Volunteer Spotlight: Juan Carlos Fernandez

Posted 2/5/2026 · 0 Comments

Through our Volunteer Spotlight series, we honor the NEAT volunteers whose commitment drives our everyday efforts toward LGBTQ+ justice.

Volunteer Spotlight portrait of Juan Carlos Fernandez — Juan Carlos Fernandez, NEAT volunteer

Getting to Know Juan

Name: Juan Carlos Fernandez
Pronouns: He/His/Him
Age: 57
City & State: Atlanta, GA; Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

Juan's Life Outside NEAT

Juan works in marketing and holds a postgraduate degree in International Marketing, specializing in digital marketing, social media, and online fundraising. After a long career in technology, he moved into the non-profit world, serving organizations dedicated to HIV-AIDS, Marriage Equality, WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene), and anti-bullying work.

After many years in New York City, Juan and his husband Paul now split their time among Atlanta, Puerto Vallarta, and chasing fresh adventures around the world.

How He Connects to LGBTQ+ Justice

The AIDS crisis of the 1990s marked a turning point for Juan. Seeing so much loss moved him to become more active in his community, starting with volunteering for HIV-AIDS groups to raise awareness of the pandemic. He later devoted his energy to Marriage Equality, remaining involved until it became the law of the land. Today he is a passionate advocate against cyberbullying at every level, with special attention to protecting young people.

What He Does at NEAT and Why He Joined

Juan manages the content on our social media channels and monitors NEAT's impact in the digital space. He believes a stronger command of digital tools will help us create better programs supporting the LGBTQ+ community nationwide. In difficult times when our rights are continually under threat, Juan volunteers with NEAT because he refuses to give up the rights already won through so much effort and pain. We must keep fighting to preserve what we've achieved and to secure equality for all.

A Memory He'll Never Forget

Juan will always remember the day SCOTUS ruled that Marriage Equality was legal in all 50 states. He was at the Stonewall Inn in New York, where the crowd burst into joy, tears, and excitement. It was a day to remember for him, his family, and the rest of the country.

His Advice for Would-Be Volunteers

If we want a better country and a better world for our children and grandchildren, we have to work hard — and we can't do it alone. Reaching full equality once and for all requires the hands, eyes, and minds of many volunteers. If you're young, come and learn. If you're older, share your experience and put your wisdom to work. NEAT needs many kinds of skills, and your time will support a worthy cause: equality for everyone.

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NEAT's Volunteer Spotlight series highlights the people behind our work for LGBTQ+ justice. Each profile shares a volunteer's background, the causes that shaped them, and the role they play in our programs — showing how many different skills and experiences come together to move equality forward.

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