Tall, dark and handsome Lorenzo Tucker has been touching lives in the Charlotte area community for over five years. From HIV advocacy to community equity efforts, if voices need to be amplified, changes need to occur or both – Tucker is probably there.
He’s a transplant from Columbia, South Carolina, to the Charlotte area (at the dawn of the COVID pandemic in 2020). Tucker is a gentle yet courageous soul who has a reputation of speaking out for the underrepresented in a manner that makes folks stand up and pay attention. From the patio of a YMCA gym where he routinely works out and has proudly lost 29 pounds in just three months, Tucker shared his thoughts on his position in Charlotte Black Pride, his life and dreams for the future of our community.
L’Monique King: What prompted you to move to Charlotte?
Lorenzo Tucker: I was in the middle of a two year meth addiction and relocated to Charlotte for recovery. In October I’ll be celebrating three years clean and sober.
LMK: Congratulations. Since you’ve stayed in the area, I’ve got to ask – what do you love about Charlotte?
LT: Charlotte is amazing! I love the diversity. I love the recovery community, the fact that there’s always something to do and the nonprofits that are working to help people living with HIV. There were only about three of those organizations in Columbia, and there are so many more here. It’s really wonderful.
LMK: What’s your relationship status? Are you happily partnered or single and ready to mingle?
LT: Right now, I’m still dealing with the breakup of a five-year relationship I still miss, so there’s some uncertainty, but I am currently dating a nice fellow. So yeah, I’m dipping back into the dating pool.
LMK: How’d you meet your current fellow?
LT: We met on Grindr, actually. Our first time meeting in person was at the gym, when we realized we attended the same gym, but our first real date was a dinner date. We had a great time. He likes to quote movies like I do, has a great since of humor, makes me laugh and he’s so fuckin’ fine [chuckling].
LMK: What’s your number one deal breaker or red flag when dating?
LT: Someone who is self centered or spends our date on the phone the whole time.
LMK: What have you learned from previous relationships that has aided you in navigating your current relations or pursuing others?
LT: [Without hesitation] That I have some character defects that I must work on to be a better person for me and the people around me.
LMK: Do you have any siblings?
LT: Yes. I have two older brothers and one younger sister, and we all get along.
LMK: How do you make your livelihood?
LT: I work for a healthcare organization in the HIV field. I am a patient care specialist. I assist patients in getting messages to their doctors and access to their medications. I am the liaison betweens and patients and physicians.
LMK: It’s been rumored and reported that you once lost a job due to organizing an event that would shed light on healthcare disparities in the LGBTQ community? How did you find the courage to go through with your efforts knowing your job was at stake?
LT: The funny thing is, I didn’t know my job was at stake. The week of the event, which wasn’t just for the LGBTQ community but for people affected by HIV as a whole – I was terminated. I believe there was more at play than just my organizing of the event, and I am OK with where I’ve landed.
LMK: What’s your connection to Charlotte Black Pride?
LT: I am the volunteer coordinator and have been for the last three years now, and [I have] served as a board member for the last four years.
LMK: What are you looking forward to with Charlotte Black Pride this year?
LT: I’m looking forward to working with our new chair Miles Perry, our co-chair Kelsey Jones and four other new board members [while] watching their vision come to life. They’ve put so much work into this season. The drag pageant in honor of Quandrico Rutledge was amazing. Jay Green has taken over the organization’s drag pageant and is doing a wonderful job.
LMK: What are your plans for this Pride season?
LT: To not be as active as I have been in seasons past. This year has been really busy and really trying for me with the loss of my job and a breakup. So, trying to find more balance this year. There have been a lot of new things happening for me as well. I have a new job, I’m going to the gym, I’m working with Charlotte Black Pride’s Community Advisory Board and I was just accepted into CPCC as a public health major.
LMK: With such a busy life, what’s your favorite way to chill?
LT: My favorite way to chill is being home with the person that I love, while also learning how to be with myself and chill. I need some hobbies [laughter].
LMK: You may not have hobbies, but everyone has a gift. What’s your gift?
LT: That’s a great question [thoughtful pause]. Bringing people together, inspiring change and hope.
LMK: What’s the dumbest thing you’ve ever done?
LT: The first thing that popped into my mind was using drugs, but I won’t say that because recovery changed my life, and I’m grateful for that experience. So, I guess, to be honest – not putting everything I had into my last relationship. Sometimes I wasn’t present, I was only halfway there and fumbled the ball in a lot of ways in that relationship.
LMK: As a little boy, what did you want to be when you grew up?
LT: Baby, I didn’t know what I wanted to be, but I knew whatever it was – as long as it had me on the front row of a fashion show– that’s what I wanted to be, whether it was a stylist, a buyer for a major fashion house or department store or a magazine editor. And I still want to be in the front row of a fashion show [laughter].
LMK: Who are your top three favorite designers?
LT: Alexander McQueen, Gianni Versace and John Galliano.
LMK: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
LT: That I see myself in ministry and having a church in the future. People who know me already know I love the Lord and that I go ham for God, but people who don’t know me well might be surprised to hear that.
LMK: Before leaving us, would you mind sharing your hopes for the future of the LGBTQ community?
LT: I want to see us come together as a community – Black, white, transgender, nonbinary – loving and embracing each other and showing each other the same love we’re looking for outside of the community. I’m very hopeful about our future, even with all the backlash, villainizing and attempts to strip away our rights; I’m still optimistic because once we come together for real, we’ll be unstoppable.
This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and Dudley’s Place.
