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About Paul

H. Paul Schwitzgebel is a 62 yr. old native of Canton, Ohio in Stark County. He was a founding member of OUTVoice and was an HIV/AIDS specialized chaplain advocate for 10 years. He currently does parish ministry and hospital chaplaincy in addition to providing tax and bookkeeping services to small businesses.

Paul received his Bachelors degree in accounting from The Ohio State University, a Masters Degree in Business from the University of Michigan, and a Masters Degree in Divinity from Yale University Divinity School. He was also the recipient of a Rotary Foundation International Graduate Fellowship to the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. He has taught a variety of business technical courses at ETI Technical College in North Canton. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a certified Grief Recovery specialist, and a Prepare/Enrich counselor.

In addition to his academic endeavors, Paul has served as board member of both a regional alcoholism agency and the Akron Area Pride Collective. He has also served as president of his local Rotary Club and served on the Ohio Department of Health HIV Prevention Planning Council as state citizen co-chair. In addition, he is a current director of the Diversity Alliance of Stark County. Paul has also been active in Soulforce and local Pride arts events.

"I have been persistently, openly, and when necessary, 'confrontationally' out for over 30 years – after having been out, but very quietly, for a decade before that. Discrimination is contrary to my belief in the equal dignity and worth of all persons. Acts of discrimination against friends of mine and against myself motivate me to be engaged in the equal rights movement.

I was deeply sorrowed that OUTVoice collapsed. Ever since then, I have been eager to be a part of a new egalitarian statewide glbt organization. I hope to gain greater equality in rights and responsibilities for others as well as for myself.

To the Equality Ohio Core Design Team, I bring glbt and HIV/AIDS specific historical perspective and experience, an analytical mind, organizational training and practice from both business and church, and a willingness to do hands-on work. My hope is that Equality Ohio won't be needed a decade from now because hearts, minds, and laws will have been changed!"