Yes, Jillian Michaels is gay: The quiet coming out

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treetop57
treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
I've never been a "Biggest Loser" fan, but I'm slightly surprised that somehow I missed this news when it came out this last spring.
Yes, Jillian Michaels is gay: The quiet coming out
May 23, 2012 12:48 PM by Sara McGinnis

Jillian And Partner Heidi Are The Parents Of Two!

What do you mean you didn't know Jillian Michaels is gay? As the celebrity trainer's joyous baby news spreads, fans react to a particular fact that almost flew under the gossip radar.

Jillian Michaels' gay status seems to have gone unnoticed by many fans -- until now. While her coming out has been decidedly subtle, there's nothing left to question now that she and partner Heidi Rhoades are the parents of two! . . .

Am I the last to hear??!?!?!?!???
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  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
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    Apparently she is Bi. but yeah, I didn't know either.
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
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    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2197412/Jillian-Michaelss-girlfriend-Heidi-Rhoades-flaunts-huge-sparkler-ring-finger.html

    I only read as far as rumours last year, but the above is about now and very cute. Question is, will I enjoy being yelled at by her even more now?
  • spiregrain
    spiregrain Posts: 254 Member
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    I KNEW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • SFBarbear
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    The bigger question is: Why does it matter>
  • zombie_porno
    zombie_porno Posts: 199 Member
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    The bigger question is: Why does it matter>

    Because it's always great to see members of the community in the public eye.
  • medwards89
    medwards89 Posts: 97 Member
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    The bigger question is: Why does it matter>

    Because it's always great to see members of the community in the public eye.

    Exactly.
  • SFBarbear
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    I guess I just don't understand out communities need to point out what are sexual identity is and then make it public knowledge. Just be a strong, positive, individual that runs a fiercely successful fitness empire. Isn't that enough? Why does the world need to know what she does sexually? That is what it boils down to.
  • brandiuntz
    brandiuntz Posts: 2,717 Member
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    Somehow, I'm not surprised, though I hadn't thought about her sexuality before. Good for her.

    As to SFBarbear: Being out (when one is ready to be) is important because being LGBT+ is more than what we do sexually. It's an essential part of our identity. And it is one part of our identity that is not obvious (good gaydar not withstanding). It's important to be visible and out celebrities help in that visibility.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
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    Totally knew.

    It's kind of like how Brian Boitano isn't out. No really.
  • SFBarbear
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    As to SFBarbear: Being out (when one is ready to be) is important because being LGBT+ is more than what we do sexually. It's an essential part of our identity. And it is one part of our identity that is not obvious (good gaydar not withstanding). It's important to be visible and out celebrities help in that visibility.

    Why? Why do people need to know our idenity completely. Being a member of the communityis a tiny fraction of who I am and really isn't at the core of my life. I don't own a single rainbow anything, triangle, bear flag, leather flag anything of that notion. Yet I work in the gayest district in the United States and haven't set foot in a bar in over 2 years. Why? Because it really is not an "essential" part of who I am and I'm perfectly fine with it not being obvious to anyone. It simply isn't anybody's business. I'm sure people like Jillian would broadly advertise their identity if they felt it was anyone's business.
  • EvanKeel
    EvanKeel Posts: 1,904 Member
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    As to SFBarbear: Being out (when one is ready to be) is important because being LGBT+ is more than what we do sexually. It's an essential part of our identity. And it is one part of our identity that is not obvious (good gaydar not withstanding). It's important to be visible and out celebrities help in that visibility.

    Why? Why do people need to know our idenity completely. Being a member of the communityis a tiny fraction of who I am and really isn't at the core of my life. I don't own a single rainbow anything, triangle, bear flag, leather flag anything of that notion. Yet I work in the gayest district in the United States and haven't set foot in a bar in over 2 years. Why? Because it really is not an "essential" part of who I am and I'm perfectly fine with it not being obvious to anyone. It simply isn't anybody's business. I'm sure people like Jillian would broadly advertise their identity if they felt it was anyone's business.

    While systematic discrimination against us continues, it's important for lots of us (especially queer youth) to understand that they're not alone. If it really wasn't a big deal, there'd be no need for anyone to know, but people do make it a big deal even when it shouldn't be.
  • SFBarbear
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    As to SFBarbear: Being out (when one is ready to be) is important because being LGBT+ is more than what we do sexually. It's an essential part of our identity. And it is one part of our identity that is not obvious (good gaydar not withstanding). It's important to be visible and out celebrities help in that visibility.

