Cody Wilde’s People to Know: Aaron Heier
When you open the doors to The Center in San Diego, you are usually greeted by the warm, smiling faces of two or three gracious volunteers (of forty,) aimed at serving your interests and answering questions to the best of their abilities. One of those faces is the subject of this post – my friend, Aaron Heier, associate editor of GLTNewsNow.
Though not a native San Diegan, since 1999 Aaron has slowly become a noticeable fixture in the San Diego gay community. In that time, he’s become a ‘sociable’ force in the LGBT scene, a communications & social marketing business owner, client service liaison for The Center, Associate Editor for GLTNN and a Board member of Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol. He is being recognized today in this column for his work in the community to give you an insight on what makes him truly an interesting fellow to know.
After growing up in the Rocky Mountains (primarily Montana, Wyoming and Colorado), Aaron set off to explore life all over the world in Los Angeles, New York City, the Caribbean, London and Las Vegas which would later lead to him firmly planting roots in San Diego, the city he now has no intentions of leaving. After learning of this geographic spread, I felt inclined to ask which cities he felt were hardest to be out in and which were the easiest.
“Well, for me [Aaron] the most difficult time I had living anywhere was London. No matter how hard I tried to network, meet & connect with people, I was always treated like an outsider. For all its history, beauty and diversity, I had an incredibly hard time adjusting to London’s LGBT culture. Let me say it’s much different being a visitor or tourist there than it is living and working (as an American.) I found it hard to build solid friendships or experience any sense of ‘community.’ Gay pubs and clubs throughout London fulfilled the need to detach from work and socialize, but I was never able to achieve a bond with any person or group interested in bigger-picture LGBT issues like activism & education, social acceptance or community service.
The easiest city to be ‘out’ in, for me, was absolutely LA. Los Angeles is where I really ‘came out’ (so to speak.) And, I didn’t go it alone. I went through the process with my best friend from Colorado – he came out right along with me. It was easy to do that in LA because there is GAY everywhere: from the Hollywood Hills to Venice, from the Valley to Long Beach and pretty much all points in between. Nowhere in LA did we ever feel like we couldn’t be who we truly were. I think that is why I have always considered LA to be my ‘home’ even though I wasn’t born there, don’t currently live there and have no plans to move back.”
Learning about this, one would wonder when he came out. First, I have to say that Aaron is incredibly young at heart – actually probably younger at heart than I, and I turn 25 this July. But, I digress. So it’s easy for people to think he’s been out for years. Aaron was actually ‘outed’ to his mother at the age of 18, by someone close to him, though didn’t actually come to terms and fully accept being gay and open with his sexuality until he first moved to California in the early ‘90s. Since then, his mother and step-father have been fully supportive and ‘fantastic’ with him being gay. According to Aaron, talking about his sexuality with his father is just not done. Most of Aaron’s friends and other family members are incredibly accepting and supportive.
As I mentioned earlier, Aaron is a Board Member of Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol and as you can refer to my column entry prior to this interview, you will learn that SCP is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all volunteer-based organization that helps protect our streets and neighborhoods. I asked Aaron what his involvement is with this awesome group and why he volunteers:
“I got involved with Stonewall during their first ever recruitment event at Bite. Like everyone else, I was upset about the hate-related attacks outside the Pride festival, which is the main reason Stonewall Citizens’ was formed. Violence against ANYONE because of who they are is simply not okay. Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol was, to me, the perfect outlet to ensure it didn’t happen again…so I wanted in. Not as a vigilante, but as someone who wasn’t afraid to be out in the community, protecting our LGBT brothers and sisters by patrolling the streets of the ‘gayborhood’ and helping make sure no one is criminally targeted or taken advantage of because of who they are. Our volunteer patrol units observe, report and most importantly, help DETER any potential criminal activity. That, to me, speaks volumes about not only our volunteers, but the organization as a whole.”
Aside from SCP, Aaron is a busy man, especially with the New Year approaching. He is currently the principal/owner of Heier Communications (soon to be Engage) and foresees many changes coming to his business. Also in the forecast are the upcoming events based after his own column here on GLT News Now, “Two Cents with Aaron Heier.” Two Cents is transforming into a monthly event held at the Center. Starting January 19, Two Cents with Aaron Heier will offer a fun, innovative outlet for attendees to interact with the men who move San Diego’s LGBT community. Aaron will introduce and interview one special guest each month in a “talk show social” format with the guest taking part in a Q&A session with Aaron and, afterward, will mingle and interact with attendees.
Outside of this project, Aaron looks forward to writing more, and, of course eating. This self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ is particularly interested in what the 2010 San Diego culinary scene will crank out. “I’m privy to some restaurant & chef-related endeavors currently in the pipeline that I can’t wait to experience…and, of course, share with GLTNN readers,” says Aaron.
Towards the end of the interview, I asked Aaron if there was any last bit of advice he had for my readers.
“I do have one piece of advice, or rather, some words I live by. I’m on Facebook & Twitter practically 24/7. One day, I came across a conversation happening between two people entirely via tweets. There was a message being delivered in this conversation that I don’t think either of them actually realized. Their conversation stemmed from that old saying, “those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.” So, I took this message, elaborated on it and made it my personal mantra: “Never change your status updates, blog posts, tweets or life to please others. Be you…the right people will stick around.”
Thanks to Aaron for this incredible interview, and allowing me to bring it to you, the readers, for your education about a person I feel is a shining example of someone ‘giving back’ to the community they live in. I hope this interview helps you realize the greatness that we all have within ourselves to do good for our community and will consider doing something to give back.
Next week, it’ll be 2010 and we will be talking about transitions. No, not of the sexual transitions that are more commonly heard of these days. But transitions in one’s life between past to present to future. I will also be introducing you to someone who was raised by a member of the Aryan Brotherhood, lived as a Skinhead for most of their life, to later do a complete 180. It should be a very interesting piece of reading for all of us.
Until next time, I am Cody Wilde – over and out.
You can follow Cody Wilde on Facebook and Twitter. Email him at: cody.wilde@ymail.com
The entire quote is from Dr. Seuss – “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.”