Ashton Reynolds moved from Houston to Atlanta’s Morehouse College in 2004, attending the historically Black liberal arts institution on an ROTC scholarship for two years before his financial situation meant an early departure from the school. Reynolds experienced homelessness and food insecurity at just 20 years old, turning to survival sex work so that he could sleep indoors. During this time, he went for a three-day hospital stay where he learned he was HIV-positive.
“The doctor that I spoke with that first prescribed me medication said…at a certain point this medicine is not going to work, so there just wasn’t as much hope [as there is today],” Reynolds told Georgia Voice.
Following his diagnosis and amid housing instability, Reynolds searched for a spiritual home.
“When I was looking for churches, a lot of the churches that I visited were just extremely homophobic,” Reynolds said of his early days in Atlanta.
Finally, he stumbled upon Vision Cathedral and met Bishop O.C. Allen, III–who founded and currently presides over the United Progressive Pentecostal Fellowship of Churches, a progressive Christian and inclusive religious organization.
“[Vision Cathedral] was just this perfect blending of the traditional Black church culture that I was used to, but with progressive values and ideals,” Reynolds said. “It was truly a space where everyone could be themselves and be welcomed and be free to worship without having had a certain aspect of themselves.”
Reynolds says Bishop Allen and his husband, “ The First Gentleman” Rashad Burgess, have been mentors and father figures to him.
“[Bishop Allen and First Gentleman Burgess] have been spiritual guides for me, and as a person of faith, I believe it is always critical that people hold onto hope, and without proper education, a lot of folks can feel hopeless,” Reynolds said. “My mentors have shown me how to incorporate faith and practicality, and that’s what I try to do in my everyday life and my advocacy work.”
Reynolds’ practical, faith-based advice starts with going to the doctor.
“You’ll get through this by going to your doctor. You’ll get through this by following treatment options. You’ll get through this by, if you’re not living with HIV, getting on PrEP or seeing a doctor regularly, getting tested regularly,” Reynolds advised.
It was 2006 when Reynolds received his HIV diagnosis and was told it was a death sentence. Thanks to the advocates who preceded him and life-saving advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART), Reynolds proudly shares his story with Georgia Voice 18 years after his diagnosis.
Reynolds acknowledges that attitudes toward and medicine for people living with HIV/AIDS have improved in recent years but emphasizes the need to end lingering stigma and spread of misinformation.
“There’s still a lot of work to do,” he said. “I want to encourage everyone who is unfamiliar with HIV, who has questions about HIV, who is afraid of HIV, to go online, go to reputable websites, read, learn, go to a doctor and ask questions to your doctor, and lean into your own health. Your health is your wealth.”
Today, Reynolds is a minister, a non-profit leader, and a community activist. His journey is just one of the estimated 40 million people who currently live with HIV across the globe.
“[I hope] World AIDS Day will inspire and encourage, more specifically, young people to be educated in their own healthcare choices and get the facts about HIV, instead of stirring in the fear that may be lingering out there about something very manageable and controllable,” Reynolds said.
