Rick Ramsey was born in Conway, Ark., in 1961 and has lived other places during college and parts of high school in Phoenix, Ariz. He now lives in Little Rock with his partner of 18 years, C. Preston Price.

“I returned home to Arkansas because of an illness and death of a family member; my father,” Rick said.

We asked Rick about his occupation.

“I have had many occupations, my first love is animals,” he said. “I have a B.S. in Animal Science, I was a store merchant and owner of two tropical fish and pet education centers in South Central Los Angeles. I had to leave this profession because of concerns of animal to human diseases and my immune system. I'm fighting lymphoma cancer currently doing chemo treatments .

“I'm proud to say I'm in remission today. I'm now on full disability because I'm living with three medical conditions, but I have goals and plan to get my MPH in Public History and return to grad school soon,
but I'm now enjoying being just a faithful (househusband and partner)at this time in my life.”

Talk about some of the work you have done for the GLBT community.

“I served on the Long Beach, Calif., pride committee for three years when I lived in Long Beach. I was a late joining member of Arkansas Gay Rights before it  went under; member of (AGLTF) Arkansas Gay and Lesbian Task Force, when Kerry Lobel, was president as well as president, Jan Hodges, and president Ted Holder; I have served as president, (AAPWA) Arkansas Assn. of People with Aids; 1st. vice president/board member director of development of the Arkansas AIDS Foundation; member(ACT- UP) Arkansas; (NAPWA) lifetime member National Association of People with AIDS (regional director Arkansas 2003 to 2005); director and chairman of the compassion awards committee of AAF for 4 years; member Arkansas AIDS Advocacy Association.(AAAA).

“I also served as the co-chairman of the Arkansas HIV/AIDS memorial committee in Little Rock, only the third such AIDS/HIV memorial of it kind built in America, at that time 1996, since 70 percent of all the known cases of HIV/AIDS in Arkansas today are gay/MSM,(men who have sex with men).

“I say I've served many in the GBLTQ Community in Arkansas! I also have a passion for public history and edit the blog Arkansas Gay History.
I'm the editor of Arkansas Gay History http://www.arkansasgayhistory.blogspot.com/ ."

What are your thoughts on coming out, advice to others, etc.?

“Do it in your own time and place, but do it (come out). I was open and honest with my full family at age 13 and have never really lived in what some term as a closet. My family has accepted me and my partner fully, and we are grateful, and proud for their love and support.

“Advice I'd give to others? Tell your family and friends and don't cut yourself off from the love and support of your family! Come out: you will be glad you did! Stop living your Gay/BGLTQ, life in other peoples' fears and phobias. Be honest with yourself first."

What do you see in the near future and long-range for gay rights/equality?

“Near-term not much advance for gay civil rights in Arkansas. We have to have leaders with guts to advance that agenda and we don't have those  leaders at this time at the Arkansas Statehouse. Long term full equality!"

Profiles in Pride Questions:

Date and place of birth?
Conway, Ark. 1961 Native Arkansan

What is your favorite food?
I'm not picky I like all foods beans and taters are just fine with me.

What food will you not eat?  
Snails. Snake or fish without scales.

What is the best job you've ever had?
Being a paper carrier for the Arkansas Gazette for many years in my childhood in NLR during the Vietnam War. I also threw the Democrat in the afternoon I had two jobs at age 11/12. Yep, I was a (gay) paperboy.

What is your dream job?
The king of England. One can still dream Can't they LOL!

If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time?
I'd help people with HIV/AIDS in America and abroad! It's my life long passion!

Who do you admire most (living or dead)?
Dr. Martin L King, and my partner C. Preston Price.

Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)?
100 of my closest friends who have succumbed to the AIDS Virus in Arkansas!( man what a lunch that would be!) I'd like to have Jesus over for lunch too and ask him a few things.

Who has had the greatest influence on your life?
My grandparents: they had 17 Children, and every one of them completed college, simple farmers .and Native Arkansan from Faulkner County! Amazing!

What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time?
Smoke

What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time?
Had better knowledge of ways to protect myself from the HIV/AIDS virus I was diagnosed in 1986. Before we knew what the virus even was, I was simply not told or warned about HIV/AIDS. In the early 1980's.

What is your favorite word?
Advocate

Least favorite word?
Retarded

Favorite curse word?
F*ck you Buddy

What turns you on?
Diversity

What turns you off?
Closed minded homosexuals

What words would others use to describe you?
Dynamo worker, caregiver, advocate

What word sums you up?
Pride