There’s a gentle giant living in Charlotte. Inspired by both his grandmothers (one living and one deceased), Leronald Reid, Jr. is affectionately known to friends and family simply, as Junior Reid.
From the home he shares with a younger cousin and Polar Bear, his three year old poodle, Reid spoke with us about his life and passions for advocacy. As public health support for those facing health care disparity, Reid draws inspiration from both his grandmothers. His only living grandmother reminds him to speak with and empower youth without trepidation or shame. The grandmother he lost in 2023 also continues to inspire him as Reid frequently listens to hours of secretly recorded conversations bursting with love, laughter and advice.
A University of North Carolina Wilmington alumni with a Master’s in Communication and Marketing Reid tends to a plant his paternal grandmother (who passed in 2023) left to his father. From his brightly lit split level apartment in Charlotte, he shares his thoughts.
L’Monique King: Are you a native Charlottean?
Junior Reid: No, I’m actually from a small small town in South Carolina called Andrews. It’s in between Myrtle Beach and Charleston, so low country; where there’s good seafood and all of that.
LMK: How long have you been in Charlotte?
LRJ: Ooooh, going on 15 years now. So much has changed that I have to use my GPS sometimes. Charlotte has grown a lot regarding development, growth and business opportunities. But I do feel like when it comes to LGBTQ opportunities for social activities, there’s been a pause. Many of the places that once existed no longer do and it’s disheartening. There’s no LGBTQ Community Center and the club scene isn’t what it used to be. Scorpio’s has moved and the vibe just isn’t the same. There’s still The Woodshed but that’s more of a bar than a club where you could experience a show and the full experience of club life. My younger folks and family don’t have many places to go to just let their hair down and be a part of the LGBTQ social scene.
LMK: What do you enjoy about Charlotte?
LRJ: I love that Charlotte is big but small at the same time. The degrees of separation aren’t that great and community feels like family – I meet and engage with many people who are all fighting for causes like public health issues and personal growth and development. It’s pretty cool.
LMK: In what part of Charlotte do you reside?
LRJ: In the University area. I’ve only lived in the University City area since moving to Charlotte. I’m about five minutes from UNC Charlotte and very familiar with everything my neighborhood has to offer. Everything else is an adventure <giggles> due to all the changes.
LMK: Do you have any siblings?
LRJ: I do. I have a sister. She’s three years older than me and lives in Concord. We’re close, though we don’t talk every day. She has a little girl, my niece that I spoil when I can.
LMK: Are you happily partnered or single and ready to mingle?
LRJ: I am partnered and it’s new. I think now that I’m out of my 20s when all I did was work and work and work, that I can finally enjoy life with someone else. My partner supports every dream and aspiration that I have and even when it seems crazy, he makes me feel like it’s something I can bring to reality. He really is a breath of fresh air I’m glad to have in my life.
LMK: What’s it like being an out gay man in the south during such a turbulent political climate?
LRJ: It is definitely scary. I try to see the glass as half full, so although it’s scary, I’ve known I was gay my whole life and the fear doesn’t outweigh my purpose and what I’m here to do. When I think of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks and so many others that stood up in the face of fear to do what was right, I’m inspired to stay focused, out and in community.
LMK: Would you consider yourself a realist or an optimist?
LRJ: Oh my gosh. It’s the half glass type of thing. I’m in touch with reality but I’m so optimistic even when things aren’t great – I know I can do anything I put my mind to. So, I’m that person that turns adversity into opportunity.
LMK: So, you’re an optimist realist. What do you do for a living?
LRJ: I work in insurance. I have my Property and Casualty License and have done that for about five years. But ultimately, my passion is HIV and advocacy for those living with HIV or at risk of contracting it. It started with self-advocacy. As a person living with HIV since 2019, it started with me having been given misinformation about the income guidelines for Ryan White; I was told I made too much to qualify for assistance – I didn’t. Ryan White is a federally funded program that ensures that folks living with HIV … have access to medication. The cost of HIV medication is expensive, so programs like Ryan White are lifesaving. That’s just one of the reasons I took my advocacy beyond me and my personal experiences.
As an advocate I routinely attend conferences on everything from Criminalization Laws to new medications. I am a Ryan White Planning Body Voting Member; which gives me voice in making decisions about how federal monies are spent. I’ve also served as a CAB (Community Advisory Board) member for local health and wellness organizations and whenever I can I lend my voice and knowledge anywhere I can to assist people in need. But <chuckling> to keep the lights on and pay the bills, I have my career in insurance.
LMK: Describe your best day ever.
LRJ: Well, I started a nonprofit, Living HAPI [HIV Awareness Prevention & Intervention]. It started with an Instagram page and now I have 501c3 status. My best day though was being able to represent my nonprofit at a congressional meeting at the white house. I was at a round table discussion where I was able to talk about some of the connections between housing and HIV. As a little brown boy from a small town in South Carolina, I never imagined I’d be at the White House having that conversation. It was a real full circle moment. This was during the Biden administration where the atmosphere was more welcoming to the LGBTQ community.
LMK: If you could wave a magic wand and stop one thing, what would it be and why?
ILRJ: I would say homelessness. I think everyone deserves the basic necessities of housing, running water and heat. So much needs to be done and there’s so much that many people don’t think about or understand. We don’t see as many homeless residents uptown anymore – but not because they’re housed, because someone wants to build a new apartment complex and [doesn’t] want the homeless community to make it look bad. They’d rather not see the problem. So instead of opening another homeless shelter, Charlotte’s homeless have been pushed into unfamiliar territories and neighborhoods where they don’t have as many options or access to some of the things they need to just get by day to day.
LMK: Top three songs are on your most recently listened to playlist?
LRJ: Folded, The Remix by Kehlani & Toni Braxton; Love by Keisha Cole and I’m The Reason by Tank.
LMK: What frightens you?
LRJ: I hate to sound so cliché’ but failure. I fear not achieving goals and sometimes that has me neglecting the fact that I tried. I heard someone speak during a Zoom meeting recently and they mentioned how you can feel alone in facing challenges. But when you have a connection with God you know you’re never alone. Through my [faith and spiritual] connection I’m able to get through many challenges. I truly believe that man’s rejection is God’s protection. Anyone can get caught up in the world’s expectations of them, where they should be in life and what they think success should mean. So, I’m navigating that so that every missed opportunity or refocused goals doesn’t become me internalizing failure. At the end of the day, it’s ultimately about God’s purpose for me.
LMK: With the winter holiday quickly approaching, have you thought about what you want for Christmas? LRJ: I’ll be at Virginia Beach for Christmas. It’s on my bucket list and it will be my first time visiting so I’m getting what I want for Christmas. I hope to still get a gift but if not, I’ll be completely satisfied with that.