Executive director puts his stamp on Golden Rainbow
In 1981, Gary Costa was a young man living in Los Angeles, when dozens of friends and acquaintances started getting sick and dying. ¶ The AIDS epidemic was snowballing, and Costa was frightened but determined. ¶ He researched everything he could about the disease to protect himself and spread the “safe sex” message in the gay community. He became a community educator and eventually began leading nonprofit organizations serving the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in California. ¶ Today, he is executive director of Golden Rainbow, which provides emergency assistance, education, financial aid and affordable housing to those living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Nevada.
You’re a transplant from California. Tell us about your time there and what brought you to Las Vegas.
I was born and raised on a dairy farm in the central San Joaquin valley town of Hanford, Calif. I was the middle of 11 children.
I knew from a young age I didn’t fit in to the farming life. The day I turned 18, I was out of there and headed south toward Los Angeles. I’ve lived all over the state, but a majority of my adult life in Southern California, most recently in Palm Springs.
My partner, Stephen, landed a great job with Zappos seven years ago and he relocated here first. We commuted back and forth on the weekends for almost three years until I was offered the position at Golden Rainbow. I still maintain a home in Palm Springs. It’s my weekend getaway from my typical 70-hour work weeks. I love Las Vegas, but California will always be home.
How many are on your team and what is your management style?
I have three incredible staff members who provide direct services to clients and I oversee a core group of 50-plus volunteers and interns. When given the opportunity to build my own team like I have at Golden Rainbow, I am more a consultative type of manager, allowing everyone involved to provide feedback and suggestions in establishing best practices. I only surround myself with people who are as passionate about the work we do as I am, or else it just wouldn’t work.
Do you have any news or upcoming events for the organization?
We have two major events coming up. On (Sunday), we’re producing the 32nd annual Ribbon of Life show at SLS Las Vegas, featur-