Download Hi-Resolution Biography Photo Past speech topics & talks include: Diversity | Racism | Homophobia at Church | Authenticity | Child Rape | Coming Out | Hope | HIV/AIDS | Forgiveness | Unity Talk Titles: Just *B*… Your Life, Your Responsibility We Are Who We’ve Been Waiting For My “Down Low” Take Black and SGL Coming Out: God, Here Am I Youth Coming Out Who Loves you Let’s All Get Naked Book Jonathan   View Jonathan’s profile Keywords: Consultant, Keynote Speaker, Headline Speaker, Convention Speaker, Inspirational Speaker, Professional Speaker, Youth Speaker, College / University Speaker

Jonathan, Jon, J, JP or [more memorably] Jon Jon is an Inspirational & Professional Speaker as well as an AIDS Educational Consultant who is known globally.

As a result of his candidness, Jonathan has helped put a face on Black college students living with HIV. It was that same candor that gained him audience with the queen of media herself – the big ‘O’ (Oprah Winfrey) – in 2004 when she read his story on CNN.com and invited him to be a guest on her show.

Since then, Jonathan has featured on BET’s Open Mic, PBS, LOGO, BET.com UNC-TV, NPR. He has also been featured in Advocate, and numerous other publications and television programs. He is also the recipient of Harvard University’s first Inspiration Award. Most recently, Jonathan was featured in Source Magazine.

Jonathan uses his life experience as an example of hope, and promise of overcoming what many have and many more would call unconquerable disadvantages. As a result Jonathan is not only powerful but moving and memorable. As a same-gender loving man, his story is nothing less than phenomenal.

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.

From 2004 to 2006 Jonathan served as a consultant to the NIH’s (National Institutes of Health) Division of AIDS for support on the HIV Vaccine Communications Campaign.

With an apparent avidity Jonathan continues to speak with great enthusiasm to and on behalf of the hurt and healing, the affected and infected and anyone else listening about diversity, faith, coming out, HIV/AIDS all while carrying an amazing message self love and forgiveness to the rest of the world.

Jonathan is currently working on his first book titled, “I Wouldn’t Take Away the Rain” in which he recounts his experiences and explores how he came to not only accept but embrace what many have called the “horrors” of his past. His decision to no longer be a victim but a survivor, to refuse to believe his life had no value, to speak out against the public’s ignorance and apathy surrounding AIDS, has made him what many are called but very few actually are: a role model. Readers will be moved to tears by the rocky journey he’s traveled but buoyed by his resolve, tickled by his sense of humor, and inspired by his passion, which will undoubtedly encourage them to, like him, not just live life but love it and cherish it.

Jonathan says,

It’s not about what makes us different because our stories transcend the borders and boundaries we create to make them unique to us. As I share my experience, I see, many have endured before me. As I continue sharing see, more will endure because of me!