Lydia Gates — Queer Autistic Performance Poet from Flagstaff, Arizona
Lydia Gates is a queer autistic performance poet and crochet artist based in Flagstaff, Arizona, where she lives with her wife, Lucy, and their “three adorable feline monster children.” Known for her dynamic stage presence, emotionally incisive writing, and creative interdisciplinary work, Gates has become a powerful and beloved voice in Arizona’s contemporary poetry scene.
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A Leader in the Northern Arizona Poetry Community
Gates is the managing organizer of FlagSlam, the long-running poetry slam of Northern Arizona established in 2000. Under her leadership, FlagSlam has grown into a vibrant hub for poets, performers, and spoken-word enthusiasts across the region.
Her work in the community reflects a deep commitment to accessibility, queer visibility, neurodivergent expression, and the transformative power of performance poetry.
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Accolades, Features & Recognition
Lydia Gates has been recognized widely for her contribution to arts and culture in Arizona. Highlights include:
- Featured by the Arizona Republic
- 2024 Viola Awards finalist, one of Northern Arizona’s most prestigious arts honors
- Frequent featured poet across festivals, showcases, and arts events
Her 2024 featured performances include:
- Discover Flagstaff
- Art X Festival
- Poet Brews
- Harvest
- MOCAF (Museum of Contemporary Art Flagstaff)
- Off the Rails
These appearances reflect her growing profile as both a regional and national performance poet.
Competitive Slam Poetry Career
Gates has competed at regional and national poetry slams, earning a strong reputation for her bold delivery, emotional clarity, and storytelling craft.
Major competitions include:
- 2017 & 2018 National Poetry Slams
- 2019 Southwest Shootout
- 2023 Beyond the Neon Regional
- 2023 & 2024 Bigfoot Poetry Slam
- 2024 Chicharra Poetry Slam
Her performance style blends vulnerability, humor, and fierce social insight—qualities that continue to resonate with audiences across the country.
Published Poetry Collections
Lydia Gates is the author of four poetry collections, each reflecting a distinct chapter of her creative evolution:
- I Was an Empire (2017)
- She Dreams the Moon (2018)
- Changeling (2021)
- Algorithmancer (2024)
Her books explore themes such as identity, transformation, queerness, mythology, neurodivergence, and the magic hidden within everyday life. All four titles are currently available on Amazon.
Artistic Focus: Poetry, Performance & Crochet
While performance poetry is her primary genre, Gates is also an accomplished crochet artist, merging fiber arts with narrative expression. Her multidisciplinary practice gives her work a tactile, imaginative dimension—one that blurs the line between handmade craft, personal mythology, and embodied storytelling.
Presence in Flagstaff’s Creative Culture
As a Flagstaff-based artist, Gates plays an essential role in the city’s growing arts community. Her ongoing contributions to local events, youth slams, regional showcases, and creative festivals help foster an inclusive environment where emerging voices feel empowered to speak, perform, and create.
Why Lydia Gates Matters to Arizona Poetry
Lydia Gates represents the energy and evolution of modern Arizona spoken word. Her work as a poet, performer, organizer, educator, and queer autistic artist expands the landscape of what poetry can be—and who poetry can belong to.
Through her writing, her stage performances, and her leadership at FlagSlam, she continues to shape the future of Arizona literature with authenticity, courage, and an unmistakable artistic voice.
Discover more poets of Arizona HERE. Learning about Lydia Gates made you want to see poetry performed? Check out our Events Listings HERE. Are you a poet and want to take advantage of all of the opportunities in the Grand Canyon State? Check out our Arizona Poetry Resources page. Lastly, peruse, explore, read, and interpret hundreds of poems written or inspired about the landscape, culture, politics, and people in the great state of Arizona, from the southern city of Tucson to the Grand Canyon in the north, our collection of poetry is available for you.