GABBY RIVERA
A self-described “queer brown loverboi feminist,” Gabby Rivera is a writer, LGBTQ youth advocate and founder of The Speakeasy, Autostraddle’s QTPOC community space. Earlier this year, her young adult novel, “Juliet Takes a Breath,” was published by Riverdale Avenue Books. The novel’s protagonist is a lesbian Latina teen from the Bronx. Rivera created that central character, she explains, “because we need more POC representation everywhere, especially in LGBTQ literature and in mainstream culture at large. No one can tell our stories for us. We must do it ourselves and move forward in our truths.” Her short stories and poems have appeared in numerous anthologies and journals such as Aster(ix), Portland Queer: Tales from the Rose City (a Lambda Literary Award winner), OMG I’m Gay (a zine for queer youth) and The Best of Panic!En Vivo from the East Village. And she takes working with young people as seriously as her writing, she says, “because it is my duty as a supported, loved and thriving queer adult. We cannot be myopic in our vision for safe spaces and progress. Marriage equality should not be the end of our fight, especially where LGBTQ youth are concerned. We, as queer adults, must actively live and fight and center our work on honoring and protecting our youth.” –SLO
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