Ryn Gonzales

Ryn Gonzales, The Lone Star Diva, is a non-binary speaker, educator, and advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community. Ryn is the co-author of Trans+: Love, Sex, Romance, and Being You, a growing-up guide for trans and non-binary youth, and the Operations & Programs Director at Out Youth, an Austin-based nonprofit that has served LGBTQIA+ youth for 31 years.

Ryn has worked in the nonprofit sector, specifically youth advocacy and organizing, for 15 years. They have facilitated state-wide youth lobby days, organized state-wide conferences on youth leadership and empowerment, and created the Queer Youth Media Project during their time at AGLIFF. They also serve as Chair of the City of Austin's LGBTQ+ Quality of Life Commission, which advises the Austin City Council on issues impacting queer people.

Ryn's research into the evolutionary importance of storytelling in our everyday lives heavily influences their work and continually seeks new ways for youth to share their stories with the world.