Misfortune into Purpose: Armando Ramirez survived staying true to himself
Tue. July 7, 2026 7:26 PM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // michael oboza
Give Them Their Flowers is a series by Michael Oboza featuring mini profiles of regular people in the LGBTQ community
CHICAGO, ILL. -
By Michael Oboza, Special to GoPride.com
As I approach my last year as a volunteer photojournalist, I am grateful to acknowledge and give flowers to a change-maker and a long-term survivor who has turned his misfortune into a life of purpose. That itself is legendary. Thank you, Armando Ramirez, for being an inspiration, community legend, and living your truth.
The interview began with a pause and reflection on what his childhood meant to him.
"I knew very early on that I was gay," Ramirez said. "I just didn't know how that looked like or how I should be. I was very naive and afraid at the same time of doing something that would somehow confirm to others that I was a gay kid. Back then my only goal was to be on TV, especially because I was always a very outspoken kid with a huge personality. And this also helped me a lot when it came down to getting back at my bullies at school. I also became the voice for others that weren't outspoken or being bullied, and I fought for them."
At an early age, no one protected him when he needed support.
"As an adolescent, I was sexually harassed by a teacher," Ramirez said. "I told my parents and they asked, 'What did you do to provoke him?'"
The opportunity of a coming-out process was difficult.
"I didn't have the opportunity to come out," Ramirez said. "I was outed by my brother and confronted by my parents at the age of 20 or 21. Now you may say, well, you were 20 or 21, but the mentality of a 20-year-old back in the day was very different than how it is now. We weren't exposed to many things or had access to many others, so I was barely understanding who I was as a gay man. My parents kicked me out of the house and I was forced to find my way."
A health condition inspired his advocacy for local, national, and international Latino communities.
"As a young adult, the number 23 has 'followed me' through the years," Ramirez said. "I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 23 on Oct. 23, 2003. During that time, I was naive in many ways and I was talking to a guy who I later found out was an escort. During that time, I didn't have enough money to cover the cost of my medications, so I did sex work in order to support the cost of the medicine. I stay and maintain undetectable. Today, I help network with my Latino community, because our community is still the most underfunded with resources."
Ramirez shared his insightful lived experience, perspective, and advice for future generations.
"Stay true to who you are," Ramirez said. "You are not and will never hurt anyone if you stay truthful to your truth. Many of us hold back, because we think we will fail our parents, they won't be proud of us, or because of what society thinks. And sure, we can stop from being who we are, but eventually that will catch up to us and that is time you will never get back.
"When you do the things that you love, you will come to a place of peace, joy, and self-respect, but overall happy," Ramirez said. "At the end of the day, the only relationship that you should maintain healthy is the one with yourself."
As I approach my last year as a volunteer photojournalist, I am grateful to acknowledge and give flowers to a change-maker and a long-term survivor who has turned his misfortune into a life of purpose. That itself is legendary. Thank you, Armando Ramirez, for being an inspiration, community legend, and living your truth.
The interview began with a pause and reflection on what his childhood meant to him.
"I knew very early on that I was gay," Ramirez said. "I just didn't know how that looked like or how I should be. I was very naive and afraid at the same time of doing something that would somehow confirm to others that I was a gay kid. Back then my only goal was to be on TV, especially because I was always a very outspoken kid with a huge personality. And this also helped me a lot when it came down to getting back at my bullies at school. I also became the voice for others that weren't outspoken or being bullied, and I fought for them."
At an early age, no one protected him when he needed support.
"As an adolescent, I was sexually harassed by a teacher," Ramirez said. "I told my parents and they asked, 'What did you do to provoke him?'"
The opportunity of a coming-out process was difficult.
"I didn't have the opportunity to come out," Ramirez said. "I was outed by my brother and confronted by my parents at the age of 20 or 21. Now you may say, well, you were 20 or 21, but the mentality of a 20-year-old back in the day was very different than how it is now. We weren't exposed to many things or had access to many others, so I was barely understanding who I was as a gay man. My parents kicked me out of the house and I was forced to find my way."
A health condition inspired his advocacy for local, national, and international Latino communities.
"As a young adult, the number 23 has 'followed me' through the years," Ramirez said. "I was diagnosed with HIV when I was 23 on Oct. 23, 2003. During that time, I was naive in many ways and I was talking to a guy who I later found out was an escort. During that time, I didn't have enough money to cover the cost of my medications, so I did sex work in order to support the cost of the medicine. I stay and maintain undetectable. Today, I help network with my Latino community, because our community is still the most underfunded with resources."
Ramirez shared his insightful lived experience, perspective, and advice for future generations.
"Stay true to who you are," Ramirez said. "You are not and will never hurt anyone if you stay truthful to your truth. Many of us hold back, because we think we will fail our parents, they won't be proud of us, or because of what society thinks. And sure, we can stop from being who we are, but eventually that will catch up to us and that is time you will never get back.
"When you do the things that you love, you will come to a place of peace, joy, and self-respect, but overall happy," Ramirez said. "At the end of the day, the only relationship that you should maintain healthy is the one with yourself."