- Alcohol
- Drugs
As an openly gay man in recovery, Raul has turned his story of tragedy into one of service. Born and raised in Mexico, he grew up and was raised in a family of women. His father was an employee of a well-to-do candy factory in Mexico, and they were well off. He recognizes his behavior as an addict beginning when he was still very young. When attending family gatherings, he would often “clean-up” after party-goers by finishing off their drinks left on abandoned tables. He liked the effects and would pass out drunk after the events.
He had his first major consequence of addiction during his teenage years. Raul was involved in a horrible car wreck while he was behind the wheel and under the influence. Thankfully no one was seriously injured. He had been driving his father’s car and was placed under strict punishment because of his actions. This only caused Raul to rebel more, and shortly thereafter, he made the decision to move to the United States and make it on his own.
As a youth, Raul hid the fact that he was gay in order to seem normal. After his move to the U.S., he openly expressed his true self without regard to his safety or well-being. As his addiction progressed, Raul found himself doing things he never thought he would in order to get his “fixes.” He had become a crack addict. As time went on, he wanted the suffering to stop. He detoxed himself and entered the rooms of a 12-Step program. The restlessness and irritability remained for him. He couldn’t understand how the attendees of the meeting were able to be happy, joyful and content without using. One day he had an outburst at the meeting and stormed out. A fellow in the meeting chased after him and talked with him. This began his road into the work of recovery and being of service.
Today, Raul has celebrated five years in recovery. He volunteers his time with the group Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, a movement seeking to erase the stigma and raise awareness concerning many ailments in society, such as breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and child abuse. The nuns of the order dress in drag costumes and participate in fund drives and outreach programs, all while having fun!
Raul would be one of the first to tell someone new into recovery that it isn’t always rainbows. It is life, and we go through it; yet, in being of service, we are able to get out of ourselves and find the ways in which our story and experiences can help others. He holds meetings, completes service commitments and sponsors others in the 12-Step program. He is an inspiration to many gay men and women in the Palm Springs community, and his jovial nature is now a reflection of the progress he has made while doing the work of recovery.