Turning Struggle Into Strength
Illustration by Roxsy Lin for palabra
An advocate for racial equity and public health is reshaping the narrative on HIV, housing, and LGBTQ+ care — without compromising his principles.
Gabriel Maldonado carries a timeless lesson from his family: no matter who wields political power, windows of opportunity always remain — sometimes veiled but never fully closed. He believes that innovation blooms in the soil of struggle, and those who face adversity are gifted with a deeper, more resilient well of creativity.
“I pull my strength in knowing that I am the surviving descendant of so many people who had to live in order for me to be here. I carry their strength (…) the Black, Latino, Indigenous roots, whatever they summoned to survive, it is inside of my DNA right now, and so I can call upon it,” he said.
Among these stories, one stands out: that of his Mexican grandfather, Pio Quinto, who endured significant hardships, including being deported to Mexico after working “on land that was originally stolen from his ancestors (in California),” shared Maldonado, referring to the Bracero Program, an initiative of the U.S. government that ran from 1942 to 1964, which allowed Mexican workers to temporarily fill labor shortages during and after World War II.
Throughout his journey as an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community, Maldonado has experienced firsthand how moments of adversity foster breakthroughs.
After relocating from Los Angeles in 2007 to attend the University of California, Riverside (UCR), he was confronted with the homophobic sentiments surrounding the early campaigning for Proposition 8, which aimed to ban same-sex marriage in the state. It passed the following year but was ruled unconstitutional in 2010 by a federal district court.
The hateful rhetoric, including signs that read "God Hates Faggots," ignited the passion of the 18-year-old political science and international affairs student who hadn’t come out to his family, to create TruEvolution, a nonprofit organization initially dedicated to assisting youth, and later becoming a stronger supporter of the LGBTQ+ community.
Gabriel Maldonado (left) leads members of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation on a tour of TruEvolution's facilities. He founded the organization and created the Project Legacy facility to support vulnerable LGBTQ+ community members facing homelessness. Photo by Arisa Spencer/TruEvolution
“I didn't come out as being gay until a year after I started TruEvolution. So TruEvolution was really my vehicle to help me get through many of my struggles, including coming out, which is when I expanded the organization to be very focused on the LGBT, vulnerable youth.”
Maldonado’s unwavering dedication has driven meaningful change in California’s Inland Empire. What began as a grassroots initiative in his kitchen counter has evolved into a $25 million campus recognized with accolades such as the 2024 Keep Riverside Clean Beautiful beautification award.
It's a well-deserved one. Walking through the property is a delightful experience. The central community garden, featuring manicured trees, succulents, and soft tan gravel walkways, is a peaceful haven surrounded by the picturesque houses of their transitional housing program, Project Legacy. One that provides 45 beds across five fully renovated homes with amenities such as well-equipped kitchens in each house and a shared laundry room and fitness center, delivering an uplifting and safe environment.
"It's peaceful, it's quiet — it's home. It makes you feel like you're not alone," says Ricardo, a Project Legacy client talking about the campus who, after a devastating car accident, saw his life come to a halt. Two spinal surgeries, memory loss, anxiety, and depression weighed him down. That same year, he lost his grandmother and sister, plunging deeper into grief. Struggling to cope, he turned to drugs and nearly ended his own life. Unable to work, his savings vanished, and homelessness loomed.
With the support of TruEvolution and its dedicated staff, he discovered a renewed sense of purpose and a community that truly cared for him. "(I) realized that there are people out there that really care for you, they really love you, and they will do anything to make you become better than what you were. I'm just grateful."
Gabriel Maldonado addresses members of the Inland Empire Health Plan at Project Legacy. Through TruEvolution, he collaborates with local organizations to support Riverside communities. Photo by Arisa Spencer/TruEvolution
The initiative responds to a regional need. The 2023 annual Point-in-Time Count conducted by Riverside County revealed that 3,725 individuals experienced homelessness that year.
In 2024, the entity provided housing for 126 clients. It also tackled food insecurity by distributing 100 units of grocery assistance and facilitated access to clean clothing and essentials by offering 300 units of laundry services, further supporting the well-being of their clients.
Securing funding to achieve his vision was a pivotal moment in his life. He strategically combined resources from grants and forged partnerships in the public and private sectors. Subsequently, he co-located various services to the TruEvolution campus in Riverside, establishing "multiple ecosystems, each with different wells.” This model now generates diverse funding sources from housing, healthcare, and workforce development, thereby ensuring the nonprofit's financial sustainability.
“TruEvolution was my miracle. It was the ultimate blessing that God gave me to find purpose, to discover my power, and to advance in the world (…) So, I'm very grateful to God (…) and to myself for having endured and gone through this experience of building (it).”
The nonprofit also provides compassionate services such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), antiretroviral medications for individuals who don’t have HIV to lower their risk of contracting it. They also offer HIV testing and support groups in English and Spanish to allow patients and others affected to share their experiences, learn about scientific advances in treatment, and build community.
