Community grand marshal Gary Virginia has been leading the way in helping his community for decades and this Sunday he will help lead the LGBT Pride Parade.
The Pittsburgh native moved to San Francisco in 1987 to accept a job as assistant director of university development at San Francisco State. After a kidney stone attack in 1988, he discovered that he was HIV-positive. By 1995, Virginia was diagnosed with full-blown AIDS. The diagnosis, however, didn't stop him from volunteering and being active in the community, even after having lost two successive best friends and more than 300 friends to the disease.
Virginia's coming out process was gradual from age 18. After moving out of his family home in his sophomore year of college to live on campus, he experienced his first taste of freedom and exposure that led him to come out to his friends. After graduating, he quickly moved to San Francisco.
"Moving here was the best decision I ever made because the Bay Area is fertile ground to be, do, and have whatever you choose in a progressive, liberal environment," said Virginia. "You can be a big fish in a small pond in a city with an international reputation."
Virginia, who says he has had several serious relationships in his past, is currently enjoying the freedom of being single at 52.
"I've invested the time and vulnerability to create many intimate friendships in SF and have concentric circles of 'family' where we all take care of each other," he said, "I'm still open to dating but I'm pretty darn happy burning the candle at both ends with current friends and the next great friend I'm about to meet."
Giving back to HIVers
After his life changing diagnosis in 1996, Virginia credits Positive Resource Center (then called AIDS Benefits Counselors) and the AIDS Emergency Fund as having "saved" his life. With time on his hands, he began to volunteer and used his fundraising and communication skills to help these two agencies and others.
More volunteer opportunities came about as he ran for and won the Mr. San Francisco Leather title in 1996 representing the old Daddy's bar. Soon after, he was asked to join the board of directors of PRC and later served as president. He currently sits on the agency's advisory board.
"We at Positive Resource Center are so thrilled that Gary Virginia is being recognized as a community grand marshal," Executive Director Brett Andrews said. "His service and leadership on PRC's board was at a critical time in the agency's life. Through his community connections, along with efforts from a broad base of supporters, PRC was able to weather a financial storm �" giving the agency time to regroup and land on solid financial footing. Gary Virginia and Donna Sachet's Pride Brunch represents a 14-year legacy of generosity, love and support for PRC and the community."
Virginia has also focused his efforts on emergency needs for women's health.
"I've lost a few friends to breast cancer so I've raised awareness and funds for the Breast Cancer Emergency Fund," he said, referring to AEF's sister organization.
He has also taken a role in humanitarian relief efforts, joining with the Rainbow World Fund and Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Virginia founded Krewe de Kinque, a Mardi Gras-inspired charitable social club, in 2004. Over the years, he has helped raise tens of thousands of dollars for Hurricane Katrina relief, Peru earthquake relief, Japan earthquake/tsunami relief, and Iraqi LGBT refugees facing torture or murder.
"I've probably had my hand in helping more than 100 organizations, but some of the most rewarding causes are small fundraisers to help an elderly or ill person pay rent or medical bills, or help with a celebration of life or funeral expenses," said Virginia.
He is also a credited writer, having written for the old SF Frontiers magazine for more than three years. Virginia also ran for District 8 Supervisor in 2000, and has been active in Gays Without Borders/SF to assist foreign LGBT people facing dangerous deportations and hate crimes. Most recently, began co-hosting a radio podcast at Cafe Flore �" where he helps with events �" with the San Francisco Bay Times.
Virginia said he was humbled by his selection as grand marshal by a group of former Pride grand marshals known as the electoral college.
"After getting dozens of messages from friends saying, 'Well deserved, Gary' I started to cry," he said.
He went on to say that the burden of losing hundreds of friends over 25 years to AIDS, cancer, and addiction, has taken a toll on him.
"Sometimes I feel I stay busy so death won't catch up with me, so being grand marshal is a chance for me to stop and feel the love, and as a community, we need to take time to celebrate, recharge our batteries, and just be, whether or not the rest of the world appreciates or accepts us."
Virginia hopes to attend as many Pride events as possible this week but will be keeping busy with his already planned activities.
"There are many free and benefit events, none more important than making sure the 42nd annual parade and celebration is a community and financial success," he said. "Pride is a ton of work but empowers tens of thousands of us locally and is a source of inspiration and hope for LGBT people around the world."
This year's Pride theme of "Global Equality" reflects his personal world view and really emulates his past and current work with having helped people in places like Iraq, Japan, Peru, Mexico, and Uganda.
Along with his friend, Bay Area Reporter society columnist Donna Sachet, Virginia will be co-producing the 14th annual Pride Brunch that honors the grand marshals on Saturday, June 23 at the Hotel Whitcomb. The brunch is a benefit for PRC.
"This labor of love raised $32,000 for Positive Resource Center last year and the event has come full circle," said Virginia. "When we founded the benefit it was held at Stars restaurant and then-Mayor Willie L. Brown attended, and this year he is the lifetime achievement grand marshal."
Along with this year's other community grand marshals, he will also be at the benefit for the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation at Harry Denton's Starlight Room on Thursday, June 21.
"As a long-term survivor of AIDS, I'm honored to support REAF, which provides critical support for many HIV/AIDS agencies," he said.
Hoping to spread his activism and community involvement to a younger generation, Virginia told the B.A.R. that LGBT youth are not yet jaded and can challenge the status quo.
"Their tech skills and creativity are especially needed to keep our march for equality on track," he said.
Virginia's philosophy is simple.
"For me, giving and receiving are reciprocal energies," he said. "one is not better than the other, but giving of yourself is very rewarding and begins with good intentions acted upon."