Iris Ghorbani (she/her) is an EMT, GSA founder, and advocate for the needs of LGBTQ+ people of color. As the founder of her school’s first healing circle for LGBTQ+ POC, Iris’ activism is largely informed by her Iranian identity, which inspires her to advocate for an intersectional understanding of the global Queer community. As a recipient of the SMYAL Youth Leadership Award, Iris hopes to show others who look like her that it is possible to be both successful and true to yourself. Iris plans to attend the Dual BA Program at the Trinity College of Dublin and Columbia University, studying Middle Eastern and European Languages and Culture. Iris hopes to advocate for decriminalizing LGBTQ relationships in nations like her home country of Iran.
