Ethan Avanzino speaking at a Pride event in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Photo by the Eureka Springs Independent.

Image courtesy of Eureka Springs Independent

Speaker · Advocate · Storyteller

Making the invisible visible, one room at a time.

I speak to corporate teams, faith communities, legislative bodies, and public audiences on transgender inclusion, visibility, and what it actually means to show up for the people around you.

About my work

Every talk is grounded in lived experience.

I've spoken in front of legislative committees in Texas and Arkansas, presented to corporate audiences at a major commercial airline, led Trans 101 workshops at faith communities and conferences nationwide, and delivered keynotes at Pride and advocacy events across the region. My talks draw on personal narrative, current policy, and a deep belief that visibility changes minds.

What I Speak On

LGBTQ+ Resilience

The history, the present, and the ongoing work of building queer community in spaces that weren't designed for us — including rural America. This talk meets audiences where they are and leaves them with a deeper understanding of what resilience actually looks like on the ground.

Transgender Inclusion

Practical, grounded sessions on Trans 101, inclusion in the workplace, and what's happening in the world for trans people right now. Designed for corporate teams, faith communities, and civic organizations who want to move beyond awareness into action.

My Story

A personal narrative talk about coming out, transition, and building a life as an out trans person in rural Arkansas. Raw, honest, and built around the belief that visibility changes everything. This talk is available as a keynote or in a Q&A format.

Watch on YouTube →

Speaking history

2026 · Eureka Springs Diversity Weekend · "We Have Always Found a Way" — Pride keynote

2025 · Unitarian Universalist Church, Eureka Springs · Guest presenter (2x)

2023 · Arkansas Senate Committee, Little Rock · Testimony on anti-trans legislation

2020 · North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce · Speaker (remote)

2019 · North Texas LGBT Chamber of Commerce · Speaker

2018 · Red Letter Christians Revival Conference · Trans 101

2017 · Texas Senate Committee, Austin · Testimony on anti-trans legislation

2017 · Cathedral of Hope, Dallas · Trans 101

2016–2025 · Southwest Airlines · My Story — presented to 150+ including CEO

2016–present · Trans Pride · Trans Day of Remembrance · Trans Day of Visibility · Speaker & presenter

10+
Years of public speaking

150+
Largest single audience

TX & AR
Legislative testimony

Watch & listen

My coming out story is documented across three videos spanning ten years.
Below you'll also find my Diversity Weekend keynote and Arkansas Senate testimony.

10-year coming out follow-up · December 2025

"We Have Always Found a Way" · Diversity Weekend 2026

Arkansas Senate testimony · 2023

Ready to bring this conversation to your event?

I'm available for keynotes, panels, corporate training sessions, faith community presentations, and legislative testimony support. Every engagement is tailored to the room.