Gary Paul Wright, at African American Office of Gay Concerns

September 2021 - Thera Community Champion

In regard to his work in HIV/AIDS, he began as a volunteer for Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC) and after a year he began his career in HIV/AIDS. Gary Paul created GMHC’s House of Latex, who has provided HIV prevention information, services and outreach to the “Ballroom” and “House” community for over 24 years. His next journey in his dedicated fight against HIV/AIDS took him to amfAR, the American Foundation for AIDS Research for the next three years. Next, his journey lead him to New Jersey AIDS Education and Training Center at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). This is when Gary Paul decided to be the change that he was seeking and formed the African American Office of Gay Concerns, and over the past twenty-one years as the executive director he has dedicated his life to making change within and supporting his community.