“In healing others, we heal ourselves” — that is the motto of one Garden State Equality volunteer so extraordinary he earned the title Volunteer Extraordinaire: John Juska.
In honor of our “Uncle Johnny’s” 66th birthday earlier this week, we sat down with him to reflect on his decades of LGBTQ+ and HIV activism, why he’s volunteered with Garden State Equality so consistently for so long, and his hopes for the future of the fight for lived equality.
Like many, John got his start in the movement in the 1980s during the AIDS Crisis. Living in New York City at the time, he spent the first few years volunteering with a group which strived to make sure no one died alone. In 1985, he began working with an organization called Friends In Deed, a crisis intervention center for those diagnosed with HIV and AIDS. He spent the next 20 years with Friends In Deed, eventually serving as the group’s volunteer coordinator.
By 2005, fewer people were dying of AIDS thanks to the introduction of effective therapeutic interventions for HIV — like highly active antiretroviral therapy, a combination of drugs which allows one to manage their HIV — a decade prior. For John, though his overall workload stayed the same, this meant the type of work he did changed. No longer could he lose himself in the neverending deluge of crises.
“I was so busy helping others for 20 years, I neglected myself,” he said.
It took until 2018 for him to stop feeling adrift. Around the time was when he “realized there was still so much work to be done.”
“I was lost, then I found Garden State Equality and rediscovered I had a purpose. (Volunteering) here is what saved me,” said John.
Knowing how vital volunteers are to the success of LGBTQ+ advocacy, he dove headfirst into the work. Data entry, tabling at events, testifying at the Legislature in favor of HIV decriminalization — you name it, John probably did it. He became so involved he became the unofficial house mother of our headquarters! To this day, he keeps the office organized, makes sure we keep older adults in mind when planning programs and events, and cracks jokes that make our team roar with laughter.
“What I love about Garden State Equality is that we don’t forget about the generations who came before — and I am living proof of that,” he said.
Growing up as a gay boy in the 1960s, he knows firsthand what it’s like to be unsafe at school because of one’s identity, he said. That is why he is most passionate about our work to ensure schools are safer and more affirming for LGBTQ+ students.
It’s also a reason why, at 66-years-old, he is still active in the movement. Though the specific issues are different, the work is just as important, he said.
“We’re still fighting the same ignorance and hate — it’s uncanny,” said John.
Looking toward the future, he is excited about many things. One is creating even more opportunities for Garden State Equality members to volunteer with us. There’s never been a time quite like this where we need volunteers “all over the map,” he said. Put another way, there are so many issues affecting LGBTQ+ communities around the state (and the country), meaning there are as many ways for volunteers to get involved. Whether one writes their legislator, attends a school board meeting, or helps us run an event, all of it matters, he said.
He also mentioned how today’s queer youth bring him joy. Their passion for equity and engagement with advocacy, much like his own, make him hopeful for the future of the fight for lived equality.
“It’s so nice to be 66 and know there’s a whole generation of youngins doing the work I used to do.”