Mr. Gabriel Carrasquillo
We chose to interview Mr. Gabriel Carrasquillo because he is a financial donor and volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign. He spends a lot of time contacting politicians and community leaders concerning LGBT+ community related issues, and he himself is a homosexual.
Mr. Carrasquillo is originally from Puerto Rico but he has lived in Chicago for the past 11 years and works as a waiter. He was born in Japan to Puerto Rican parents. He was raised on military bases in Texas, Panama, and New Jersey. When his father retired, his family moved to Puerto Rico where he attended high school. As an adult he has lived throughout the major US cities. He realized he was a homosexual at the age of 15 and when he first told his family, they were scared for him and somewhat embarrassed for themselves. He said it was scary telling them. In his pre-teen and early teens he was called derogatory names due to him being part of the LGBT+ community. He said that most of his friends were girls and the guys typically stayed away from him because they didn't want to be associated with someone people thought was gay. As an adult he has always been "out" and has gravitated towards environments that welcome him. His definition of discrimination is "Limiting a person because of a preconceived idea"
Mr. Carrasquillo is originally from Puerto Rico but he has lived in Chicago for the past 11 years and works as a waiter. He was born in Japan to Puerto Rican parents. He was raised on military bases in Texas, Panama, and New Jersey. When his father retired, his family moved to Puerto Rico where he attended high school. As an adult he has lived throughout the major US cities. He realized he was a homosexual at the age of 15 and when he first told his family, they were scared for him and somewhat embarrassed for themselves. He said it was scary telling them. In his pre-teen and early teens he was called derogatory names due to him being part of the LGBT+ community. He said that most of his friends were girls and the guys typically stayed away from him because they didn't want to be associated with someone people thought was gay. As an adult he has always been "out" and has gravitated towards environments that welcome him. His definition of discrimination is "Limiting a person because of a preconceived idea"
Full Interview
What is your name? GABRIEL CARRASQUILLO
Where are you from, and where do you live? I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PUERTO RICO. I LIVE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
How long have you lived in your state/city? 11 YEARS
What is your job? WAITER
Are you part of any activist or support groups for the LGBT+ community? YES
What does discrimination mean to you in your own words? LIMITING A PERSON BECAUSE OF A PRECONCIEVED IDEA
Would you mind giving us a little backstory on yourself, maybe childhood life? I WAS BORN IN JAPAN TO PUERTO RICAN PARENTS. I WAS RAISED ON MILITARY BASES IN TEXAS, PANAMA, NEW JERSEY. WHEN MY FATHER RETIRED WE MOVED TO PUERTO RICO. I ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL IN PUERTO RICO. AS AN ADULT I HAVE LIVED THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR US CITIES.
How did your family react to you telling them that you are part of the LGBT+ community and how did you feel telling about telling them? THEY WERE SCARED FOR ME AND SOMEWHAT EMBARASSED FOR THEMSELVES. IT WAS SCARY TELLING THEM
When did you realize you were part of the LGBT+ community? 15 YEARS OLD
Have you experienced any setbacks on your journey? AS AN ADULT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OUT AND HAVE ALWAYS GRAVITATED TO ENVIORMENTS THAT WELCOMED ME.
Were you ever bullied or discriminated against due to your identity? YES. WHEN I WAS A PRE TEEN AND EARLY TEENS I WAS CALLED DEROGATORY NAMES. MOST OF MY FRIENDS WERE GIRLS. THE GUYS WOULD STAY AWAY FROM ME. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE PEOPLE THOUGH WAS GAY.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone has discriminated against you because they believe being part of the LGBT+ community is against their said religion? NOT THAT I AM AWARE.
Is there any particular religious group you feel is the most discriminating? I DON'T THINK ANY ONE TYPE OF RELIGION IS THE WORST AGAINST LGBT+ COMMUNITY. I THINK MOST ULTRA CONSERVATION FACTIONS OF RELIGIONS ARE THE WORST.