Through housing assistance, healthcare services, and job training programs, TruEvolution empowers LGBTQ+ community members and at-risk youth throughout the Inland Empire. Photo by Arisa Spencer/TruEvolution
Maldonado has a kind and approachable demeanor, with a joyful energy that fills every room. He is engaging in conversation, carefully choosing his words. Born in Fontana, California, and raised in Compton, in his early years he grappled with the complexity of his identity, yearning to fully belong to the family and culture that primarily nurtured him, the Black community.
“I grew up with a Black woman in Compton, raised by Black people […], but my last name was Maldonado […] I, at times, look more Latino, and then at times, I look more Black,” he said.
The journey to fully explore his identity was shaped by Latino food, music, and culture. In his twenties, he traveled along the East Coast, meeting Black Latinos from diverse backgrounds — Puerto Ricans, Dominicans, and others. This exposure opened his eyes to the richness of the Afro-Latino diaspora. “There was a whole group of Spanish-speaking people that I'm like, ‘Bro, you're blacker than me. (But) you're not African American, (…) you are speaking Spanish. Know the culture, making tortillas, doing bachata,’” said Maldonado.
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That experience allowed him to see himself reflected within the community, ultimately leading him to “fully embrace myself as Black and Latino,” he explains. “I believe that both identities are 100% of who I am.”
A member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS during the Obama administration, he has continued to promote public policy and advocacy. In 2021, he had the honor of introducing President Joe Biden on World AIDS Day at the White House. His leadership was further recognized in 2023 when California Governor Gavin Newsom appointed him as an inaugural commissioner of the State’s Racial Equity Commission. Most recently, UCR named him the 2025 Outstanding Young Alumnus, a testament to his enduring commitment to social justice and public health.
Gabriel Maldonado draws on his experience as a Black Latino gay man from Compton to support others across Southern California who face vulnerability. Photo by Arisa Spencer/TruEvolution
Building a future with compassion
“Of all the different systems of oppression, (…) I have never experienced more violence and discrimination and felt more ostracized than I have as a person living with HIV (…) I have often experienced it, mostly from the hands of my own people, Black and Brown people,” expresses the activist.
During his time in college, Maldonado was sexually assaulted. This traumatic experience not only led to his HIV diagnosis but also compelled him to confront his ability to navigate personal trauma.
He faced social discrimination, even in his personal relationships. Some family members struggled to understand his medical condition, viewing it instead as a moral issue. He highlights how many people assumed that his diagnosis meant he was no longer a spiritual, virtuous, integral person. “Because people think that you usually contract it through drugs and promiscuity.”
For him, undoing the stigma surrounding HIV is a challenge deeply rooted in decades of fear and misinformation, widespread distrust of science, and over 40 years of instilled terror around HIV. Now, despite groundbreaking advancements that offer new ways to prevent and manage the virus, he sees the real challenge in convincing people to trust this progress.
The California Department of Public Health's 2022 HIV Surveillance Report shows that there were 58,067 Latino individuals living with diagnosed HIV in California, comprising 40.7% of the state's total cases. In the same year, 11.6% of all diagnosed HIV cases in the state were in the Inland Empire (Riverside and San Bernardino counties), with Los Angeles at 37% and San Diego at 10.1%.
“We will eventually see an end to civilized society if you do not care about each other. Care is fundamentally tied to the outcomes and prosperity of our communities,” Maldonado said.
Gabriel Maldonado leads Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Reach Out representatives through Project Legacy's facility, showcasing TruEvolution's Inland Empire impact. These tours help secure crucial public and private sector support, turning visibility into vital resources for their mission. Photo by Arisa Spencer/TruEvolution
Preparing for the Trump era
Drawing on the resilience of his ancestors, Maldonado ponders how their sacrifices and determination have shaped his understanding of identity, perseverance and the challenges he faces today.
For the activist, it's crucial to reshape the narrative and expand the focus to intersectional issues like affordable housing, community development, and responses to public health crises.
In today's political climate, where the federal government is cutting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, ending medical care for transgender individuals under 19, and reducing funding for HIV medication distribution in critical areas, Maldonado continues to pursue his mission.
“I'm going to be serving queer people and people living with HIV. I'm not changing who I'm serving, nor am I changing my services. You have to reshape the narrative without abandoning your principles.”
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Roxsy Lin is a bilingual journalist and illustrator from Venezuela. Her work explores the vibrant rhythms of Latinidad, with a focus on arts, culture, and communities, amplifying the diverse voices shaping the modern Latinx landscape. @roxsy_lin
Valeria Fernández is an award-winning journalist, filmmaker, and producer. She started her career at a small Spanish-language newspaper in Phoenix, Arizona, and quickly learned how to write for immigrant communities — rather than just about them. She transitioned to writing for English-language media, including The Guardian, Pacific Standard, Latino USA, and PRX’s The World. Valeria won the American Mosaic Journalism Prize for her reporting on underrepresented communities. She is the former managing editor of palabra, and the founder of Altavoz Lab, an organization that supports local journalists serving marginalized communities. @valfernandez