Daniel Hernandez is a modest hero. Most remember him as the openly gay political intern who is credited with saving the life of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords after Jared Lee Loughner shot her Jan. 8, 2011. "We were running a 'Congress on Your Corner' meet and greet with the Congresswoman that morning," he said. "It was my fifth day working with the Congresswoman. The meet-and-greet was Giffords' idea for a way to enable her constituents to meet her and voice their concerns about the direction Congress was taking. It was my job to control the flood gates and speak with the constituents about what questions they had for Giffords."
What happened shortly after the event began that morning changed Hernandez's life in a dramatic way: "We started at 10 o'clock in the morning. At 10:10, I heard shots and then someone shouted 'Gun!' I dropped what I was doing and ran immediately to see what happened. I had been trained in high school in first aid and started checking for pulses on those who were hit to see who was still alive. It was then that I saw Giffords bleeding from her head. I rushed to her, checked her pulse and propped her up against my chest so she wouldn't aspirate any more blood."
Others in Hernandez's position may not have been so quick to react and so calm but he said that he "realized fairly quickly that panicking now was not an option. My duty was to the Congresswoman—to keep her alive and in the best condition possible until the paramedics arrived. I credit my actions that day with my training in a high school trade program that allowed me to learn basic first aid and work as a certified nurses' assistant." Many consider Hernandez's quick action coupled with his first aid to Giffords to be the difference between her being alive today or not. He spoke with Giffords months ago but was not at liberty to discuss what she said. "That's really between us and I just do not want to disclose that."
Since that day, numerous groups have given Hernandez accolades and awards. He was even given a standing ovation led by President Obama. However, after the storm of celebrity, Hernandez continued to work within his passion, education. He recently ran for and won a seat on his local school board. "I was never interested in holding an elected office but once a there was a vacancy on the school board, I was approached by some members of the community who asked me to run and I did," he said. Hernandez's central focus, even through his college career, has been on education and higher-education advocacy—especially given these uncertain economic times. "In Arizona, I found it important to protect public education funding," he said.
He ran on a simple platform that included continuing all-day kindergarten; graduating students from high school who were either college- or workforce-ready; and bringing in the support of the business and private community to support the education of the next generation. Hernandez said, "I believe that education begins at the earliest age possible. We need to give these kids the best head start they possibly can get. It is no longer valid to graduate high school seniors just to say they graduated but to provide them the leg-up they need to either enter college or for entry straight into the workforce."
Hernandez noted that it was his own high school's certified nurses' assistant program that gave him the skills he needed to save the life of Giffords: "It's not enough that graduates end up at McDonald's. We need to work with the community and build partnerships with stem programs to properly train and educate these graduates." Hernandez added that "education is a group effort" and that "it's actually in local and national businesses best interests to be a part of the process. The students get better education and the businesses get better-educated and better-qualified candidates to fill their staff."
Hernandez said that his passion from education comes from his being a first-generation college student: "I'm in my last year at the University of Arizona. Education is extremely important to low-income students. When we raise fees or tuition, in many cases we are making it impossible for those at-risk individuals to finish what they started. We need to begin at the lowest levels: K-12. That's where it's at."
Recently, Hernandez has become involved with the Gay and lesbian Victory Institute. The institute's focus is getting qualified gays and lesbians elected to public office. "They are helping to train the new generation and this generation in what it takes to be an elected official," he said. The institute offers Hill Congressional Internships, where young LGBT individuals can intern for a senator or a congressperson in much the same way he did.
"The Victory Institute shows you that being gay isn't always a liability but could also be an asset," he said. Hernandez—who, at only 21, has won his first local election and has not yet graduated from college—offers sound advice for those in the LGBT community who would rather sit on the sidelines than be on the field. "If you think just because you are LGBT you cannot serve and could never be elected, you're wrong," said Hernandez. "The institute can show you the successes of others who are qualified and want to serve. In Wisconsin right now, the people are working to elect Tammy Baldwin as the first openly gay Senator in United States history."
Hernandez is not certain of where he will go from here: "I'm 21. A senior in college. I have a lot of time to think about my options. What I do know is that wherever I end up I will be lobbying and working for the public good."
For more information on the Gay and Lesbian Victory Institute, please visit its website at www.glli.org/home.
