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PrintJoel Diaz
DIAZ STAYS BUSY with his day job, raising money and awareness for a nonprofit that serves people whose lives have been touched by HIV or AIDS. Recently, he found a hobby to keep him even busier: starting a dating service for the gay and lesbian communitie
AGE: 31 • NEIGHBORHOOD: University District
Chief development officer,
AIDS Resource Center of Ohio
WHEN I’M NOT WORKING:
I love to spend as much time as I can outdoors hiking or kayaking. I also enjoy gardening and landscaping. I love to just hang out with friends on a patio and entertain at my house.
FAVORITE BOOK:
Interpreter of Maladies, by Jhumpa Lahiri.
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
“Glee.”
FAVORITE MOVIE:
Moulin Rouge.
WHAT I LISTEN TO:
Top 40. Pop and hip-hop. A little bit of country, mariachi music. You look at my playlist and it’s a mix.
FAVORITE VACATION:
When I went to Seattle was my favorite. I was between jobs, so it was a six-week vacation. I went by myself and got to hike daily.
PRIZED POSSESSION:
My truck. Her name is Lola. I’ve had it for 11 years, and it’s a piece of me. I could never sell it. I will have it until it’s towed away to the junkyard.
THE MOST UNIQUE WAY I’VE EVER MET SOMEONE:
The first time I visited Seattle I bought one of those packaged excursions to go hiking on Mt. Rainier. I thought it was going to be a group trip, but when the guide picked me up, it was just he and I. After spending the day together we started the drive home and I realized he was also gay. Nothing ever came of it, but it was awesome to know I could connect with someone on a trip like that and that gay people are in fact everywhere.
QUALITIES I’M LOOKING FOR IN A PARTNER:
An ideal partner for me is someone who is outgoing, involved and interested in making their community better. Someone who has goals and is motivated.
BEST DATE I’VE EVER HAD:
This guy I met invited me to his house to cook dinner. It was something I’ve never done with someone I just met. It’s something I want to do with people I date now.
WORST DATE:
I was out with this guy once who didn’t talk to me unless I talked to him. There was a point where we sat in silence for eight minutes.
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO KNOW WHEN I MEET SOMEONE NEW:
When I start getting to know someone, I like to get to know how they grew up. I think it says a lot about an individual’s personal passion and direction in life and is usually a great segue into fun childhood stories.
SOMETHING THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY:
I believe in organization. If someone came in and rearranged my cupboards, I would freak.
WHAT I HOPE TO BE DOING IN FIVE OR 10 YEARS:
In the next five years, I see myself having my first kid, starting a family and continuing to be fulfilled in my career. In 10 years, I see myself happily married . . . marriage equality will have become a reality . . . with lots of kids running around.
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