LUIS LOPEZ-MALDONADO is a Xicanx activist, poeta, playwright, dancer, choreographer, & educator born & raised in multiple barrios across el Orange County, CA. He/Him/They/Them are winners of the 2024 International Latino Book Award for his first book, Mexican Bird, from Querencia Press; his second book is Gay Poetics of the Passion (FlowerSong Press). His/Their poesía has been published  in over 150 different journals and magazines and anthologies. He/They are currently adding glitter to the Land of Enchantment, working for the public educational system as a high school Bilingual & Special Education educator. He/They currently hold two B.A.'s from UCR, an M.A. from FSU, an M.F.A. from ND and an Ed.S. from UNM. He is working on his next collection of poems.