LGBTQ Campus Resource Center

Gaél Jerez-Urquia

Email: gurquia@lgbtq.ucla.edu
Pronouns: he/they/el/elle

Gaél Matéo Jerez‑Urquia is a proud first‑generation Nicaraguan-Salvadoran queer, and transmasculine individual whose lived experience deeply shapes his commitment to Queer and Trans liberation. Born and raised in the Inland Empire, Gaél has navigated complex systems as a system‑impacted person, grounding his advocacy in community care and tangible structural change. His spark for social justice began in his undergraduate years at UC Riverside, where they took their first gender and sexuality studies course.

Gaél previously served as the only transgender board member for California Latinas for Reproductive Justice, where he contributed to organizational governance, advanced reproductive justice policy priorities, supported community‑based events, strengthened board structures, and ensured trans‑inclusive frameworks were embedded across programmatic and advocacy work.

He also served in Project TRANS at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, where he centered QT trans liberation through resource navigation, community programming, and expanding tangible access to gender‑affirming care. Supporting his community remains one of his greatest passions and driving forces.

Gaél is excited to continue this work at the UCLA LGBTQ Resource Center, where his dedication to community, and collective care keeps him grounded. Outside of work, he loves cooking, playing piano or violin at gigs, reading at local coffee shops, and napping with his two cats.