If you'd like to support my work and gain access to additional materials, zines, free webinars, weekly office hours and co-working spaces and more, consider joining the Transentience Patreon.

Several levels of support and engagement are available, with the option to cancel at any time.