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Living a revolutionary life starts with joy.

Author of Juliet Takes a Breath and the Marvel comic series America

Gabby Rivera | Author of Juliet Takes a Breath and the Marvel Comic Series America
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TED Salon: Radical Craft | The Story of Marvel’s First Queer Latinx Superhero

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The Joy that Comes Out of Hardships Is Revolutionary

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You Don’t Need Permission to Tell Your Story

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Writing Your Heritage is Radical Creativity (5:06)

Lavin Exclusive Speaker

GABBY RIVERA grew up with superheroes on the block. Her mom, aunties, and the women in her community were the strongest people she knew: seamstresses and paramedics who’d sit around the dining table and tell wild tales about their lives in the Bronx. They taught her how to find her strength—in softness, gentleness, and humor. When Marvel Comics asked Gabby to write the story of America Chavez, their first queer Latina superhero, she proved that heroes could be kind and vulnerable, too. Funny, insightful, and authentic, Gabby inspires us all to live a life that is joyfully open and revolutionary.

“Gabby Rivera’s voice is a force—moving, alive, and bursting with feelings”— Britta Lundin, author of Ship It

Gabby Rivera is a Bronx-born queer Puerto Rican babe on a mission to create the wildest, most fun stories ever. Gabby is the first Latina ever to write for Marvel comics, penning the solo series AMERICA about America Chavez, a portal-punching queer Latina powerhouse.

Gabby’s critically acclaimed debut novel Juliet Takes a Breath was called “f*cking outstanding” by Roxane Gay and was re-published by Penguin Random House in 2019. Mic named it one of the 25 essential books to read for Women’s History Month, and Latina magazine called it the “dopest LGBTQA YA book ever.”

Gabby presented before the United Nations in 2020 as an invited speaker to their Unstereotyping Alliance Conference, and she has collaborated with groups such as the Ford Motor Company, the Makers Women’s Conference and Somos Familia, to uplift joyful storytelling and the magic of queer diasporicans everywhere.

In 2022, Gabby became a Sundance Screenwriters Fellow and received an Advancing Justice Award from Catalyst California, alongside activist Dolores Huerta and politician Sheila Kuehl. She currently resides on the West Coast and hosts Joy Uprising, a podcast that brings together her favorite revolutionary humans to honor joy in a chaotic world.

Testimonials

Gabby was truly sensational. We were stunned by her presentation and overall impact on our community. Students and faculty alike gave her a standing ovation and it was earned in every sense of the word. I have never seen a speaker get that type of reaction. She is stupendous and left the building with an entourage of people following her, crying, asking for her autograph. Everyone should have Gabby come speak. I am so grateful I got to witness her in all her glory.

Newark Academy
Testimonials

Gabby was inspirational, down-to-earth, and relatable…Her story and presentation were extremely powerful, emotional, and eye-opening. I was personally moved by [her] words. She was very empowering and provided valuable information to understand the LGBTQ community.

Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
Testimonials

Gabby was fantastic. We really appreciate her story, and she brought a lot of joy to many folks today.

PMG Worldwide
Testimonials

One audience member raved, "I could listen to Gabby all day. So much passion and love!" Another said, "Thank you for putting that positivity out there for what it's like to be queer!"

PureRED
Testimonials

Gabby's story was incredibly inspiring. It filled me with hope and excitement for the potential of our students, especially those who face the same inequities she overcame growing up.

Lawrence Public Schools

Speech Topics

Creativity
Inspiring Radical CreativityEmpowering Young, Diverse Voices to Tell Their Own Stories

To Gabby Rivera, it’s vital to encourage people of all backgrounds to create, daydream, and tell their own stories—and in so doing, open a radical space for creativity. Now, in this affecting talk, Rivera unpacks how she navigates the world as a queer, Latinx, millennial woman; how she incorporates her heritage into her writing; how she strives to be a thoughtful ally for others, and how she ce...

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Happiness & Wellness
The Joy RevolutionStepping into Your Power and Living a Life That Is Fully Yours

What brings you joy? Revolutionary author Gabby Rivera loves to ask this question—to her friends, to her writing workshops, to guests on her podcast Joy Uprising—because the answers are so surprising and beautiful. As a queer Latinx woman, she has personally experienced the healing and revolutionary power that comes with stepping into your joy…and now she wants to spread the word....

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