Profile by cayley ho

Ther e Ma y Be

Deb ris

A P r o f i l e o n J a m e s G i b b s b y C ay l e y H o

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What’s your favorite flavor?” he asked as he loaded three pounds of cream cheese into his basket. Upon hearing my reply, caramel, James immediately, almost haphazardly, threw more ingredients into his basket. I trailed behind him as we made our way through the aisles of Safeway, from frozen

food to fresh fruit, his basket growing fuller by the second.

He paused for a moment, then turned to me again.

“What’s your second favorite flavor?” My response, mango, seemed to stall him. “Mango... mango, mango, mango...”

James muttered to himself as he prodded the yellowgreen fruit. “I’ve never done

mango before,” he admitted, “It’s going to be tough since mango is so fibrous, but I’m going to do it anyway.”

James Gibbs’ approach to cheesecake is much like his approach to life. Always up for a challenge, he does everything he can to make his friends happy. Known for making cheesecakes, he is also

known for the expression, “When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. When life gives you cream cheese, you make cheesecake! And a little one for yourself!” James will go to extraordinary lengths to support the people in his life and the causes he believes in. From start to finish, he commits himself to a goal and embraces the challenges that may cross his path.

James was born and raised in Los Altos, a town not known very well for its

School as the theater manager.

In 2006,he joined the Billy DeFrank Center (the LGBT Center of Silicon Valley), as a board member, becoming the Board President in 2008.

As President, James increased member participation and established the Billy DeFrank Center as a leader in the community. He decided not to continue as President for a second term and with the board under new leadership, the Center began to go through many changes and

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Alto Online). Furthermore, through his connections, James was able to promote his fundraising for the AIDS/ LifeCycle Ride.

Throughout his life, James’ compassionate nature has been apparent through his contributions to the people in his life and the community as a whole. His participation in the AIDS/LifeCycle Ride has both directly and indirectly affected members of the LGBT community.

James’ involvement in the

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If I see something is possible, I do what it takes.

I do what it takes.

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progressive thinking 40 years ago. Growing up, afraid that he and his family would be ostracized and shamed if he revealed that he was gay, James kept his sexual orientation private. When he finally came out as gay to his parents, he found that they were truly supportive of who he was, no matter his sexual orientation. To show her support, James’ mother, Ruth, became the advisor for the Gay Straight Alliance at Los Altos High School.

In 2003, James began working at Los Altos High

ultimately, James decided it was time to leave his position on the board. James also worked as the House Manager at the San Jose Repertory theater in downtown San Jose.

James embraced his work, constantly interacting with co-workers, volunteers, and patrons of the theater. The connections he has made while at the LAHS Eagle Theatre, Billy DeFrank Center and at the San Jose Repertory Theater allowed him to contribute to organizing and arranging the very first and only Los Altos gay pride parade in 2006 (Palo

organization not only includes raising money for HIV/AIDS research, but also raising morale and strengthening the community altogether. By forming bonds with everyone he comes in contact with, James has been able to impact riders and volunteers on an emotional level.

The AIDS/LifeCycle Ride is a seven day, 545 mile ride to end AIDS. The purpose of the ride is not only to raise money but to increase education and awareness on HIV/AIDS prevention. The ride aims to increase the amount

of attention that is given to combating the disease by both raising money as well as increasing support for the cause.

According to U.S. Statistics, there are more than 1.1 million people living with HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in the United States. Over time, and without proper medical care, this virus can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, also known as AIDS (HIV Basics). California ranks second in the nation after New York in the number of cumulative AIDS cases totaling to nearly 160,000, 18% of those cases being from San Francisco (SFAF).

The AIDS/LifeCycle Ride requires riders to raise a minimum of $3,000 each.

In the previous year, 2014, 2,348 riders raised a total of $15,490,142 (AIDS/LifeCycle).

These riders are not only

riding for themselves, they are riding for friends and even some family members who are currently living with HIV or AIDS. Many of them also ride for loved ones whom they have lost to this epidemic. A

tremendous amount of passion is inserted into the ride by each individual rider. All of this is to help raise money for HIV/ AIDS research and to provide for services from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The ride also raises

minimum, raising $28,630 to become the #4 top fundraiser in Northern California. And this was only his first year.

The next summer, James exceeded expectations once again, raising $28,325. Not only did he transcend monetary standards, James went beyond

awareness about HIV/AIDS while providing a positive experience for those affected.

