Meet Paul Lee | Founder of Cheer Los Angeles

We had the good fortune of connecting with Paul Lee and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Paul, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I was a young adult during the AIDS crisis in the early 1980’s. It was a time of sadness, frustration and anger as our community was ravaged by this disease and our government response was non-existent. At the time, the LGBT+ community took it upon themselves to mobilize and care for our community as well as protest the lack of governmental attention and resources to fight the epidemic. By the time I founded Cheer LA in 2001, the approach to HIV/AIDS was much different but my need and desire to continue to fight and give back to the community and help those battling HIV/AIDS remained. It was this thought process that brought me to founding Cheer Los Angeles.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
• Risk taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career?

Risk goes hand in hand with fear. Throughout my life and my career, I have always depended on my gut instinct and whenever I felt fear of doing something, I knew it was something worth tackling. It is not easy to overcome fear and take risks, but doing something I was afraid of has always served me well. My gut instinct has rarely failed me.

The idea to start Cheer LA came to me on a visit to San Francisco where I saw our sister squad Cheer SF perform. I thought it was such a wonderful concept and wondered why we didn’t have a similar program in LA. The idea to start a group in LA was truly a leap of faith as I knew nothing about how to start a non-profit nor did I really know anything about cheerleading. But, my gut instinct told me there was a need and an audience for this type of organization so I followed it.

• Where are you from and how did your background and upbringing impact who you are today?

I am from the Cypress Park area of Northeast Los Angeles (NELA). Before it started to gentrify, the area was a bit rough and tumble and had active gang activity. I was raised by a single mom with a strong work ethic. There is a Spanish expression that my mom used to use: “a darle que es mole de olla.” Literally translated it means get to it because its mole from a pot. But it’s meaning is more. Mole is a traditional Mexican dish that is notoriously difficult to make. Because of this, the expression applies when you must start doing something challenging and difficult. It’s Mexico’s version of “just do it.” That spirit has been engrained in me since childhood.

• What is the most important factor behind your success / the success of your brand?

Treat people with kindness and respect and lead by example. This simple mantra has served me well throughout my career, both professionally and as a volunteer with Cheer LA. It has helped me develop a strong brand.

• What value or principle matters most to you? Why?

Integrity. You have to be true and authentic to yourself and keep your word. Integrity also means others can rely on you to be consistent in your approach to almost any situation.

• Why did you pursue an artistic or creative career?

Interestingly, I don’t consider myself a particularly artistic or creative person in the traditional sense. However, my current role in my career enables me to produce creative solutions to problems, which I do find fulfilling.

Performing in front of an audience is always an adrenaline rush, especially when stunting. It’s wonderful to get a crowd response after they see something exciting. It’s been the thrill of a lifetime to perform with Cheer LA. We have performed in front of crowds for countless Pride Parades, Gay Games Opening Ceremonies (Sydney – 2002, Chicago – 2006, Cologne – 2010, Cleveland – 2014, Paris -2018 and Guadalajara -2023) and many other events and the rousing reception from the crowd has always been a highlight.

• Tell us about a book you’ve read and why you like it / what impact it had on you.

I recently read Crying in H-Mart by Michelle Zauner. The book is an exploration on complicated parent-child relationships, losing a parent to cancer, identity and finding solace in food. Having recently lost my mother, the book was a representation of grief to which I could intimately relate. Grief, I learned from this book, is not linear nor is there a right or wrong way to go through it. It just is and sometimes you must sit in the loss and pain and try and make sense of it. For me, there is great solace in finally realizing that.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The award-winning Cheer Los Angeles (Cheer LA) is a dedicated group of adult volunteers focused on the mission of supporting people living with life-challenging conditions in the LGBTQ community and beyond.

Part of the Pride Cheerleading Association (PCA), Cheer LA and its sister teams seek to promote awareness, spirit, and diversity in the LGBTQ community through dynamic cheer, dance, and stunt performances. We raise funds for local charities with like-minded missions at each performance through the generous donations of spectators. We call this our Cheer for Life program.

Follow Cheer LA at www.CheerLA.org and on all platforms at @CheerLosAngeles, #CheerLA. Plus, make sure to come see us perform in LA and beyond!

Website: https://cheerla.org/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cheerlosangeles/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheerLosAngeles/

Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@cheerlosangeles