    Why? Why do people need to know our idenity completely. Being a member of the communityis a tiny fraction of who I am and really isn't at the core of my life. I don't own a single rainbow anything, triangle, bear flag, leather flag anything of that notion. Yet I work in the gayest district in the United States and haven't set foot in a bar in over 2 years. Why? Because it really is not an "essential" part of who I am and I'm perfectly fine with it not being obvious to anyone. It simply isn't anybody's business. I'm sure people like Jillian would broadly advertise their identity if they felt it was anyone's business.

    While systematic discrimination against us continues, it's important for lots of us (especially queer youth) to understand that they're not alone. If it really wasn't a big deal, there'd be no need for anyone to know, but people do make it a big deal even when it shouldn't be.

    Thank you for making my point Evan
  • gaiareeves
    gaiareeves Posts: 292 Member
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    There is no necessity for anybody to come out or make some big statement about their sexuality.

    For one, how big of a part it is of someone's identity varies from person to person, and two, regardless of anything it isn't anybody's business.

    However.

    For those who do come out and are comfortable in doing so, it does provide some sort of hope for others, especially queer youth. As a young queer girl from a small town, having queer role models in the media can mean a lot. We still live in a society where LGBT+ folk are discriminated against and when you're young it can often feel like you're going to have a helluva hard time getting anywhere in life, because of sexuality or gender variance. So to have a strong, respected role model in the media who is queer gives hope to a lot of us.
  • sunnykt
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    There is no necessity for anybody to come out or make some big statement about their sexuality.

    For one, how big of a part it is of someone's identity varies from person to person, and two, regardless of anything it isn't anybody's business.

    However.

    For those who do come out and are comfortable in doing so, it does provide some sort of hope for others, especially queer youth. As a young queer girl from a small town, having queer role models in the media can mean a lot. We still live in a society where LGBT+ folk are discriminated against and when you're young it can often feel like you're going to have a helluva hard time getting anywhere in life, because of sexuality or gender variance. So to have a strong, respected role model in the media who is queer gives hope to a lot of us.
    A perfect answer.
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    As brandiuntz said, being gay is about a lot more than the bedroom. In Jillian's case, she came out because her partner was having a baby. That's an illustration that being gay is also about family structure, something straight people flaunt all the time. Jillian can't secret raise a child with her partner because family relationships are not (and should not have to be) private.
  • Cheryl_66
    Cheryl_66 Posts: 68 Member
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    Visibility is always good. Not everyone lives in a gayborhood. Familiarity decreases fear, and that in turn changes attitudes. Even if you're "out" you find yourself coming out over and over just by telling coworkers what you did that weekend or even correcting a pronoun.
  • ElizabethRoad
    ElizabethRoad Posts: 5,138 Member
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    I guess I just don't understand out communities need to point out what are sexual identity is and then make it public knowledge. Just be a strong, positive, individual that runs a fiercely successful fitness empire. Isn't that enough? Why does the world need to know what she does sexually? That is what it boils down to.
    Clearly she did not make a big public coming out announcement. She's just not hiding the fact that she has a same-sex partner. Why is that such a problem for you?
  • ukgirly01
    ukgirly01 Posts: 523 Member
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    Didn't exactly surprise me.mknew her biggest loser contract had a clause about not mentioning gay lifestyles, guess now she's going back they must have changed their minds
  • treetop57
    treetop57 Posts: 1,578 Member
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    knew her biggest loser contract had a clause about not mentioning gay lifestyles,

    That's sad to hear.
  • tameko2
    tameko2 Posts: 31,634 Member
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    knew her biggest loser contract had a clause about not mentioning gay lifestyles,

    That's sad to hear.

    Wonder if there is still a clause like that. Isn't that show on season 11 or something? I don't think she's been a trainer on it for a long time anyway so I doubt that's why it wasn't widely known. I imagine its just due to "look at new celebrity baby!" fever that it got brought up at all.

    I would think that its allowed by the show now, provided its things like engaging in a monogamous relationship and not out partying and sleeping around - but those clauses would apply to straight people too.

    Times have really changed in the last 10 years.