Gangster Turned Gay Activist Speaks Out

This isn’t the kind of story that immediately strikes one as touching, but when you hear Kenny Gallo, aka. Kenji, speak about his road to redemption, you have to admit it is. Apparently a good woman can do anything (Nope, he’s not gay himself). Even turn a “car-bombing drug smuggler and mafioso into a committed father, law-abiding white-collar professional, and a gay rights activist.”

“I asked myself,” Kenji writes on the Daily Kos. ‘Who in American society are the most victimized, defenseless, and unfairly persecuted people? Who would an ex-gangster receive the most opposition for supporting?’

Once I thought about it this way, the answer was obvious: LGBT Americans. No one suffers more, and no one’s suffering is more condoned. There is someone very close to me who is LGBT and who has suffered incredible pain due to the intolerance of American society — yet his/her pain is not considered “legitimate” by many people. It is something he/she did to themselves.

Once I thought about that person, I felt like I had no choice but to take a stand. This cause is personal to me, and I’m willing to take all of the ridicule and criticism I will get as “tough guy” who embraces gay rights.”

He recounts his life story, from the time he worked for Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel, LA’s Crip street gangs, and the bosses of New York’s Colombo Mafia Family, to his present day struggle for Gay Civil Rights.

“Being homophobic or intolerant has nothing to do with being tough. In fact, take it from a guy who has gone to war against Colombian drug dealers on the street, bedded world-famous porn stars, and fights world champion martial artists on a daily basis: hating someone on the basis of their sexuality has nothing to do with being tough or straight.”

He’s looking for speaking arrangements anywhere and everywhere for free, so if you’re in the market please contact him. And I want to personally applaud his work, and the guts it takes to do what he’s doing. Keep it up Kenji, and drop me a line when you’re in SF so I can buy you a beer.

Kenji’s Mission:

“As a Japanese-American from a very conservative, traditional immigrant background, I can reach out to young Asian-Americans struggling to come to terms with their sexuality and to Asian-American parents struggling with integrating LGBT tolerance into their traditional cultures. I will speak to anyone, anywhere for free; I simply want to help.

Anyone who is interested in helping me achieve these goals can find my contact information at Street Tolerance or by contacting me through Facebook. I will make time to respond in the comments of this diary, as well.”