Jonn Wesly was born in St. Louis but moved to Arkansas when he was just a year old because all of his mother's family is from here. He grew up in a little place called Locust Bayou. It is near Camden. And currently he lives in Historic Park Hill in North Little Rock.

Jonn is a self-employed hair stylist and makeup artist.

“I have my own salon in downtown Little Rock across from the State Capitol,” he said. “Occasionally I work on film and television projects in hair/makeup department. Recently I worked on an HBO special about Jermain Taylor's upcoming boxing match and in May I will be working on a film project about the making of Slingblade, a feature film I worked on back in 1995.”

We asked Jonn about any work he's done for the GLBT community.
“The work I am most proud of is not that recent. In 1996 I helped produce and starred in a little unpublished play with all proceeds going to Helping People With Aids, raising several thousand dollars in only three performances,” he explained.

What are your thoughts on coming out, advice to others, etc.?

“I was very fortunate even growing up in the late seventies and early eighties that I had a lot of support from friends and family,” Jonn said. “I think it is easier now but the only advice I can give is find at least one friend you really trust to confide in and just be true to yourself. Once you are confident and comfortable in your own skin nobody can hurt you with hateful words.”

What do you see in the near future and long-range for gay rights/equality?

“I really think that in just a few years people will be ashamed of the way gay people have been treated as far as the rights of marriage and insurance benefits and everything, much like the way civil rights have come such a long way in just the last couple of decades.”

Profiles in Pride questions:

Date and place of birth? May 17, 1970 St. Louis Mo.

What is your favorite food?
Italian

What food will you not eat? Sushi

What is the best job you've ever had? The one I have right now; working for myself. I love my clients!

What is your dream job? I really like what I'm doing now but it would be great to work on even more feature film and television projects than I have had the good fortune to be a part of already.

If you didn't have to work, what would you do with all of your time? I think I would get back into action in local amateur theater projects like I used to do in my early twenties.

Who do you admire most (living or dead)? I think I would have to say my Grandmother. She was widowed just after her only son went into the military while still raising her deaf daughter (my mom). She saw to it after my parents' divorce that I had a great childhood. In the eighties she helped raise several neighborhood children by often babysitting at no charge and in some cases buying them school books, supplies, etc; and in some cases even clothes for school. In 1990 she buried her only son just after he completed seminary school. Now at age 87 she actually goes to the gym, Curves.

Who would you lunch with if you could have anyone (living or dead)? Oprah Winfrey

Who has had the greatest influence on your life? My uncle. He kept me from quitting High School and made sure I got into Cosmetology school. Without him I wouldn't have had all the great opportunities I have had.

What one thing would you not have done if you could go back in time? I don't believe in regrets really, but I have often said I wish I had spent more time with or paid more attention to my step grandfather, “paw paw”. He was a farmer and could build anything.

What one thing would you have done if you could go back in time? Appreciated youth more fully.

What is your favorite word? Actually it is word. A word, depending on its use, can be a powerful statement. Word is also my family's name. My Grandmother's maiden name is Word. I always thought that was neat.

Least favorite word? Can't.

Favorite curse word? Damn it!

What turns you on?  Creativity.

What turns you off? Ignorance.

What word would others use to describe you? My friend Natalie Canerday calls me simply “Jonn the Homosexual”. I think most would say I laugh and smile a lot.

What word sums you up? Wow, that's a tough one.  Neurotic