Trystan Reese
Family-Building Coach
About Trystan
Trystan Reese (he/him) is an internationally recognized educator and consultant with nearly two decades of experience supporting LGBTQ+ people in building and sustaining their families. He began his career in LGBTQ+ advocacy at the National LGBTQ Task Force, where he trained hundreds of organizers in storytelling and leadership. Trystan later served as the Director of Family Formation at Family Equality, where he developed original resources, led national trainings, and created groundbreaking tools specifically for queer and trans people pursuing parenthood.
He is the author of How We Do Family, a memoir about building a queer, trans-led family, and has co-authored academic and medical publications on LGBTQ+ family-building and fertility. Trystan is also a seasoned DEI consultant and inclusion strategist, with expertise in queer reproductive justice, inclusive healthcare, and trans-affirming fertility systems.
Trystan currently lives in Portland, OR with his partner and their three children, and continues to coach prospective parents, facilitate workshops, and advocate for inclusive family-building practices nationwide.
- Children: 3
- Family-building journey: I became a dad when I adopted my partner’s biological niece and nephew. A few years later, I gave birth to our third child. Our journey included navigating the foster care system, dealing with pregnancy loss, and accessing gender-affirming reproductive healthcare. It wasn’t easy—but it was absolutely worth it
- Parenting advice: There’s no perfect time, no perfect plan, and no perfect parent. What your child needs most is you, showing up with as much love, presence, and authenticity as you can muster. And when that feels hard, find your people—your queer village—to hold you up.
