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Noguez Strives to serve as a role model for LGBT youths and provide
HIV/AIDS services

This article is Copyright by www.FrontierNewsMagazine.com, California's Gay Biweekly

By Matthew Marin
Frontiers News Magazine Staff Article

The mayor of Huntington Park, who grew up in southeast Los Angeles, says he
understands the stigma of being a gay Latino.

When Juan Noguez was 18 years old, his boyfriend revealed his sexual orientation
to his mother, who would not accept it because of her cultural upbringing. She
asked him to leave her home, though Noguez later reconciled with her."This is a
very sensitive issue in the community," Noguez, 40, told Frontiers.

Today, Noguez is striving to serve as a role model for LGBT youths and provide
HIV/AIDS services to the community. In the process, he has earned the respect of
his constituents in a culturally and religiously traditional Latino area.

Noguez, who became a member of the Huntington Park City Council in 2003, is
presently serving a four-year term. Last year, he was appointed to serve a
one-year term as mayor by his fellow board members.

Since taking office, Noguez has offered encouragement, advice, and information to
gay and lesbian residents who are not out to their families and friends."We've
made it through the rain, and you'll make it through the rain," he said. "I want to
tell the kids of our community to be true to themselves."In addition to youth
outreach, Noguez helped establish funding last December for the Southeast Los
Angeles HIV/AIDS Access Network. Funded by the Los Angeles County Office of
AIDS and Public Policy, SELA provides critically needed education, prevention,
testing, and care services.

Noguez had been alarmed by the increase of HIV infections in the community, with
nearly 1,000 new cases over the past two years. According to the Office of AIDS
and Public Policy, there have been 183 AIDS cases in Huntington Park alone in the
last decade.

The mayor expressed his concerns to health officials and elected leaders last year
that HIV-testing clinics outside the city were not accessible to residents, many of
whom rely on public transportation."We're very grateful for the money, but we
need greater funding," he said. "We want to teach the youth that we can prevent
the spread of this virus."Aside from his AIDS activism, Noguez has also met
informally with citizens of Huntington Park who are coming to terms with their
sexual orientation. About 96% of the population in Huntington Park is Latino, and
many follow the teachings of the Catholic Church, which forbids same-sex intimacy.

While Noguez has made a strong effort to support the LGBT community, he has
also led improvement efforts in several areas for the city, such as public
transportation, historic preservation, education, housing, health services, and local
businesses."These are serious issues, and I'm trying to address them as a gay
mayor," he said, jokingly. "I'm the mayor of Huntington Park, who happens to be
gay."Noguez said his constituents have been very supportive of his work and
accepting of his sexual orientation. He said many of them respect his commitment
to community outreach."People have been willing to lend a hand," he said. "The
response has been very positive. I'm going to continue [doing] the best that I can
for all of my community."Southeast Los Angeles has also been ready to embrace
LGBT people as members of the community, Noguez said. He successfully
spearheaded efforts to hold the first gay Latino rodeo at the neighboring Pico
Rivera Sports Arena in August. A bar in Huntington Park recently started
dedicating Thursday nights to gay patrons.

The mayor also said the city needs its own LGBT resource center to accommodate
residents, who would have to travel to centers outside the area to receive
necessary services."We are your community," he said. "You don't have to leave
the area to go to West Hollywood or Hollywood. Our community is here for you."

Copyright: Frontiers News Magazine