jonathan perry

Past speech topics/lectures include:

Topics: Attitude | Diversity | Faith | Coming Out | Hope | Lifestyle | HIV/AIDS | Self Love

Previous Discussions:

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

Jonathan 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.

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, NPR, PBS, LOGO and numerous other publications and television programs. He is also the recipient of Harvard University’s first Inspiration Award.

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

Jonathan says, “It’s not about what makes us different. Our stories transcend the borders and boundaries we create to make them unique to us. Share your story and you’ll see, many have endured before you. Continue sharing and you’ll see, 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.

[engagements]

• May 2008 — Keynote — Tacoma Community College
  
• October 2007 – Facilitator — C.A.C.H.E Health Symposium
  
• April 2007 – Keynote — East Carolia University
• March 2007 – Keynote — Villa Julie College
• December 2006 – Keynote — Penn State
• February 2006 – Keynote — St. Louis Metropolitan Urban League
• December 2005 – Keynote
  
• August 2005 – Keynote/Presenter/Panelist — NAPWA’s Positive Living Conference
• April 2005 – Keynote — Harvard University’s first Unite Against AIDS Summit
• March 2005 – Keynote — Bowling Green State University’s Adolescent Sexuality Conference
• February 2005 — Keynote — North Carolina A&T
  
• February 2005 — Keynote — Clark Atlanta University
  
• February 2005 – Keynote — Fort Valley State University
• February 2005 – Keynote — Albany State University
• January 2005 – Keynote — South Carolina State University
• August 2004 – Featured — BET.com’s Back to School Special
• June 2004 – Featured — BET’s Open Mic for National HIV Testing Day
• April 2004 – Featured guest — the Oprah Winfrey Show
• March 2004 – Keynote speaker — Project Commit to Prevent conference
• December 2002 – 2005 – Member of Johnson C. Smith University’s Diversity Task Force
• April 2003 – Organizer — National Best Friends Youth Development Project, Johnson C. Smith University
• June 2003 – Keynote — National Youth Gay Pride, Washington DC
• April 2003 – Organized on symposium on race and education at UNC CHapel Hill
• April 2002 – Organized and hosted Johnson C. Smith University forum on Black Sexuality
• June 2001 – Founder — the African American Alliance for Gay & Lesbian Education
• September 2001 – Organized and hosted Johnson C. Smith University first forum on Diversity and Sexual Minorities

[awards & recognitions]

• 2005 – Harvard’s Unite Against AIDS Summit Inspiration Award
• 2005 – Special Recognition Award from Fulton County Department of Health & Wellness
• 2004 – Leadership Award for HIV/AIDS Prevention from Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (R.A.I.N.)
• 2003 – Special Achievement Award from the National Association of Black and White Men Together
• 2002 – Youth Pride Alliance Service and Support Award

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