My name is Kay and I’m raising funds for my queer chosen family Paulo Arriola- Headley. Paulo is currently facing unfathomable grief from the death & loss of his husband, remarkable poet and person Jubi Arriola-Headley, who passed in October 2025 due to complications of prostate cancer.
For 17 years, Paulo has been a loving and supportive husband, and for 2 of those years, he was doing extensive care work and advocacy while Jubi was undergoing multiple intensive treatments and rounds of chemo. Paulo was Jubi’s primary support through intense medical obstacles and advocacy. Now that Jubi is so no longer with us, his family is trying to grieve and balance costs of the funeral/wake, bills, and housing expenses without Jubi’s supplemental income.
Due to unforeseen grief costs and now a lack of dual spouse income, Paulo and family need our help to fundraise for his family’s basic living costs, scheduled home repairs, and previous medical costs.
The final weeks of Jubi’s life were immensely difficult for both Jubi and Paulo. Jubi was still working full-time while struggling with exhausting effects and numerous treatments of his cancer. Now after intense loss, Paulo is left to grieve his husband under financial duress and in an empty home without his person. Let's show up for Jubi by uplifting and supporting his husband, partner, soul mate, and person, Paulo!
Please help me honor Jubi by uplifting his family and husband at this time. Jubi was dedicated to Black and Indigenous community, people of color, Queer and trans, LGBTQ, Kink, Gay, Femme, Artist communities and people for a Free Palestine. Thank you for your care in uplifting this event and spirit in the new year!
If you order to donate privately:
o Zelle: [email redacted],
o CashApp: $PowerOnyx, or
o Venmo: @PowerONE
More on Jubi:
Jubi Arriola-Headley (July 15, 1969 – October 17, 2025), also known as Griot, was a celebrated and beloved poet, storyteller, activist, and powerful voice in the Black and queer communities. He passed away after a courageous two-year battle with prostate cancer.
Born to Barbadian parents, Jubi was a first-generation United Statesian. He was a dedicated scholar and lifelong learner, graduating from Boston Latin High School in 1987 and Vassar College in 1991, later earning a Master of Urban Planning from the University of Maryland and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of Miami.
His professional life was one of service and art. Early in his career, he worked as an assistant to Ken Reeves, the first Black gay mayor of Cambridge, Massachusetts, and later worked for many years with The United States Conference of Mayors. This commitment to community and advocacy informed his powerful creative voice. Known for being blatantly honest, Jubi never minced words. His acclaimed poetry collections, including the award-winning "original kink" (Sibling Rivalry Press) and "Bound" (Persea Books), fearlessly explored themes of manhood, vulnerability, joy, and the politics of the Black body.
Jubi was a passionate advocate for LGBTIQ+ rights, channeling his activism through his writing and public presence. He was a proud alumnus of VONA (Voices of Our Nations Arts Foundation) and Lambda Literary. He served his communities tirelessly, including as a board member for both VONA and the National Leather Association (NLA). As a proud member of the kink and Leather communities, he was an active participant in club life, including Highwaymen TNT and as a Charter Associate member of Onyx Deep South.
His loving, tender, and joyful spirit touched countless people. He was preceded in death by his father, Jubi Arriola-Headley Sr. He is survived by his devoted husband of 17 years, Paulo Arriola-Headley; his loving mother, Joslyn; his siblings, Gina, Judith, and Rick; his chosen siblings, Patrick and Crystal; and many other relatives and friends who thought the world of him. His powerful words and loving legacy will continue to inspire and resonate for generations to come.
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