Amy Quichiz Website

Amy Quichiz

Queer Culture and Sexuality Expert

Amy Quichiz is a queer culture and sexuality expert based in Los Angeles, CA. Amy articulates theories and personal experiences into writing pieces that cover various topics such as whiteness, radical self-love from brown girls, mental disabilities in Latinx households, Latinx body issues, borderland identities, and radical queer love. She shares knowledge through radical storytelling and creates workshops for various communities on Instagram. She is also the Founder of Veggie Mijas, a women of color collective that highlights the importance of veganism through the lens of those with marginalized identities. Her work has been recognized by numerous platforms such as The New York Times, Bustle, Bon Vogue India, i-D, Self Magazine, Mic, and VegNews.

Education

  • BA, Women's and Gender Studies and Sociology, Syracuse University
  • MA, International Relations, American University, concentration in Human Rights and Global Environmental Justice

Professional Achievements

  • Writer, educator, and activist whose work centers on the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and food justice
  • Founder of Veggie Mijas, a national collective that uplifts women, non-binary, and queer people of color through conversations and practices around plant-based living, sustainability, and collective liberation
  • Veggie Mijas featured in publications such as The New York Times, NPR, Vice, and Vogue India
  • Appeared in outlets including Bustle, VegNews, and Mic, where she explores topics related to community care, cultural identity, and environmental justice
  • Invited to speak at universities and conferences across the United States, sharing her expertise on intersectional activism and transformative community building, including New York University, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of Kent in Paris, France, and Columbia University
  • History of fighting for Reproductive Justice within Planned Parenthood America Federation, Planned Parenthood Global, and community-led organizations

Favorite Piece of Advice

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Forum Comments (5)

I'm attracted to non binary men.
I think it's challenging to try and tell someone what their label is, especially without knowing them; I think it's something for each person to figure out. You can also always start by using the umbrella term of "queer". I especially want young people to know you don't have to stick to a label. A label isn't something that's set in stone. So, if you do identify as bisexual or pansexual or gay, it doesn't mean that you necessarily have to be labeled like that for the rest of your life. You can start out with whatever label feels most comfortable to you. Down the line, if you want to change it or feel like that label no longer works for you, that's completely okay. Plus, if it does make you feel comfortable and safe being in the community, you can always identify as queer!
I'm not sure about my sexuality (Ace or Bi)
I think it's challenging to try and tell someone what their label is; I think it's something for each person to figure out. However, for your question, I would think about what asexuality really means, and I'd suggest also putting that in conversation with what it means to be aromantic. Labels are really a spectrum; they can vary per person. Someone can identify as asexual, but they can also have feelings of romance, or that can also be something that's fluid. It depends on your experience and what you're comfortable with.

You can also always start by using the umbrella term of "queer". I especially want young people to know you don't have to stick to a label. A label isn't something that's set in stone. So, if you do identify as bisexual or pansexual or gay, it doesn't mean that you
necessarily have to be labeled like that for the rest of your life. You can start out with
whatever label feels most comfortable to you. Down the line, if you want
to change it or feel like that label no longer works for you, that's completely okay.
Plus, if it does make you feel comfortable and safe being in the community, you can always identify as queer!
How do you come out to your parents that you are a femboy?
You can start by trying to make it simple; you could start a conversation about what gender means. For example, you could start by chatting about how clothing at a department store is separated into distinct spaces for men and women. But if I like a shirt, and it's not in the department for my gender, it shouldn't matter, because I like it. That's something that can be thought of differently; just because I'm X gender doesn't mean I have to follow everything that society is telling me to do. So you can start by having conversations like that with them! Hopefully, this will help you open the door to explaining what you'd like to them.

You could also employ media here; you could try watching a show that exposes them to characters that dress the way you're hoping to dress. Finally, I hope that you can seek out safe spaces where others support the way you want to dress.
My mother doesn’t think I’m trans
First off, I would make sure that you have a safe space outside of your home. No matter what your coming out situation is, and how you're bringing the conversation to your family, we want to make sure that young people are safe and have the resources they need.

Secondly, I would recommend connecting with queer communities and reaching out to other young people who have come out to their parents to get feedback and real-world examples of their experience and how their parents reacted. Additionally, if you know any parents of queer people who have been accepting and would be open to having a dialogue with you, this could be a helpful way to glean an understanding of how they view queerness and how they can view your queerness.

I would also say exposure to media and exposure to incorporating queer life into your home can help with normalizing it for your parents and for your family. But, I also want to be clear that it shouldn't be a kid's "job" to get their loved ones to accept their queerness. I think that it's important to make sure that kids don't feel like this is on their backs. If your parents simply don't understand, then make sure that you have a safe space with people who do understand you, who do get you, who want to help you, and who can make sure that you have the mental health resources you may need. At the end of the day, it isn't a queer person's job to make sure that parents do A-Z in order to understand this, but hopefully you can help empower them to see that they can take initiative on their own to understand us as well, and recognize us as people.
Agender vs nonbinary? Which am I?
I would say that someone who is non-binary is someone who doesn't necessarily feel either "male" or "female". Maybe they don't resonate with either gender at all, or they feel both at once. Maybe it feels more comfortable and more expressive to step out of the stereotypical ideas of what it means to be male or female, and identify as non-binary. I think that a non-binary person has the feminist consciousness of what gender means in the world, they're taking gender performance theory into account, and they're deciding to go against the norm and identify as non-binary.

In contrast, "agender" would mean someone who just doesn't identify with a gender, and that's that, if that makes sense.

Co-authored Articles (7)

Am I Bisexual or Pansexual Quiz

There’s a lot of overlap between bisexuality and pansexuality, but many people find the differences important. “Bisexual” means someone is attracted to more than one gender, while “pansexual” is a bit more deta...

“Pillow Princess” Definition, Origins, and Usage in the LGBTQ Community

Queer culture and sexuality expert Amy Quichiz explains how the term “pillow princess” is used in the LGBTQ+ communityThe term “pillow princess” has been circulating on TikTok lately, but it’s actually been aro...

What Is a Twink? And Is It a Slur? Understanding the LGBTQ+ Term

Everything you need to know about the slang term “twink”You’ve probably heard the term “twink” before, whether in a movie, conversation, or on social media. Maybe you’re friends with a twink or two without ev...

The Top Queer Dating Apps of 2025

Queer culture expert Amy Quichiz weighs in on the best apps for the LGBTQ+ communityThe dating pool may seem small if you’re in the LGBTQ+ community, ''but'' it’s actually bigger than you may think! LGBTQ+ dating app...

The 20 Gayest Cities & Towns in the USA, Ranked

Explore gayborhoods & queer-friendly destinations across AmericaWhat makes a town gay, you ask? It depends on what you’re looking for—community, nightlife, LGBTQ+ population size—but luckily, the cities on this lis...

What’s the Difference Between “Queer” and “Gay”?

Queer culture expert Amy Quichiz clarifies the meanings and differencesYou may have heard members of the LGBTQ+ community referring to themselves as “gay,” “queer,” or both. But what exactly do these terms mean, ...

What Does the Sunset Lesbian Pride Flag Represent?

Queer culture expert Amy Quichiz explains the flag's history and meaningIf you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, you’ve probably seen the Sunset Lesbian Flag before. But what exactly does this flag stan...