“I’ve been approached about having mutual approval over everything to do a reality show. It’s interesting because we can talk about parenting, relationships, health—all the things that are important to me. But then I think, What if I open up and people attack us just because we’re a gay family? It scares the hell out of me….I don’t know that I am [comfortable talking openly about being gay] now, to be honest with you. The gay thing has always been hard for me. When Heidi and I are out and somebody older asks, ‘Are you sisters?’ I say, ‘We’re friends.’ I guess it comes from thinking that they will be shocked or disturbed. Look, I wish I had some strapping football player husband. It would be such a dream to be ‘normal’ like that, but I’m just not.”
Fitness guru Jillian Michaels came out as bisexual in 2011 and struggles with discrimination just like anyone else. She told Health magazine about the fears that she and her partner Heidi Rhoades face simply for being who they are and their desire to fit in. The couple has two kids together. It’ll be a happy day when her family is considered just as “normal” as any other — or better yet, when society’s obsession with normalcy fades away altogether.
Some readers took her comment as a more negative statement, so Jillian released this follow-up to People to further clarify:
“I am deeply disheartened and sorry to hear that members of the gay community have misunderstood the points I was trying to make about being ‘out.’ I attempted to shed light on how hard and scary it can be to be out. That gay families get attacked and even small daily interactions involve others being ‘shocked and disturbed’ by the gay lifestyle. I was saying if along the way in my life that had been a choice I would have made it, but it’s not who I am. Gay is not a choice. If I was ashamed of who I am, I would be in the closet. Considering my family was on the cover of People magazine, I think I’m pretty far from that.”
Again, let’s please fast-forward our will to a place in which LGBTQ folks don’t have to justify who they are every. single. second. Jillian’s a badass.
