HĂ©ctor Romero was born and raised in Puerto Vallarta and graduated from UNIVA Puerto Vallarta. He brings more than four years of experience working within the local LGBTQ+ community.
HĂ©ctor currently serves in Marketing and Reception at the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center, where he combines strategic communication with direct community engagement. Passionate about sexual health, inclusion, and HIV awareness, he supports outreach and educational initiatives while helping ensure that everyone who visits the Center feels welcomed, informed, and supported.
Alex Cosio is a communications and community engagement professional with a background in mass media, marketing, and public relations.
He serves as Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator at the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center, where he works to strengthen partnerships and expand the organization’s visibility within the community. Alex plays an active role in developing outreach strategies and supporting events both within and beyond the Center. Through his work, he is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections and helping create a safe, welcoming, and supportive space for Puerto Vallarta’s LGBTQ+ community.
Yesenia earned her philosophy degree from the Michoacana University of San Nicolás de Hidalgo. She is a cultural event planner, activist, member of the Vallarta ballroom community, and a strong advocate for community formation. With six years of experience in HIV and STI prevention, detection, and support, she provides compassionate guidance to those receiving treatment.
Choosing activism over academia, she applies her philosophical knowledge to social justice causes, particularly in sexual health and politics. Her work is rooted in radical tenderness and the belief that community is a transformative force for creating safe, inclusive, and lasting social change.
Fatima, originating from Tuxpan, Jalisco, boasts over 15 years of robust nursing experience across various Guadalajara hospitals.
Her expertise covers emergency room and intensive care, major surgical procedures including organ transplants, and the management of sexually transmitted infections.
Fatima is passionately committed to eradicating discrimination and stigma associated with HIV and sexual health, aligning her efforts with her organization’s mission to promote public health and increase disease awareness, thereby enhancing the overall community’s health literacy.
Ashley Hernández is a dedicated medical professional from Puerto Vallarta, educated at the University of Guadalajara with a specialization in sexual health and sexually transmitted infections.
With more than a year and a half of specialized experience, Ashley is actively involved in a civil association aiming to reshape societal views on sexual health, advocating for an approach free of stereotypes and taboos. Committed to fostering an inclusive society, she contributes significantly towards educating and enhancing understanding of sexual health issues.
Tina Kunkel has been a pillar in Puerto Vallarta’s LGBTQ+ and charitable communities. Tina is originally from Germany, where she graduated from a renowned School of Hotel Management with a degree in Tourism and Hotel Management.
Tina is fluent in Spanish, English, and German. Previously, she managed the Puerto Vallarta SPCA for three years.
“I fell in love with Puerto Vallarta when I moved here almost 20 years ago, and our large and vibrant gay community is one of the reasons why. My two favorite work experiences were working at Casa CĂşpula, where I met so many amazing people from the LGBTQ+ community, and the meaningful work at the nonprofit animal shelter SPCA of Puerto Vallarta. Having this opportunity to work with the Vallarta Gay+ Community Center feels like a perfect match for me, and I’m excited to help grow this great project.”
Pedro LĂłpez’s life story unfolds from his early childhood migration from Jalisco to the United States, where he grew up in downtown Los Angeles amidst undocumented immigrant communities.
Learning English as a second language and overcoming numerous challenges, Pedro’s resilience propelled him through nursing school, sparking a lifelong commitment to aiding underserved populations. With over three decades in various nonprofits focusing on mental health and safety nets, and a recent role as Vice President at a Mental Health Agency. Pedro, fulfilled his dream of moving back to Puerto Vallarta to continue his impactful work.