Are you a religious person? If so, what religion do you practice and did you face any discrimination from the people in your Church? NO
Do you feel as if religious discrimination towards the LGBT+ community has gotten better or worse over the years? BETTER
Have you ever been turned away by a healthcare provider (and if not, how would you feel)? NO
Have you ever felt discriminated against in a medical setting? NO
Have you ever felt afraid to go get medical help due to the fear of being discriminated against? NO
Have you ever felt that a medical professional has treated you differently than people who are not in the LGBT community? YES. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AIDS CRISIS (EARLY 1980'S) THERE WAS VERY LITTLE INFORMATION. I REMEMBER ONCE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PUTTING ON AN EXTRA PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES ON TO EXAMINE ME.
Have you ever had gaps in health insurance coverage or trouble obtaining health insurance? NO
In your opinion, do you believe healthcare providers should be allowed to refuse to treat LGBT+ patients due to their own personal or religious beliefs? NO. IF YOU ARE GOING TO PURSUE A PROFESSION WHERE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC THEN YOU HAVE MUST DEAL WITH THE WHOLE PUBLIC, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE YOU LIKE.
Do you feel there are enough support groups for people in the LGBT+ community? I LIVE IN A BIG CITY SO THERE IS PLENTY OF SUPPORT. I AM UNSURE OF HOW MUCH SUPPORT THERE IS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
Do you feel that there are not enough medical professionals who are trained to work with the LGBT+ community? NO
What are your thoughts on homosexuality being previously considered as a mental disorder by medical professionals until 1973? UNSURE HOW I FEEL BUT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT TODAY IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A MENTAL DISORDER
What are your thoughts on the fact that being transgender is still considered a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization? SURPISED
What are your thoughts on electroshock therapy and castration being previously used as "treatments" for people of the LGBT+ community SAD.
Have you ever felt discriminated against on social media? I DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA
How often do you feel yourself or other people are discriminated against on social media compared to in real life? UNABLE TO ANSWER. I DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA
Do you think that risk of bullying and other personal attacks might be lessened if the homophobic and transphobic ideologies weren’t spread via social media or news stations/newspapers? NOT REALLY.
Do you think that newspapers and news stations cause just as much discrimination as social media? NO
Have you ever been in a legal situation where the authorities or someone higher in ranking have mistreated you? NO
What is your opinion on people in the LGBT community who get accused of being rapists or pedophiles because of their sexuality? INFURIATING.
Do you think more of an effort could be made to create equality for people in the LGBT community, legally speaking? YES
Legally speaking, do you think things have been improving or getting worse? FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I FELT THE LGBT+ RIGHTS HAD BEEN ADVANCING. NOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE
Has anyone you know or yourself, been in a situation where you have been refused justice due to your sexuality? NOT THAT I'M AWARE.
I just have one more question. You said that you are part of an activist or support group for the LGBT community. Would you mind saying which group and what your role in that group is? Human Rights Campaign. I'm a financial donor and volunteer (mainly contacting politicians and commuity leaders concerning LGBT+ community related issues)
Where are you from, and where do you live? I'M ORIGINALLY FROM PUERTO RICO. I LIVE IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
How long have you lived in your state/city? 11 YEARS
What is your job? WAITER
Are you part of any activist or support groups for the LGBT+ community? YES
What does discrimination mean to you in your own words? LIMITING A PERSON BECAUSE OF A PRECONCIEVED IDEA
Would you mind giving us a little backstory on yourself, maybe childhood life? I WAS BORN IN JAPAN TO PUERTO RICAN PARENTS. I WAS RAISED ON MILITARY BASES IN TEXAS, PANAMA, NEW JERSEY. WHEN MY FATHER RETIRED WE MOVED TO PUERTO RICO. I ATTENDED HIGH SCHOOL IN PUERTO RICO. AS AN ADULT I HAVE LIVED THROUGHOUT THE MAJOR US CITIES.
How did your family react to you telling them that you are part of the LGBT+ community and how did you feel telling about telling them? THEY WERE SCARED FOR ME AND SOMEWHAT EMBARASSED FOR THEMSELVES. IT WAS SCARY TELLING THEM
When did you realize you were part of the LGBT+ community? 15 YEARS OLD
Have you experienced any setbacks on your journey? AS AN ADULT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN OUT AND HAVE ALWAYS GRAVITATED TO ENVIORMENTS THAT WELCOMED ME.