By asking patrons of the theater, volunteers, and his coworkers to donate, James far surpassed the

the norm to fundraise for AIDS LifeCycle. He organized a fundraiser for his team in San Francisco at a bar called The Mint where he performed as a drag queen named Kari O’Key. The purpose of this fundraiser was to see who could raise the most money that evening.

Whoever raised the most would sing live and in drag.

He raised a total of $2,500, and having raised the most money, caused “Kari O’Key” to perform to P!nk’s Raise Your Glass. Shortly after his fundraising event, ALC asked him to participate as Kari for a registration event. He refused, claiming that she was dead (she was hit by a MUNI bus). Upon further insistence, James just couldn’t say no, and attended the event. At the event, the ALC staff demanded that he give himself a name

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since he was wearing a dress, heels, and a wig. It was then and there when D’Bree was born. In 2013, James was once again on the track to becoming one of the top fundraisers of the year, but unfortunately, three weeks before the ride, James injured his psoas muscle, and his riding days came to an end. He informed the staff that he was unable to ride and they requested that D’Bree come along for support. Having never done this more than for a night of fundraising, James was up for the challenge.

As D’Bree A. Head, James offers relief for riders during long stretches of road. With no one else around, nothing to listen to, and hardly anything to look at, riders are often trapped in their own minds. Just when they think they are about to go insane from the monotonous terrain, a strange object in the distance catches their eye. The closer to it they ride, they more clear it becomes that it is none other than D’Bree. Waving a giant rainbow flag or a sign that reads, “Go riders!”, D’Bree provides a distraction, helping to break the tedium that inevitably sets in during the seven day, 545 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles.

When I visited James’ home here in Los Altos, I walked into a yard cluttered with furniture, work tools, and other miscellaneous items. Amidst the various craft projects there, I spotted a multicolored fringe, which was almost as long as I was tall, hanging from a small circular frame. As I came closer, I was able to identify the fringey mass as a gathering of piping, craft yarn, and tiny lights as colors and textures mixed and matched. This

conglomeration, when worn on the head underneath the bamboo frame of a large papasan chair covered by shimmery purple chiffon and rigged up with kaleidoscopic lights, transformed the entire ensemble from a household object to a free-swimming, gelatinous marine animal.

James was going to be a jellyfish for Halloween.

Ever the character, James brings an element of excitement and joy wherever he goes--and this Halloween, James had plenty of places to be. From attending a private celebration with his friends to trick-or-treating with his godchildren, James had a number of entrances and costume changes to plan out. One potential scheme involved bubbles while another involved balloons.

An entirely different gimmick had him making a legion of miniature versions of his jellyfish costume so that a trail of jellyfish could be found around the neighborhood after he finished taking his godchildren out for trick-ortreating. Especially during the Halloween season, James’ creativity and sense of humor combine to produce a magnificent show for an audience of those he cares most about.

James cares deeply for those around him, and his father is definitely not an exception. Christmas Eve of 2010, James’ father, Tom, went into the hospital for a triple bypass surgery. During the time that Tom was in the hospital, James stayed by his side the entire time. His care was not solely for his father, but extended towards those who cared for his father as well. Every night his father

was in the hospital, James made dinner for the nurses, befriending them in the process. Even now, James cooks up a full dinner and brings it to the nurses every Christmas Eve. This year will be the five year anniversary of Tom’s surgery and James will continue his tradition of bringing the nurses dinner.

This year, he will bring his father as well.

Compassion, generosity, and dependability are just a few of the qualities James possesses. He is more than willing to devote his time, effort, heart, and soul to any and every person or cause he deems worthy. Everyone around James, including his friends, co-workers, wholeheartedly agree with Tom’s conclusion that, “If you are a friend of James, you have a friend for life.”

In the next few years, James will continue to participate in the AIDS/ LifeCycle ride as D’Bree. Last year, two of James’ friends accompanied him on the road.

This year, he is looking for more people to join him in supporting the cause.

Challenge invigorates James, as he puts all of himself into what he does.

He is not afraid of adversity or obstacles that may be in his path; he is not afraid of debris either. James deals with whatever may come in his way, accepting himself where he is, trying to live life without regrets. In the words of James Gibbs, “If I see something is possible, I do what it takes. I do what it takes.