2023 Participant Biographies

In April 2007 at the age of 21, Travis McMaster left zis full-time job to attend the Art Institute of York as a full-time student and the following month came out as a gay man. Fast forward to the fall of 2021, when Travis embraced who ze is as nonbinary person largely in part of being immersed in a company culture that championed inclusion and authenticity. While Travis has jointly explored zis identity and navigated zis career in marketing and multimedia since 2007, an interaction with a taco drive-thru teller in 2017 put into perspective the importance of visibility and how Travis can be the representation ze never had living in small towns. Aspiring to be the gasoline to the fire of others, Travis share zis experiences and talks to high school students, college students, and other professionals about the power and benefits of bringing their authentic selves to their profession, blending personal style into professional style, coming prepared to deliver skills, and the importance of researching company prospects. Additionally, Travis has been a keynote speaker at various local pride festivals, is the former marketing coordinator for Pride Hanover, volunteers as a career coach outside of zis full-time job as marketing and multimedia consultant where ze also leads an LGBTQIA+ and Allies inclusion committee.