Richard Goldman’s journey is one of Pride, resilience, and service. A retired Physician Assistant and Care Navigator, Richard now serves on Shanti Project’s Board of Directors, helping ensure that the compassion and community that carried him through some of life’s most difficult moments remain available for others.

Richard first felt a profound sense of Pride in 1972 while attending college in New York City. Newly out, he met a man named Elliot at a classical music concert. The two held hands and kissed on a city street.

“I felt so proud,” Richard recalls.

Years later, Pride took on a different meaning. Following his AIDS and cancer diagnoses, Richard worried he would no longer be able to participate in the celebrations and community that had meant so much to him. During that difficult time, he was matched with Simon, a Shanti Peer Support Volunteer who ensured he didn’t have to navigate those challenges alone.

In 1991, Simon accompanied Richard to Pride festivities during a time when many friends and community members had already been lost to AIDS. “It was a very emotional time,” Richard remembers. “There were groups in the parade representing those living with AIDS. They represented loss, grief, and love.”

The support Richard received through Shanti changed his life. After recovering, he gave back as a volunteer, support group facilitator, trainer, Care Navigator, and today, as a member of Shanti’s Board of Directors.

Richard’s story reminds us that Pride is more than celebration. It is community. It is showing up for one another. And sometimes, it is the presence of a single person who helps us find strength when we need it most.