Garry K., RCP
Q: What is your name and what do you do?
A: My name is Garry and I am a respiratory care practitioner working at two hospitals in Los Angeles. I provide acute and critical care to patients in respiratory distress and this past year of course I have been at the frontline caring for COVID patients. Recently I have been in the neuro unit attending to patients with neurological issues such as stroke patients, head trauma accidents, etc.
Q: What does PRIDE mean to you in 2021?
A: Pride is all about celebrating diversity and inclusion, and being free to be whoever you are without judgment. This year especially we’ve realized how short life can be and that there’s no time to waste being something or someone other than who we know we are on the inside. Here’s to being unapologetically you and supporting every special being under our LGBTQIA+ umbrella!
Q: How are you celebrating PRIDE this year?
A: Unfortunately, we’ll be celebrating without LA Pride events this year because of the pandemic. I think I want to decorate my house in Pride colors/decor, and invite my vaccinated LGBTQIA+ friends and family over along with our allies and just have a fun little celebration.
Q: What is your name and what do you do?
A: My name is Garry and I am a respiratory care practitioner working at two hospitals in Los Angeles. I provide acute and critical care to patients in respiratory distress and this past year of course I have been at the frontline caring for COVID patients. Recently I have been in the neuro unit attending to patients with neurological issues such as stroke patients, head trauma accidents, etc.
Q: What does PRIDE mean to you in 2021?
A: Pride is all about celebrating diversity and inclusion, and being free to be whoever you are without judgment. This year especially we’ve realized how short life can be and that there’s no time to waste being something or someone other than who we know we are on the inside. Here’s to being unapologetically you and supporting every special being under our LGBTQIA+ umbrella!
Q: What specific role do you think the medical community has to play in the advancement of equality for LGBTQ+ folks?
A: I think having the proper education on mental health, stress, and diseases related to members of the LGBTQIA+ community is really significant and a great place to start. Also – maintaining education on pronouns, sexuality, and identity. I know that my hospitals really strive for inclusion, which is amazing. I love that in Los Angeles we have amazing clinics that focus on caring for our LGBTQIA+ community, but we need to work on bringing that specialized care to bigger medical centers across the country – especially in areas where our members are a true minority.
Q: What would a more inclusive, identity-affirming healthcare environment look like and what do you think it would take for us to get there?
A: I feel like in Los Angeles and in this younger generation, we’re so much more progressive and accepting in this area. All that is amazing, but I think it’ll take time to phase out older regulations in some areas because the older generations are still in these superior positions. I am hopeful that positive, inclusive change will continue as long as we keep fighting for it. In a more inclusive healthcare environment, there would be no shame when reaching out to a healthcare provider and no fear of judgment.
Q: How are you celebrating PRIDE this year?
A: Unfortunately, we’ll be celebrating without LA Pride events this year because of the pandemic. I think I want to decorate my house in Pride colors/decor, and invite my vaccinated LGBTQIA+ friends and family over along with our allies and just have a fun little celebration.
Q: How did your relationship affect your life in the pandemic?
A: Initially the pandemic was very stressful because I was literally at the head of the bed securing every patient’s airway for every single shift, then coming home to the love of my life hoping I wouldn’t infect him. But as time went on, things got a little easier and I kept a very strict routine for coming back home in the safest way possible. My husband and I are best friends, so spending every day at home together was actually super ideal and fun – it really made us appreciate so many things when we realized how scary and short life can be. We actually got engaged, got married, and even built a brand new house during the pandemic. So for us, something really beautiful came out of these really scary times.
Q: What is your safe space with your partner?
A: Honestly just doing anything with him is my safe space! Nothing beats cuddling on the couch and catching up on our shows or escaping on an outdoor camping adventure.
Q: How long have you been together, and how did you meet?
A: We have been together for ten years! We actually met at a mutual friend’s Anti-Valentines Day party for her single friends. We casually started dating shortly after. After a few years of being his boyfriend, he told me that he actually knew I was attending that party and that’s why he went! And here I was thinking we just met randomly! We got married in November 2020 during the pandemic with 12 of our closest family and friends who all tested negative and wore masks. It was just beautiful.
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