CISCO's Profile

Cisco first appeared on the West coast’s Latin gay club scene in 2001. An extremely successful photo shoot with Latinboyz.com landed him as the #1 ranked-model for a full year. The response was so positive that Latinboyz.com invited him to help promote the website at Club Papi, a popular West Coast gay Latino circuit party. A week after the September 11th tragedy, Cisco was flown to San Jose, California for what was to be his first of many Club Papi events. His good looks, lean physique and friendly demeanor made him a favorite of club-goers. Both Latinboyz.com and Club Papi were pleased with the positive response. Cisco was soon approached by the promoter to appear as a go go dancer at some of the up coming events. An event like Club Papi had a reputation for the best parties, hottest music and, of course, flawless go go boys. A Latinboyz.com photo shoot was one thing, but shedding your clothes for a tiny pair of Calvin Kleins while dancing for California’s gay Latino community was another. With apprehension, Cisco accepted the invitation and began appearing at Club Papi events up and down the West Coast. Cisco genuinely connected with his audience and embodied what it was to be a gay Latino. He began an advice column on Latinboyz.com called “Ask Cisco.” Members would write in and ask their favorite model for advice on personal issues that pertained to gay Latinos. Cisco took time out of his busy schedule to respond to each and every question that was asked of him and his audience very much appreciated it. He felt a responsibility to his peers to help them through difficult issues he had already faced by offering advice, based on his personal experiences. As Club Papi expanded, so did Cisco’s career. Other US cities were soon added to the roster of club events as he toured with Club Papi and the event’s headliners. The dancing soon gave way to other modeling projects and his portfolio began to expand with each photo shoot. Many images from these shoots were consistently used to promote Club Papi events. Cisco appeared on the cover of Adelante Magazine in Los Angeles twice. once in December of 2002 and again in June of 2007. Today, Cisco continues to dance for Club Papi. He is consistently shooting with a variety of photographers and has parleyed a deal with Miami based Vizeau Swimwear, to be featured on his much anticipated website- www.YOCISCO.com. This is the person that most people know- Cisco, the dancer and model. Cisco is originally from Denver, Colorado, the “Mile High City.” He was born, Gabriel Medina to a Chicano father and an Italian mother. He grew up like most gay men- always questioning his masculinity and trying to hide who he really was. Coming from two very strong machismo cultures, he tried his hardest to lead a heterosexual lifestyle. That lifestyle, of course, came with a girlfriend. Cisco dated one girl exclusively throughout high school and into his first year of college. Cisco’s first year of college would prove to be the most life changing. His long time high school sweetheart was expecting their child. Nine months later, she gave birth to a healthy, beautiful baby girl. The couple was quickly engaged to be married per wishes of Cisco’s traditional, Catholic family. The pressures of being a parent at 19, working a full time job, attending college and being a closeted gay man, made life extremely difficult. After one year of living together, the couple separated. It was at that time that Cisco met his first boyfriend whom he dated for eight years. He finally found the courage to come out to his family at 21. Since then, he has managed to help his family accept who he really is and maintains an extremely close relationship with daughter’s mother. However, Cisco mainly prides himself on being a father. Now 11 years old, his daughter continues to be the motivating force in his life. “I’ve always considered her number one in my life and never kept any secrets from her about who I am,” he says. Cisco has chosen to raise his daughter as an “out” gay man and has never looked back since. Cisco’s story is intriguing but not different from many other gay men. He has chosen to share his experience as a gay man of color with others like him. “Coming out isn’t easy but its especially difficult being a man of color. We have different experiences and cultural influences than our white gay counterparts. I wanted a place where people who are experiencing the same thing as I did can go and feel like there is a resource for them, a sense of community. I never had that when I was coming out and searching for myself.” With this vision, www.YOCISCO.com was created. More and more, the gay lifestyle is being integrated into mainstream society. Often times, the experiences of Black and Latino gay men are overlooked. www.YOCISCO.com strives to be an online community, reflecting and complimenting the lifestyles of the modern Black and Latino gay man. Here are some of my upcoming events: February 18, 2007- Club Papi @ the Factory n West Hollywood March 21, 2007- Club Papi Houston March 22, 2007- Club Papi Chicago March 24, 2007- Club Papi San Diego March 25, 2007- Club Papi Los Angeles April 5-8, 2007 Puerto Vallarta, Mexico May 5, 2007- Club Papi San Diego/TJ May 19, 2007- Chicago Club Papi June 20, 2007- Houston Club Papi June 21, 2007- Chicago Club Papi June 22, 2007- San Diego Club Papi June 23-24, 2007- San Francisco Club Papi August 30-September 2nd- Club Papi San Francisco September 13-15th- Club Papi Sacramento October 5-7 - Club Papi San Diego/TJ November 8-9 Club Papi San Francisco November 10- Club Papi San Diego November 21-27 Club Papi- Puerta Vallarta, MEX December 28- Club Papi Sacramento December 29- Club Papi Tijuana/San Diego December 31- NEW YEARS Club Papi San Francisco January 9- Club Papi Houston January 10- Club Papi Dallas