The GLBT community is in the process of great change. In the 35 years since Stonewall, our community has made huge strides toward establishing itself in society. Ironically, as we have carved out a clear public profile we have simultaneously lost track of one another. The GLBT community is broad and diverse, but in many respects we have splintered into factions whose paths rarely cross.

“Portrait of a community” aims to correct this imbalance by talking to the men and women who make up our community.

Each portrait will be a snapshot of an individual in his or her unique environment and will include a conversation about the substance of that person’s life and the cornerstones of his or her GLBT experience.

In this way, in time, this column will create a complete portrait of our community – one member at a time.

Name: Daniel Andrew Pomplun Jr (I try not to tell too many people about the Jr thing, but what the heck.)

Age: 22

Self-definition: I’m just a kid… or am I?

Where were you at 9 a.m. last Sunday morning?

Last Sunday at 9 a.m. I was lying in bed (considering I didn’t get out of work until about 3 a.m.). Ah, the wonderful schedule of bar life.

What person has influenced you more than any other, and how?

My Father. He truly is my hero. Ever since I can remember, he just always taught me to be me, to never give up my choice and always express myself. Growing up, he taught me right from wrong and left from right, and truly shaped me to be the free-spirited, open-minded person I feel I am today. One thing always sticks in my head that my dad always says: “You have a choice whether it is for good or bad – you still have the choice.”

When do you feel unequal?

I guess when I realize that people judge me on my age. In any situation, people think, “What does he know, he’s just a kid.” Then I come up with something true and from the heart that takes them for surprise. It’s almost as if they just had an epiphany that I too may have some life experience.

Where were you last Wednesday at noon?

Last Wednesday at noon I was in the office at Bourbon Street taking care of the schedule. I recently got promoted to bar manager and have been working away day in and day out.

When was the last time you felt proud?

I just recently received some photos from a Christmas party I had last December. It was my own personal party, but I had each guest donate a toy to an orphanage I adopted in Mexico where all the children are HIV positive or had a diagnosis of AIDS. My contact at The Center had been trying to reach me, but due to opposite schedules we haven’t had time to meet. She finally bumped into me and gave me a small photo album with pictures of the kids receiving the gifts. The fact that I can make a difference definitely made me feel proud; to do well and have my friends support me in it.

If there was a defining moment in your life, what was it?

I was 16 and realized I felt that I wasn’t writing my own story. I felt like I was being someone else. So I packed up, left home, dropped out of school and got a head start on life.

Where were you at 10 p.m. last Friday night?

Walking around the bar at Bourbon Street making sure all my bartenders had everything they needed and checking on customers to make sure they were having a good time.