Jonathan Perry

For those who don’t know him, his name is Jonathan, Jon, J, JP or [more memorably] Jon Jon. 

Jonathan Perry was born in Goldsboro at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base North Carolina and received a BA in Philosophy and Psychology from Johnson C Smith University in Charlotte, North Carolina. 

He contracted HIV in 2000 while visiting a friend on the West Coast. Getting involved helped bring him out of the depression that almost ended his life. 

Jonathan is not partial to the “activist” label, but it [was] after all his outspokenness that caught the attention of and gained him audience with the Queen of Media herself – the big ‘O’ (Oprah Winfrey) – in April 2004 when she read his story on CNN.com and invited him to be a guest on her show. He appeared on "Men Living on the Down Low" episode. As a result, he was featured on BET's Open Mic, BET.com, Advocate, PBS, LOGO and numerous other publications and television programs. He is also the recipient of Harvard University's first Unite Against AIDS Inspiration Award. 

Jonathan is a nationally recognized and respected speaker and contributing writer for planetOUT inc. 

Jonathan says, "It's not about who's gay or straight, male or female. In many cases our stories transcend the borders and boundaries we create to make them unique to us. Share your story and you will see, someone endured before you; and if you keep sharing you will see many more will endure because of you!" 

“As we let our light shine,” Mandela said, “we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others!" That's how he lives his life.

Programs:

Your Life...Your Responsibility

Unite Against AIDS Summit

HIV & HBCU's

Adolescent Sexuality