| Guillermo Quintana
|
Born: Venezuela
Current residence: New York City
Volunteer: one year
"in my country nobody ever told me about HIV or about
protection from it." |
Why did you choose to become a volunteer at GMHC?
I had a friend who told me about Proyecto
P.A.P.I. (Poder, Apoyo, Prevención e Identidad [Power, Support,
Prevention, and Identity]). I wanted a place to feel comfortable.
And at P.A.P.I., I feel really comfortable. I like to know what's
happening within the gay community, and I enjoy helping people who
have come here from different countries to get the information that
they need — information about HIV/AIDS or about the gay community
here. I'm from another country, and in my country nobody ever told
me about HIV or about protection from it — and that's really
why I came to P.A.P.I.
What kind of work do you do as a volunteer?
We do outreach, helping people by telling them about safe sex
and HIV and giving them information about where they can go to get
tested.
What was one of your favorite volunteer experiences?
One important thing was Gay Pride in Queens this year. I was a
bit afraid to go because it was my first experience with gay pride.
But for me that was really the big break in my life — it was
really important for me to do something in the gay community. I'm
here, I'm happy, and I'm trying to show the world that we are the
same as everybody.
What do you do when you're not volunteering?
I'm an accountant. When I'm not working I go to the gym to exercise,
and I paint.
June 9, 2003
© 2003 Gay Men's Health Crisis
|
home 
double k design 
