Be Heard

As an on-air personality, model, and beauty pageant Queen you would think I would have a high self-esteem. What people really don't know or see is that I am actually very shy and very self conscious about my body. I've always had a small figure from childhood through teenage years and still do now.

I posed with a photo of my best friend, the late Benjamin Gilbert . His suicide last year is largely due to his sexuality and the hate that regrettably surrounds the LGBTQ community. I can't express enough the respect and passion I feel for this campaign. Ben was so full of laughter and life. Everyone always asks me why he killed himself. It was the hate . His everyday

I NEEDED to be part of the NOH 8 Campaign as it is VERY personal for me. Staten Island is where I grew up. I was bullied, ridiculed, humiliated and pushed around throughout my school years. As I got older, it did get better. It wasn't until I was in my mid 30's that I finally accepted the proud gay man that I am. The whole world opened up..and so did I. My photo arrived! I

This past weekend I was reminded why what everyone at NOH 8 is doing is so important. My brother's partner of almost thirty years died after a lengthy illness. When people ask me which of my family members passed away, I want to be able to say "my brother-in-law" , because that is what he was. Except in the state of Wisconsin, there is no "in law" about it. For almost

I have two reasons why I posed for NOH8. First reason: For my cousin, Mayela, who lives in San Luis Potosi, SLP Mexico.  She came out a couple years ago and was the first in our family to do so.  I went to visit her for a family wedding down in Mexico and my aunt prohibited my cousin from inviting her girlfriend to be her guest at the event. This obviously hurt her and