分类: Darrell DuBois

RRP Episode 53 - Darrell DuBois: Pioneering LGBTQ+ AA Recovery, The Live and Let Live Club & Surviving AIDS

3/9/2025

How one man’s courage helped shape LGBTQ+ recovery spaces while surviving the AIDS epidemic.

LGBTQ AA recovery, Live and Let Live AA Club, long-term AIDS survivor story, Portland LGBTQ sobriety, addiction recovery podcast.

In this powerful episode of the Real Recovery Podcast, we sit down with Darrell DuBois, a true pioneer in the LGBTQ+ recovery community. As one of the founding members of the Live and Let Live Club, Darrell helped create a safe and welcoming space for LGBTQ+ individuals in Alcoholics Anonymous when few such places existed. His journey is one of resilience, survival, and advocacy, as he also stands among the longest-surviving individuals diagnosed with AIDS in the United States.

Darrell’s story highlights the importance of community in recovery, the challenges of being openly gay in a time of widespread discrimination, and the transformative power of living an authentic life. Join us as he shares his nearly 30 years of sobriety, the struggles and triumphs of founding one of Portland’s first LGBTQ+ AA meetings, and the lessons he’s learned along the way.

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Live and Let Live: Creating Safe Spaces for LGBTQ+ Recovery

For those in the LGBTQ+ community, finding acceptance in recovery spaces was not always easy. Recognizing this need, Darrell became one of the founding members of the Live and Let Live Club, one of the first AA meeting spaces specifically designed to support LGBTQ+ individuals seeking sobriety.

The Live and Let Live Club became a lifeline for many, providing a safe environment where members could speak openly about their experiences without fear of judgment. The club grew into a thriving community, welcoming countless individuals and offering them the support they needed to embrace recovery fully.

Surviving the AIDS Epidemic and Finding Strength in Sobriety

Darrell was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984, a time when the disease was poorly understood, and stigma was rampant. Doctors gave him little hope, but Darrell’s will to live, his recovery community, and medical advancements helped him defy the odds.

Throughout his battle with AIDS, Darrell found support in organizations like Our House Portland, which provides compassionate care for those living with HIV/AIDS. He also found solace in the Portland Gay Men's Chorus, where music became a source of healing and connection.

Despite the challenges, Darrell never returned to drinking or using. Instead, he turned to service, helping others in recovery and advocating for LGBTQ+ individuals facing addiction. His story is a testament to strength, resilience, and the power of community.

"Had it not been for recovery, I know I would not be alive today."
—Darrell DuBois

Lessons from Nearly Three Decades of Sobriety

Darrell’s story offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating recovery:

Community is everything. Finding the right people can make all the difference in maintaining long-term sobriety.
Honesty and authenticity lead to healing. Being able to tell your full story in recovery is essential.
Advocacy saves lives. Creating safe spaces for marginalized communities in recovery helps break the cycle of addiction.
Sobriety is a daily commitment. Darrell has remained committed to recovery despite facing unimaginable hardships.

Darrell DuBois' journey is one of overcoming adversity, breaking down barriers, and leaving a lasting impact on the recovery community. From pioneering LGBTQ+ AA meetings to becoming one of the longest-living AIDS survivors, his story is a beacon of hope for anyone searching for recovery and belonging.