Jesus Ramirez-Valles, PhD, MPH
Principal Investigator
(He/Him)
I am what we now call an older gay man. I came out as a gay person in the midst of the HIV epidemic on the Mexico-US border. Since then, I have been working as a community organizer, health professional, and researcher on HIV with gay men, bisexual men and transgender people. About a decade ago, I turned my attention to the aging experience of LGBTQ+ communities, especially of older gay men and those living with HIV. Now, I am very grateful to have the opportunity to undertake this in-depth study on the health of older gay men joining their voices and perspectives on aging and wellbeing with health biomarkers. My drive, what excites me, is the fight for health equity and the pursuit of our queer utopia.
Read Jesus' publications here.
Sonya Arreola, PhD, MPH
Research Director
(She/her)
I first encountered LGBTQ+ health activism as a volunteer interpreter for Spanish-speaking individuals seeking HIV testing in the late 1980s. Latino gay men shared complex histories, revealing their loves, joys and sorrows. Communities of color, especially non-English speakers, had limited access to services of any kind, let alone HIV services. So, I enlisted their help to modify an existing AIDS prevention program to address this gap. The men would come to call themselves Los Hermanos del Sol. I am beholden to my first teachers for welcoming me into their brotherhood and sharing the power of community mobilization, for exposing how structural systems support or impede our well-being, and for launching my community-engaged health equity research practice. Today, I am excited and grateful to continue this tradition with Bay Area older gay men. I believe what we learn together can inform community action, programming, and policy that enriches queer communities and beyond.
Luis Gutierrez-Mock
Project Director
(He/him)
I am a queer, biracial (Chicano/white) transgender man born in San Jose, currently living in the East Bay. Growing up, I never imagined myself aging because there were no images of older queer people in the media, as well as generations of elders lost to HIV, violence, and homophobia/transphobia. I lived my life like I wouldn’t make it past 25 and find myself in my mid-40’s looking forward to each year. I am grateful to now be surrounded and supported by a fierce community of elders, who inspire me by their stories of survival, strength, and resilience.
Emerson Shiang, MPH
Project Coordinator
(He/they)
I am a first-generation Chinese American gay man, born and raised in the Bay Area. I have spent a long time contemplating my identity and what it means to carve a path for myself that is unfamiliar to my parents’ generation and the generations before them. I have concluded that the legacy of my parents and ancestors is for me to choose me, respectfully.
Becoming a doctor for my parents was not choosing me; limiting myself to heteronormative values was not choosing me. Teaching yoga because it is grounding is choosing me; receiving my MPH and nurturing my curiosity about the way social and political structures impact identity and health is choosing me; leaning into queerness and social justice is choosing me; practicing research in a people- and community-centered way is choosing me. ‘Openly Gray’ is exciting because it is in search of answers with and for local communities that are rich in history and experience. The more we learn, the more our research can be of use in advocacy, policy, and services to ensure a healthier future for marginalized communities.
Hector Serrano
Research Associate
(He/him)
As a queer man, I continuously challenge myself to examine what it means to be queer in today’s world. My journey has been shaped by profound admiration for the stories and resilience of older gay/queer men. Our experiences with the HIV epidemic have both scarred and empowered us, forging a unique path worthy of deeper exploration. Studying aging among gay/queer men will help us understand the present and can shape a better future. I am convinced that we must turn to our elders, explore their struggles, victories and insights that can transform our approach to healthcare among LGBTQ+ communities. I approach this endeavor with profound respect and curiosity, eager to learn. Together, our journey forms a bridge between the past and the future.