{"id":38133,"date":"2020-06-01T07:48:40","date_gmt":"2020-06-01T07:48:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/?p=38133"},"modified":"2020-06-01T16:26:34","modified_gmt":"2020-06-01T16:26:34","slug":"dr-ron-simmons-activist-teacher-mentor-organiser-leader-survivor-black-gay-icon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/38133","title":{"rendered":"Dr Ron Simmons.\u00a0Activist. Teacher. Mentor. Organiser. Leader. Survivor. Black gay icon."},"content":{"rendered":"

By Marc Thompson, cofounder of Prepster<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"

Dr Ron Simmons<\/p><\/div>\n

One\u00a0of\u00a0our\u00a0elders\u00a0has\u00a0passed\u00a0over.<\/b><\/p>\n

I first met Ron Simmons in 1992 when he visited London and came to our Black gay men\u2019s group Let\u2019s Rap.\u00a0He inspired us UK kids to organise, teach and support in those dark days of the epidemic.<\/p>\n

On a visit to Washington DC in 1996 I had the honour of hanging out with Ron at Black gay pride over Memorial weekend. He invited me to his organisation Us Helping Us, set up to support Black folk living with HIV.<\/p>\n

It changed my life.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d never been with so many Pos people that looked like me. I declared my status openly, in public for the first time. I remember Ron giving me the biggest hug and telling me everything was gonna be ok.<\/p>\n

That evening I called my mum and told her I knew what my calling was. That my HIV was a gift for me to do good for my community.<\/p>\n

Ron\u2019s strength and guidance enabled me to do that.<\/p>\n

Even years later at conferences around the world, Ron would greet me with that beautiful smile and same big hug.\u00a0He connected and impacted many of us across the diaspora and his legacy lives on in the work we do for Black queer men.<\/p>\n

I often hear younger Black queer men say we don\u2019t have role models. Not entirely true.
\nI\u2018ve been blessed to have had some amazing and inspiring \u2018uncles\u2019 that have guided my path and Dr Ron Simmons was at the front.<\/p>\n

Rest in Power King.<\/p>\n

Marc Thompson has worked for many HIV and sexual health organisations and is a cofounder of Prepster.<\/i><\/p>\n

Selected\u00a0links<\/h2>\n

Obituary in AU magazine
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/aumag.org\/2016\/12\/19\/ron-simmons-advocate<\/a><\/p>\n

Obituary in Poz magazine
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/www.poz.com\/article\/rip-ron-simmons-phd-empowering-aids-advocate-gay-black-men<\/a><\/p>\n

The Ubuntu Biography Project: Ron Simmons
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/ubuntubiographyproject.com\/2018\/03\/02\/ron-simmons<\/a><\/p>\n

Short interview<\/strong><\/p>\n