Were you ever bullied or discriminated against due to your identity? YES. WHEN I WAS A PRE TEEN AND EARLY TEENS I WAS CALLED DEROGATORY NAMES. MOST OF MY FRIENDS WERE GIRLS. THE GUYS WOULD STAY AWAY FROM ME. THEY DIDN'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH SOMEONE PEOPLE THOUGH WAS GAY.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone has discriminated against you because they believe being part of the LGBT+ community is against their said religion? NOT THAT I AM AWARE.
Is there any particular religious group you feel is the most discriminating? I DON'T THINK ANY ONE TYPE OF RELIGION IS THE WORST AGAINST LGBT+ COMMUNITY. I THINK MOST ULTRA CONSERVATION FACTIONS OF RELIGIONS ARE THE WORST.
Are you a religious person? If so, what religion do you practice and did you face any discrimination from the people in your Church? NO
Do you feel as if religious discrimination towards the LGBT+ community has gotten better or worse over the years? BETTER
Have you ever been turned away by a healthcare provider (and if not, how would you feel)? NO
Have you ever felt discriminated against in a medical setting? NO
Have you ever felt afraid to go get medical help due to the fear of being discriminated against? NO
Have you ever felt that a medical professional has treated you differently than people who are not in the LGBT community? YES. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE AIDS CRISIS (EARLY 1980'S) THERE WAS VERY LITTLE INFORMATION. I REMEMBER ONCE A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER PUTTING ON AN EXTRA PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES ON TO EXAMINE ME.
Have you ever had gaps in health insurance coverage or trouble obtaining health insurance? NO
In your opinion, do you believe healthcare providers should be allowed to refuse to treat LGBT+ patients due to their own personal or religious beliefs? NO. IF YOU ARE GOING TO PURSUE A PROFESSION WHERE YOU HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE PUBLIC THEN YOU HAVE MUST DEAL WITH THE WHOLE PUBLIC, NOT JUST THE PEOPLE YOU LIKE.
Do you feel there are enough support groups for people in the LGBT+ community? I LIVE IN A BIG CITY SO THERE IS PLENTY OF SUPPORT. I AM UNSURE OF HOW MUCH SUPPORT THERE IS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE IN RURAL AREAS OF THE COUNTRY.
Do you feel that there are not enough medical professionals who are trained to work with the LGBT+ community? NO
What are your thoughts on homosexuality being previously considered as a mental disorder by medical professionals until 1973? UNSURE HOW I FEEL BUT I'M VERY HAPPY THAT TODAY IT IS NOT CONSIDERED A MENTAL DISORDER
What are your thoughts on the fact that being transgender is still considered a mental health disorder by the World Health Organization? SURPISED
What are your thoughts on electroshock therapy and castration being previously used as "treatments" for people of the LGBT+ community SAD.
Have you ever felt discriminated against on social media? I DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA
How often do you feel yourself or other people are discriminated against on social media compared to in real life? UNABLE TO ANSWER. I DO NOT USE SOCIAL MEDIA
Do you think that risk of bullying and other personal attacks might be lessened if the homophobic and transphobic ideologies weren’t spread via social media or news stations/newspapers? NOT REALLY.
Do you think that newspapers and news stations cause just as much discrimination as social media? NO
Have you ever been in a legal situation where the authorities or someone higher in ranking have mistreated you? NO
What is your opinion on people in the LGBT community who get accused of being rapists or pedophiles because of their sexuality? INFURIATING.
Do you think more of an effort could be made to create equality for people in the LGBT community, legally speaking? YES
Legally speaking, do you think things have been improving or getting worse? FOR THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS I FELT THE LGBT+ RIGHTS HAD BEEN ADVANCING. NOW, I'M VERY CONCERNED WITH WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY AS WELL AS THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE
Has anyone you know or yourself, been in a situation where you have been refused justice due to your sexuality? NOT THAT I'M AWARE.
I just have one more question. You said that you are part of an activist or support group for the LGBT community. Would you mind saying which group and what your role in that group is? Human Rights Campaign. I'm a financial donor and volunteer (mainly contacting politicians and commuity leaders concerning LGBT+ community related issues)