Avens O'Brien

Avens O'Brien
Libertarian Party of New Hampshire Vice-Chair
2006—2008
Personal Details
Birth:	10 October 1987
Education:	St Anselm College
Occupation:	Cannabis Industry
Residence:	Los Angeles, California
Party:	Libertarian
Media
Website:	http://www.avens.me
Facebook:	Facebook
Twitter:	Twitter
Instagram:	Instagram
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Avens O'Brien is a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and activist based in Los Angeles, California. She sits on the board of Feminists for Liberty. She is a frequent speaker and photographer at liberty-oriented conferences and a writer on libertarian subject matter, known for her contributions at The Libertarian Republic, an online news publisher. She publishes her convention photography and much of her commentary on Facebook.

She was a delegate seated with the delegation of the Libertarian Party of California at the 2016 National Convention and 2018 National Convention and was the Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire from 2006-2008. Her long-time partner is former Vice-Presidential candidate Judd Weiss. She is a Lifetime Member of the national Libertarian Party, as well as a Lifetime Member of the Libertarian Party of California.

She gave an endorsement in The Libertarian Republic for 2020 candidate Vermin Supreme and gave a nominating speech for him at the National Convention 2020.

Federal Campaigns

• Jo Jorgensen, 2020: Volunteer (Press Releases, Speechwriting, Photography)
• Vermin Supreme, 2020: Nominating Speech
• Gary Johnson, 2016: Volunteer (Social Media)
• John McAfee/Judd Weiss, 2016: Operations Manager, Communications
  • Upon McAfee's death, she published a remembrance of him on her personal blog viewable here.
• Gary Johnson, 2012: Volunteer (Canvassing)
• George Phillies, 2008: Volunteer (Petitioning, Campaign Events)
• Michael Badnarik, 2004: Volunteer (Petitioning)

Endorsements

O'Brien has stated publicly that she does not endorse candidates for Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary or Treasurer as a rule, citing her interest in unity and decreased factionalization. She has endorsed one candidate for internal party office (LNC At-Large) and two presidential candidates seeking the nomination.

• Valerie Sarwark, for LNC At-Large, 2020
• Vermin Supreme for President, 2020
• John McAfee for President, 2016

Internal Party Positions

• Vice-Chair, Libertarian Party of New Hampshire, 2006-2008
• In 2021, she made a statement on Facebook declining nomination to the LNC viewable here.

Caucuses & Liberty Organizations

O'Brien does not endorse any broad-based caucus within the Libertarian Party, preferring single-issue caucuses.

• Reproductive Liberty Coalition, Chair & Founder 2020 - Present
• Feminists for Liberty, Board of Directors 2019 - Present
• Ladies of Liberty Alliance, Los Angeles Chapter Leader 2016 - Present
• Pro-Choice Libertarians, Member
• Psychedelic Caucus, Member
• Association of Libertarian Feminists, Member
• Alumni for Liberty, Member 2014 - Present

Conventions & Party Events

National

• National Convention 2012
• National Convention 2016 (Breakout Speaker, Delegate)
• National Convention 2018 (Breakout Panelist, Delegate)
• National Convention 2020 (Delegate, Nominating Speech)

State Level

• New Hampshire Convention 2002 (Delegate)
• New Hampshire Convention 2004 (Delegate)
• New Hampshire Convention 2006 (Delegate, Vice Chair)
• New Hampshire Convention 2007 (Delegate, Vice Chair)
• New Hampshire Convention 2008 (Delegate, Vice Chair)
• California Convention 2016 (Delegate)
• Minnesota Convention 2016 (Keynote Speaker, Photographer)
• California Convention 2018 (Breakout Speaker, Delegate)
• Texas Convention 2018 (Breakout Speaker, Photographer)
• New Hampshire Convention 2019 (Keynote Speaker, Photographer)
• Texas Convention 2020 (Gala Speker, Photographer)
• California Convention 2021 (Photographer, Delegate)

County Level

• Los Angeles County Convention 2014 (Photographer)
• Bexar County, Texas Fundraiser 2018 (Speaker)

Noteworthy Liberty Speaking Engagements

2016

• Libertarian Party: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly & The Optimistic (Keynote Speech) – Minnesota Convention 2016
• Women in Liberty (Panel) - National Convention 2016
• How To Talk About Liberty (Speech) – National Convention 2016

2017

• Sex Work & Liberty (Panel) - PorcFest 2017
• Women in Liberty (Panel) – PorcFest, 2017
• You’re Not Fucking Us Up (Raising Liberty Kids) (Mainstage Speech) – PorcFest, 2017
• Millennials & Liberty (Panel) – Freedom Fest, 2017
• Feminism & Liberty (Panel) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2017
• Alternative Education Methods (Panel) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2017
• How To Talk About Liberty (w/ Naomi Brockwell) (Keynote Speech) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2017

2018

• Social Media & Liberty – National Convention 2018
• Burning Man (Panel) - Freedom Fest, 2018
• MeToo Movement (Panels) - Freedom Fest, 2018

2019

• Loving Liberty, Not Just Hating The Other Guy (Mainstage speech) – Anarchapulco 2019
• Agorism (Panel) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2019
• Drug War (Panel) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2019
• Social Media (Panel) – Australian Libertarian Society, 2019
• Feminism (Panel) – Freedom Fest 2019
• Masculinity (Panel) – Freedom Fest 2019
• Millennials (Panel) – Freedom Fest 2019
• Markets, Not Politics (Mainstage Opening Speech) – AnarchoVegas 2019

2020

• Markets, Not Politics (Mainstage Speech) - Liberty Forum 2020
• Making Yourself Useful for Liberty (Mainstage speech) – Anarchapulco 2020
• Vermin Supreme Nomination Speech - LNC 2020
• Making Yourself Useful for Liberty (Gala speech) - LP Texas 2020