Dab's Angel August 2008 Paul Labonte-Clark

It is with great pride for us to announce our Dab's Angel for August 2008 - Paul Labonte-Clark.

Paul's beginnings were simple, born and brought up in Massachusetts. Paul married at 18 because he didn't want to be gay, had two children and was divorced by 20.

I met my first life partner Ron Trejo at 19 (hence the divorce) and moved to Los Angeles in the late 70's. We were both diagnosed with G.R.I.D. in 1982 and told to "get our affairs" in order the out look was pretty grim. After being together for 22 years, burying all our friends and co-workers along with battling this disease and the stigma that goes with it. My first husband lost his battle with AIDS and then his family came in and took our home, cars, bank accounts and everything I had left. I packed a duffel bag and traveled the country for a few years working and living in every state except Alaska and Hawaii.

In 1992 I stopped in Jacksonville when i was passing through to Fort Lauderdale, I was pretty ill at the time and ended up with PCP in St Vincent's Hospital on a respirator. I slowly began to recover and found my self being discharged form the hospital with no income, no home, and knowing absolutely no one. Then I met my second Life partner Bill Clark. Bille introduced me to The Northeast Florida AIDS Network where I met Bill Rollo who was the Housing case manager for NFAN. Mr. Rollo placed me in an apartment to establish an address and helped me attain income and food.

I started volunteering for Community House in 1997-98 where Dick Neiman introduced me to the ever changing world of HIV case management and I blossomed into an outspoken advocate. I started working for NFAN in 2002-03 and with NFAN's training and support I am still employed today, healthy and and productive.

After 12 years together, Bill too lost his battle with this dreaded disease in 2005. Since my partner's death, I truly believe it is only with the help and support of my friends, coworkers and the Jacksonville community, that today I stand strong, ready to continue the endless battle against this disease and the devastating effects in has on our loved ones and our community.

Paul received HIV/AIDS community volunteer award during World AIDS Week 2007.

It is with great pleasure that we honor Paul Labonte-Clark as Dab's Angel for August 2008.