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JUDGE’S BEGINNING
Born at a military hospital in Fayetteville, North Carolina, to parents Judge, Sr., Johnola Dunlap, and little brother to Sonya. My father was a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Bragg and my mother, a housewife. My younger sibling Latonya would come along five years later.
As a child, I was always a bit curious, quirky, and creative. I loved pretending that I was a space traveler charting new destinations in the cosmos. It was the 60s and it was a time of Lost in Space, a moon landing, and Star Trek. I wanted to be an astronaut and even memorized the planets in our solar system.
Back down on Earth, my mother had had enough of the physical abuse by my father's hands and ended that relationship. Years later my mother would marry again, but this time it was with a man in the Air Force. Being a military brat satisfied my curiosity for new places and new faces since we moved every few years due to my stepfather’s military service. That marriage lasted only a few years and by now my mother wanted a fresh start in San Diego, California.
TIME OF DISCOVERY
At Mount Carmel High School, I discovered my love for theater and dance; I felt that I really found my calling. My sister, Sonya, was in the choral performing group and that prompted me into joining Pop Ensemble (think the show Glee). I also got involved with my school’s American Field Service (AFS) club. Here I met many friendships that I still retain today.
I loved our group of friends and would spend most of our time together when possible. Eventually I was nominated as club President and given the nickname Dad by my co-chair. I met many students from other countries through AFS which prompted me to study German as my language elective. Why not Spanish, you’re probably wondering? Well, I wanted to do something different from everyone else. Little did I realize at the time how beneficial the German language would be later in my life.
In my mid 20s things really started to take off for me. I was cast in my first full-time performance gig, modeling for a tuxedo clothier, appearing on a game show with Alex Trebec, and really living my best thespian life. And in an instant, all of that was gone. My ability to remember choreography and script dialogue was short-circuited. I wish that I could say that it was all due to a rock and roll lifestyle, but that couldn’t be farther from the truth. There is truth in the expression, when one door closes another one opens. Frustrated about my memory health, I took a trip to Europe to visit friends I had made in high school and during my performance years, and returned with an invitation to move to Holland.
FOR THE PAST
24 YEARS...
I have occupied my time and energy volunteering for organizations and causes that help make the city, state, and world a better place for everyone. In more recent times, I have taken to expressing myself through writing. I sadly no longer have the stamina to be the star on the dancefloor, but I do have the ability to use my words as a tool for storytelling, collaboration, and to initiate conversations that help bring people together by creating an awareness of things I care about. Whether that’s the good and bad of the built environment, the love of my life, family, or travel, these are the muses of my writing. Inside of us, we all have a story to tell.
As an older gay man, I don’t have a lineage of children to leave behind to enrich the world, but what I do have are my stories of lived experiences; my past and present, photos from faraway places, and my poetry. Community-focused and globally driven are the guiding principles that keep me motivated and curious about the world. These paragraphs are only a snapshot into my life.
I’m a writer, husband, poet, blogger, community-oriented leader, and published author currently based in Portland, Oregon, with husband, life partner, and home designer, Eric Schnell.
TRAVELTOGRAPHY
Wandering through the bustling streets of Spain and Italy, I've been enchanted by the vibrant tapestry of life that unfolds before my lens. From the colorful markets to the historic alleyways, each photo tells a story of its own, reflecting not just the beauty of the places but also the emotions and experiences that define my journey.
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