3 years in California's child welfare system
20 years old
He/Him/His & They/Them/Theirs
Woodland, California
Patrick entered care at the age of 17 after escaping his abusive family, and has opted into extended care. Patrick has experienced a foster home, SILP — a supervised independent living placement, was homeless for half a year, and is currently living in his first apartment. Patrick is a nonbinary trans man who has had challenges for being his authentic self in care.
Patrick advocates for LGBTQ youth, homeless youth, and other marginalized youth. They have spoken three times at the Capitol for the Homeless Youth Act of 2018. They have also participated in activism rallies and marches for the local trans community and in various Black Lives Matter actions and marches in Sacramento.
They have ADHD, bipolar, anxiety, PTSD, and are autistic. Patrick fights to destigmatize mental illness and disabilities among vulnerable populations based on his own lived experience in these communities. They are an avid anti-capitalist and human rights activist who advocates for various causes locally and on social media.
In addition to being an avid reader, writer, and artist, Patrick currently attends Sacramento City College studying journalism. Patrick hopes to get a job in the journalism industry where he can uplift and support minority and marginalized voices.
Patrick Gabbett is passionate, brave, and willing to be a voice for the voiceless—but most importantly, he hopes to create a world where the voiceless are heard themselves.
