Photo by Lauryn Farris, San Antonio Transgender Equality Rights Activist.
Gavyn was an OUT-Youth LGBTQ+ activist in San Antonio. He envisioned San Antonio to be a safe space for all LGBTQ+ people of any race, gender, or age. Gavyn was one of the initial members of Fiesta Youth, the first LGBTQ+ youth/young adult organization in San Antonio serving teens, young adults, and their allies. He was also active with the local chapter of PFLAG and often participated in Pride events in San Antonio and Austin. Whether carrying banners in parades at the age of 5, meeting local government dignitaries, sharing his coming out story with other teens, or protesting for equality at City Hall, Gavyn wanted his voice to be heard and taken seriously.
In 2012 a 12-year-old Gavyn witnessed the harassment and bullying of a gay student at his school for being gender fluid. School administrators and staff did little to address the constant bullying. Wanting to bring awareness to the situation at his school, Gavyn wrote a letter to the Board of Directors of Pride San Antonio in which he asked Pride San Antonio to adopt the slogan San Antonio-A No H8 City as the theme for Pride Bigger Than Texas. The Board of Directors was overwhelmed with emotion and moved by his request. Pride San Antonio would ultimately invite Adam Bouska, the founder of the No H8 Campaign, to San Antonio as Grand Marshal for 2012 Pride Bigger Than Texas. When Adam accepted the invitation, Pride San Antonio also named Gavyn as a Youth Grand Marshal. Gavyn was driven down the Pride parade route that year to cheers and overwhelming support from the LGBTQ+ community.
Two days after Gavyn’s 23rd birthday, Gavyn passed away on February 26th, 2023.
On June 24, 2023 at the 20th Pride Bigger Than Texas Festival, Gavyn was awarded the Pride San Antonio Legacy award posthumously for his contributions to the San Antonio LGBTQ+ community as a youth activist. That evening his co-workers from the Starbucks on Hildebrand and Fredericksburg Rd walked Gavyn’s banner down the Pride Bigger Than Texas Parade route one last time under the PRIDE TX banners along Main Street.
Gavyn’s legacy is the unconditional love he had for himself and others.
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