<—PREVIOUS NEXT —>
Photo courtesy ProjectQAtlanta.com
RAYMOND DUKE
Atlanta Black Gay Pride is one of the largest Black Pride celebrations in the world, and to find out why, a good place to look would be in Raymond Duke’s direction.
The tireless Duke is all over the community, first and foremost as president of In The Life Atlanta (the official organizer of Atlanta Black Gay Pride), but also as a member of the HRC’s steering committee and as an associate minister at Tabernacle Baptist Church.
But it’s his day job as a communicable disease specialist that fuels his long term goal—to open up his own health, education, and human services agency for the LGBT community.
How would you define your role in Atlanta’s LGBT community?
My friends call me the Gayor (gay mayor) of Atlanta’s LGBT community. I define my role as a community leader, activist, advocate for positive change and unity in the community. I am currently the President of In The Life Atlanta (ITLA), member of the steering committee of HRC, founder of the Atlanta chapter of ONYX IMAGES Atlanta and co-owner of Inclusivity Inc.
What do you forecast for Atlanta’s LGBT community in the next 5 to 10 years?
In the next 5 to 10 years, Atlanta’s LGBT Community will be a closer, supportive, healing community, one still faced with internalized homophobia, post traumatic slavery disorder, challenges with drug & alcohol abuse, and issues of equality, yet continuing to fight the good fight to improve themselves and their community one person at a time.
We learn from all our experiences, both good and bad. Tell us about a negative life experience you’ve had that you learned a valuable lesson from.
I recently found out, in late spring 2010 that my mother whom I’ve loved unconditionally for all my life, didn’t feel the same way about me, and hasn’t come to visit me in 12 years because of my homosexuality. I learned the most valuable love is the love you have for yourself. Love you unconditionally, and others can deal with their hang-ups. I still love my mother, even if she never visits.
How has being LGBT shaped your outlook on life?
It’s taught me not to be as judgmental as I once was, that everything isn’t about me, and it helped me to see life clearer and embrace the value of reaching out to others. It taught me to be passionate about service to my community and man/woman kind.
Tell us a little more about yourself. What are your hobbies? What are your goals?
I’m an Aries, I’ve been in a new committed relationship for 40 days with a very special friend, one that I spent 365 days getting to know. I’m a warm , loving, generous, open-minded, sincere, genuine, humorous person. I’m a Communicable Disease Specialist working at a CBO in Decatur, I have a BS in Social Work and a Masters in Divinity, and I’m a 2009 graduate of CDC/Arnold School of Public Health and an IHPL Fellow. I’m an associate minister licensed at Tabernacle Baptist Church. I raise Cichlids, Koi and Jack Dempseys (tropical fish). I like to read, travel, laugh, hang out with friends and learn new things, cook and entertain. I have two dogs Bandit & Chatsky. I aspire to have my own health, education and human services agency for LGBT people and to open a 24-hour LGBT Community Center, help stop the spread of HIV, syphilis and other communicable diseases while fostering a safe atmosphere in metro Atlanta for all LGBT individuals and retire in Belize.
If you were stranded on a desert island, what’s the one book you would want with you?
Anything written by Gordon Merrick, preferably The Lord Won’t Mind.
