This profile is part four of Queerty’s Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out in the past year in the name of the public good. The series will run through National Coming Out Day October 11.
Name: Jonathan Van Ness, 32
Bio: Van Ness grew up in Quincy, a mid-sized town in downstate Illinois as the son of a newspaper tycoon. Both his parents worked as journalists. Never one to hide, Van Ness has spoken about the constant bullying he endured as a boy who presented differently than his peers. He credits the negativity–some of which came in the form of death threats–with helping him develop a sense of humor and a drive to succeed.
Van Ness became a reality TV celebrity as a key member of the new “Fab Five” on the Netflix revival of Queer Eye, where he plays the role of the grooming expert. Now in its fourth season, the show focuses on Van Ness and his fellow style experts making over people–queer and straight alike–to more than just a new look: self-acceptance and self-confidence are central goals.
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Coming Out: Van Ness has always lived his life as an openly gay man, but 2019 saw him come out twice more. In June, during an interview with Out, he clarified that although he prefers male pronouns, he identifies as non-binary. Just a few months later, in September, he came out yet again when he revealed that he’d been living with HIV for seven years. The revelation came as one of many stunning admissions in his memoir Over The Top.
Related: Jonathan Van Ness says cost of HIV meds led to supporting Elizabeth Warren
Making a Difference: Van Ness has lived out and proud for his adult life. In some ways, his non-binary and HIV revelations are even more challenging in this day and age of right-wing backlash. “I’ve had nightmares every night for the past three months because I’m scared to be this vulnerable with people,” he told The New York Times. Still, Van Ness needed to live his truth to help others navigate their own unique coming out process. “When ‘Queer Eye’ came out, it was really difficult because I was like, ‘Do I want to talk about my status?” he explained. “And then I was like, ‘The Trump administration has done everything they can do to have the stigmatization of the L.G.B.T. community thrive around me.’ I do feel the need to talk about this.”
Through that dialogue, Van Ness has helped reduce the stigma surrounding non-binary gender and living with HIV and pushed back against the forces that would use prejudice to demonize all LGBTQ people.
With his visibility, and with his work on Queer Eye, Van Ness has become the kind of role model the world needs: One who is totally unafraid.
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Those who came out to make a difference
alexpof
why exactly is he/she a role model?
Judespeak
Is there some sort of contractual arrangement or legal requirement that this individual has an article published about himself on Queerty every. single. f***ing. day?
Cam
I couldn’t figure out why this person irritated me. I hadn’t ever seen the show. Then I watched a quick blurb and he actually came off funny etc… but something still irritated.
Then I realized it. It’s those stupid Sears Portrait Studio poses he does in every picture and pushing the smile too far like James Franco.
His publicists need to tell him to stop with the head tilt, the too big smile with the squinting eyes. It just comes off odd.
Or I’m just an assh*ole. Whichever.
alexpof
“Sears portrait studio poses” hahaha the perfect description
Doug
Cam, I totally agree. His whole presentation comes across as so exaggerated it’s annoying.
inbama
Dressed as a man, he’d actually look quite handsome.
Perhaps we should add another letter to the alphabet community – “R” for “ridiculous.”
Darson
Can we be done with this individual, please.
Josh447
It’s the Capitol P word, Pretentious.
socaliscorpio
very inspiring story
GayEGO
Good story!