Jason Cuneo: Champion for HIV Advocacy and LGBTQ+ Seniors

By Cesar A Reyes

Jason Cuneo, Senior Services Program Manager at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, has been named one of VIDA’s 2025 Community Honorees at the upcoming Scholarship Luncheon. The event that will celebrate his ongoing and future commitment to uplift the LGBTQ+ and Latinx communities. With decades of advocacy behind him, Jason continues to lead with purpose, building a more inclusive and equitable future for those he serves. With a background rooted in HIV advocacy since 1992, Jason oversees programming that supports LGBTQ+ and HIV-positive seniors, aiming to “reduce isolation, build community, and improve health and well-being for older adults in San Diego.” He also serves on the board of POZabilities and is an active member of the San Diego HIV Community Consortium.

Jason says receiving this honor from VIDA is deeply personal. “As someone born into a family rich in culture and Mexican tradition, and who is also part of the LGBTQ+ community, I’ve often navigated the intersections of race, culture, sexuality, and economic disadvantage,” he shared. “This honor feels less like a recognition of me alone and more like a celebration of the community that has shaped and supported me.”

Jason also emphasized the significance of VIDA’s scholarships for LGBTQIA+ Latinx students. “What makes VIDA’s scholarships so meaningful is that they not only provide financial support, but they also affirm students’ identities and celebrate their achievements,” he said. “That kind of validation is critical for young people navigating multiple layers of marginalization.”

When asked to define VIDA in one word, he stated that “The WORD is Community. Community is both the foundation and the future. It is what allows us to heal, to thrive, and to ensure that no one is left behind. That is what VIDA represents.”

Through his advocacy, leadership, and unwavering dedication, Jason continues to inspire a vision of equity, belonging, and collective strength.