Out Actor Jermelle Simon, star of The Upshaws, has announced his engagement to social media influencer Obio Jones.

Jones proposed to Simon in what People called an “intimate, family-filled” affair. He popped the question after the pair moved in together, along with Simon’s three children.

Related

WNBA power couple Courtney Vandersloot & Allie Quigley welcome new baby
The teammates were the first married couple to win a professional sports championship together.

“On the day we got the keys, everyone was looking at their rooms and roaming the home,” Jones said. “[Jermelle and I] were in our primary room, and I had the kids come in one by one and hand him congratulations notes with I love you’s and sweet descriptions of who he’s been to them, and what family meant. He thought it was just in regards to the house, but I got on one knee and boom!”

Never Miss a Beat

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Subscribe to our Newsletter today

Simon knew they’d eventually get married, but the proposal still came as a shock. “Normally, I would have some sort of idea about a thing,” he said. “[Obio] involved the children, and everyone that was important to me, and no one said a thing. I think it made it that much more special to me because not only was I ready, but I was genuinely surprised, which almost never happens.”

The couple says they’ll spend a little more time celebrating their engagement before jumping into any wedding plans.

“We’re going to give ourselves another month to stop mistakenly calling each other boyfriend, and then jump into planning mode,” Jones said.

“For now,” Simon added, “We’re just taking a moment to be present with it.”

Simon plays Bernard “Bennie” Upshaw Jr on the Netflix series The Upshaws, which chronicles the lives of a Black working-class family in Indiana. The character came out as gay on the show last year, and Simon came out last October in celebration of National Coming Out Day.

“Happy National Coming Out Day to everyone,” Simon opened his video. “To the ones who feel like now is the time, to the ones who feel like maybe later, to the ones who may never come out.”

“And to myself,” he added. “I want to say to myself, Happy National Coming Out Day. I have decided to embrace myself fully, all the parts of me. I’ve decided to love myself unconditionally. I’ve decided that the one thing that I thought was the biggest curse in my life is actually the biggest blessing I could ever receive.”

Two months later, Simon spoke about Jones, calling him “the perfect boyfriend.”

“I found someone who I have a friendship, a best friend foundation with, and a love I’ve never felt before. Someone who challenged me in the ways I need to be challenged. Someone who literally lights up my entire world. I lucked up. I kind of skipped the line a little bit and I found the perfect guy.”

Subscribe to the LGBTQ Nation newsletter and be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.