Meet Johnnie Ghiglia | Nonprofit Executive Director / Founder; Retired First Responder; Community Liaison

We had the good fortune of connecting with Johnnie Ghiglia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Johnnie, as a parent, what do you feel is the most meaningful thing you’ve done for them?
I believe the most important thing I have proven with my actions is to let me son know that I will always love, support and accept him no matter who he is or who he loves. When he came out at 17 and told me that he is gay, it did not make a difference at all as he is my son and I love him unconditionally! I told him that I want him to be his authentic unique self, whatever that is!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My career started after grad school. I initially started in Athletic Training / Sports Medicine as an ATC and worked for an Orthopedic surgeon right after graduation. A year later I was offered the Head Athletic Training position at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. I held that position for roughly 3.5 years and went back to a clinical position at a Physical Therapy clinic in Scottsdale. While I was there, I ended up rehabbing several different Scottsdale Police officers. One officer asked me if I was ever interested in law enforcement or being a cop to which I stated, ‘No, I have never thought about that, ever’.

I ended up speaking to several friends that were in that profession to get their view / advice. I was informed to apply, hit my 20 years, get my pension and retire. The advice I obtained and talking more with the officer that presented the idea, I asked about the health care benefits that were offered and how good they were. Weeks later I ended up applying to Scottsdale PD. The health care was a huge point due to my son, Chase, being born with a cleft lip and palate knowing he would need numerous surgeries as an infant and through his teens.

2.5 months later I was offered a position after going through the hiring process. Everything happens for a reason, right!? I was able to have the opportunity to work in several different positions through my 21-year career. I can also say that that profession played a major role in where I am today, not only personally (divorced) but professionally (knowing when it’s time to pursue a different journey). While I was at the PD, Chase came out to us at 17. I had no idea that one of his biggest concerns was that I was a cop and his perception was that I had numerous friends with very big egos / macho personas. I informed him that I knew a few of those people and if they could not accept my son for who he is, then they were no longer a friend of mine. I also told Chase that I wanted him to be his own authentic unique self whatever that is and that I will always love and support him.

The main reason I left the PD was to pursue, what I believed, what my true purpose in life is! In 2017, I was waking up with visions of logos to an idea that was a conversation in a family room, when I was married, about giving back to the LGBTQ+ community to support Chase and his community. During that conversation the name, Out Is The New In, was presented. I didn’t know why I was having these visions but I knew it was for a reason! After speaking with Chase, I sat at the computer and typed in, how to start a business as I had no idea what I was doing. I had never thought of owning a business before or what that would look like. A very first logo / design was decided upon and the next step was to get apparel made. My idea was to obtain brand apparel, sell the apparel, and give back a portion of every sale to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. I had never truly been immersed into the LGBTQ+ community other than having Chase’s friends around. I paid for a booth at Pride in the Pines in Flagstaff in 2018 and was very excited to go up there to meet new people.

Needless to say, it was a very powerful / emotional day for me! People that were coming up to me were telling me that they had never heard of ‘OutIsTheNewIn’ and why was I there, what was my story? I don’t know how many times I repeated the story of Chase coming out and what we said to each other but I watched numerous people become very emotional in front of me and let me know that their parents had never accepted them like I accepted Chase. At the end of the day, it was extremely evident that the idea of giving back was so much bigger than I would ever be.

It took 3 years to figure out that it was time in my life to pursue my purpose and see what that looked like. I sold my house a week after retiring and was planning on moving out of state. My plan was to use the proceeds of the sale to get where I wanted to be, not knowing what the future would hold.

I would say that what I chose to do was not easy, but my faith in a higher power gave me the strength I needed each day knowing I was on the right path and plan for my life and to not look back, move forward each day.

Lessons I have learned along the way is to always listen and absorb what is being said. Listen to the doors that open and the doors that close. Everything truly does happen for a reason, take a step back and analyze what is happening around you. Grab the positive no matter how small it might be. Be authentic! Above all, be kind to everyone you come in contact with because you have no idea what they might be going through in their life.

The most important thing I have learned is if you are lucky enough to find your purpose, pursue it with every ounce of your being you have!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
There are so many opportunities to do many different things in the valley metro area of Phoenix. Each outlying City offers their own unique events, if not through the week, on the weekends as well. Looking at putting together an itinerary for a best friend truly depends on the time of the year in coming up with a plan together and what your friend is interested in. The valley offers many professional sporting events to attend (NFL, NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL, IFL, USL, Nascar, Cactus League Spring Training and several different collegiate bowl games) to name a few. When it comes to signature events, the valley is host to the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Barrett Jackson and the Good Guys car show. If you are a golfer, you can golf in Arizona year round.

When it comes to food, the valley offers pretty much every different genre from around the world! Whatever your palate is in the mood for, you will find it. With all those options, you can have something different everyday all day. So many cities are also upgrading their downtown options in regard to restaurants, brewery’s as well as shopping choices to attract patrons. If you want to see someone special or just listen to great music, there is pretty much someone to listen to every night of the week. Phoenix offers amazing concerts with so many genre’s. As for history and culture, you will have no problem finding it walking through numerous different museums to absorb so much new knowledge. If you want to go on an amazing hike with amazing views, you can stay local and hit up Camelback Mountain or just take a drive north to Sedona or Flagstaff. Want to continue farther north you can see magnificent views at the Grand Canyon National park.

So, when your best friend decides to take a trip and check out the valley, you will never go wrong when it comes to putting so many different things on your to do list. You will just have to try and find time to add sleep in-between all the activities to recharge for the next day!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, my faith as I would not be where I am today if it was not for the path and plan that has been chosen for me! Secondly, my son Chase for feeling he was in a safe place to tell his family who he truly is. I also need to recognize a few dear friends that have supported and given me advice through this entire journey, Nicole, Celeste, Michelle and Whitney! Thank you to my BNI Foothills Sharks family and Thank you to an amazing person, Elyssa, for giving Shoutout my name. I now get to pay if forward as well.

Website: OutIsTheNewIn.org

Instagram: OutIsTheNewIn

Linkedin: OutIsTheNewIn

Facebook: OutIsTheNewIn

Image Credits
Steven Parry Elyssa Bell Photography Tanja Marie Photography