Ramone Johnson of About.Com

Ramone Johnson is the gay lifestyle columnist for About.com, a New York Times Company, and top 10 Web-based information and resource site. Gay Life on About.com is a practical guide to better gay living.

Be it through a solution to the common love and relationship quandary, a step-by-step guide to coming out, or an exploration into gay rights in the most volatile regions of the world, Ramone provides today's same-gender-loving person with the tools they need to live a better gay life.

Mr. Johnson has been a guest gay lifestyle expert on Q Television's "On Q Live", "The Derek and Romaine Show" on Sirius Satellite Radio and New York's Power 105 Morning Show. He's been featured as a panelist in the New York Times "Times Talks" Gay and Lesbian Speaker Series and was recently named one of Clik Magazine's Elite 25.

Ramone is an freelance journalist and advocate for the gay community. He seeks to give back to the gay community by providing advice, facts and resources for all aspects of gay and bisexual life. Ramone resides in New York City.

Mr. Johnson is an engineer by degree, many moons ago Ramone realized that life was more than gears and gadgets and embarked on a queerer mission of gay social advocacy.

Mr. Johnson is very committed to increasing positive awareness of same gender loving people and gay culture. To building self-esteem and self-awareness within the gay community, through practical and objective advice resources and information. He is also committed to helping rid the world of homophobia, discrimination and hate by developing a better understanding, and in turn acceptance, of gay people.

INTERVIEW

Dewey: Mr. Ramone Johnson I have a few question to ask you during this interview feel free to answer them in your own way and if I ask you something you don't want to answer just say no comment (Smiling)J.

Dewey: At this present time what is you age?

Ramone: [laugh] Let's just say I'm old enough to get on a guest list and young enough to stay until last call.

Dewey: What is your sexual Life style at this present time?

Ramone: Are you asking about my sex life or how I identify? [laughs] I'm gay.

Dewey: Are you presently in a gay or heterosexual Relationship at this Present time?

Ramone: I only date men so I'm in a same-sex relationship right now.

Dewey: Do you attend or a member of a church at this time?

Ramone: I'm not a member of any specific church.

Dewey: Are you accepted in the church with your life style?

Ramone: I believe religion and spirituality are about love and acceptance. I would not attend a church that did not accept me for who I am.

Dewey: By you being a Gay activist, do you get hatred and letter/emails other against what you doing?

Ramone: Sure, I receive anti-gay and hate emails, but they motivate me to continue the affirmative work that I've been doing for the past 5 1/2 years. The best combatant to hate is love; and I empower gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to love one another and, more importantly, loves themselves.

Dewey: Have there ever been times you regretted being gay?

Ramone: Not at all. Being gay has enriched my life in many ways. I am who I am and I accept that wholeheartedly. Despite popular misconceptions, being a gay man reaches beyond the confines of sexuality: there are emotional, physical and spiritual bonds that I've enjoyed throughout my life and continue to enjoy to this day.

Dewey: In your own words do you feel people are born gay or is it a choice?

Ramone: Well, all of my answers here are in my own words. The nature versus nurture (or the born or made gay) debate has been ongoing for some time now and will continue to go on since the scientific proof either way is inconclusive at best. For every study cited in support of the notion that people are "made" gay, another study can be produced in favor of gays being born so. And each side of the nature versus nurture debate will claim that their data is the most accurate and conclusive. What I can cite conclusively are my own experiences and the experiences of the many readers that share their stories with me. I knew I wasn't heterosexual since before I knew what the word "gay" was. At a very young age I knew my feelings weren't the same as my peers, but I didn't know what or why they were. Many of my readers share similar experiences. There were no events or turning points in my life where afterward I "knew"; I've always known that I was gay. I was born this way.

Dewey: Are you or would you make yourself available to travel and do motivational Speaking?

Ramone: I am available for speaking engagements. For booking information, I can be contacted at gaylife.guide@about.com

Dewey: Thank you Mr. Johnson for your time and allowing me to do this interview with you. Keep up the awesome work you are doing, we need more people like you to help educate people on gay life styles.

If you would like to read and learn more about Ramone Johnson. He is available to answer questions about being gay and the things you may encounter in everyday gay life. What would you like to know about gay life?