Sign in Subscribe
Robin Riley

Robin Riley

Petaluma, California
02
May
A photo of the Sonoma County voter guide for the June 2, 2026 primary election.

Robin's ballot — 2026 primary edition

It's primary season in the United States and mail-in ballots get mailed out across California this week! Being a news junkie and civic engagement wonk, people frequently ask me how I'm voting and why.
5 min read
30
Mar
A photo of Suzanne Ford at the microphone, flanked by the band's instruments and speakers, with a variety of pride flags hanging from the banisters behind her.

My Trans Day of Visibility speech on pathways to power

Pathways to power and bringing our lived experience as marginalized people to bear on the decisions that shape our day to day lives.
6 min read
16
Mar
Robin on a bright spring morning looking cute as can be. The backdrop is breathtakingly beautiful, featuring lush green rolling hills.

More confidently me

Hi, hello. I'm still here, and mercifully beginning to find my way again. I don't want
3 min read
06
Mar
The giant Cupid's Arrow art installation in SF, in dappled sunlight in front of a cityscape with a long hanging fog over it.

Trans joy and the search for a new middle name

Choosing a new name has been a fun act of self-definition. And maybe a step closer to no longer getting
3 min read
15
Feb
A black and white photo of a stack of newspapers on a weathered wooden surface.

40+ sources of news and information for the US in 2025

Staying informed is critical, and a bit challenging these days. A revisionist and censorious US administration, a media and political
5 min read
09
Feb
A photo of a home's porch, with the US flag flying near some Halloween decor and a hummingbird bird feeder.

Staying in the US and fighting

I'm blessed with a family that crosses national borders, and the depth of care and concern I'
2 min read
27
Jan
A selfie of Robin at Matrix Conf 2024 wearing a blue KN95 mask indoors.

Mask up: echoes of early 2020 as I travel to FOSDEM

Later this week, I'm going to see a lot of people I care deeply about and a lot
3 min read
20
Jan
A photo on a hike in the rolling green hills of Petaluma, during golden hour on a spring day.

Walking away from Facebook

In this blog post, I detail my approach to leaving Facebook and other Meta services, and share my rationale. But
7 min read
19
Jan
The nonbinary pride flag, featuring four horizontal stripes. From top to bottom: yellow, white, purple, and black.

Hello, my name is Robin Riley

You've known me as Josh, or Joshua Riley Simmons, and there's a lot I don'
1 min read
09
Dec
Great nations, like great men, should keep their word. – US Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black.

Maybe in error, but never in silence

Existence and visibility is political. I came out as bisexual the day my fellow Californians voted to make same-sex marriage
2 min read