Jonathan Van Ness of ‘Queer Eye’ Comes Out

My friend knew he was HIV positive. I didn’t. I don’t know how he knew.

Good for him

r1

Apps/Sites, probably.

He's adorable. But sad to hear about the abuse and HIV.

"Raw Journey." I'll say.

Is 32 his Hollywood age?

R6 Savage.

His facial hair ages him, but he looks about 36.

No way he’s 32

Wasn't "32" Robert Sepulveda's go-to age as well?

Mess. I liked him but this is too much.

From the article.

Comes from a well off family: The Van Ness family owns Quincy Media, a media company that operates 16 televisions stations in Illinois, Wisconsin and elsewhere, as well as two local newspapers. His mother, Mary Winters, is the company’s vice president; his father, Jon Van Ness, worked in sales. (They divorced when he was 5, and his mother remarried four years later.)

AOL Days: His lack of self-esteem ran deep. As therapy would later reveal, the abuse he experienced as a young child planted the seed for other self-destructive behaviors. In his early teens, he spent hours in AOL chat rooms (this was the 1990s) and met up with older men for sex. One man, he recounts in the book, “turned whiter than Ann Coulter’s fan base” after learning he was underage.

Tricked: Eager to leave Quincy, he earned extra credit to skip senior year and attended the University of Arizona in Tucson. But during his first semester, he blew a monthly allowance of $200 from his mother on cocaine, which he started doing on weekends.

Instead of asking his mother for more money (he was too ashamed and reckless at the time), he advertised sex for money on Gay.com, a chat and personals site.

Drugs: But his addiction to sex and drugs got worse. When he was in his early 20s, a couple he met on Grindr introduced him to smoking methamphetamine. He went to rehab twice and relapsed both times.

One day, when he was 25, he fainted in a salon while highlighting a client’s hair. The next day he went to Planned Parenthood to diagnose his flulike symptoms. He tested positive for H.I.V.

“That day was just as devastating as you would think it would be,” he writes.

Mr. Van Ness hopes to bring attention to what he calls “gorgeous beauty moments” like that with his memoir, especially misperceptions about being H.I.V. positive. He is healthy and now describes himself as an out-and-proud “member of the beautiful H.I.V.-positive community.”

“When ‘Queer Eye’ came out, it was really difficult because I was like, ‘Do I want to talk about my status?,” he said. “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.’” He paused before adding, “I do feel the need to talk about this.”

[QUOTE] Wasn't "32" Robert Sepulveda's go-to age as well?

That grizzled hoe Repulveda looked 40 at least.

Meth addiction will age you...

Is there anything he hasn't come out as yet?

I tried very hard not to succumb to his charm. But even my highly developed cynicism was no match for his superpower. God bless that imp.

Can this filthy queer not keep anything private? None of these confessionals really help anyone in this day and age. They are only attention seeking for a wanna be starlet.

[Quote]In his early teens, he spent hours in AOL chat rooms (this was the 1990s) and met up with older men for sex.

Hmm...

Let's say this was between 1995-2000.

So 24-19 years ago.

Which means he was trolling AOL chat rooms when he was 8-13 years old.

32 my ass....

R17 What's the problem?

But wait! There's more!

He's not bad looking, actually, but such a fucking queen. Ugh.

He wasn't out? He is so gay he makes Billy Porter look straight! Beautiful HIV? Talk about being an all out empress out of the gate... .

Sorry, he’s a mess.

[quote]He wasn't out?

In the instance of the headline he comes out as a child abuse survivor, former drug addict and HIV positive.

But in June Jonathan came out again as nonbinary. " I just am either like gender-bendy or nonconform-y or nonbinary and somedays I feel like a boy and somedays I feel like a girl. I didn’t think I was allowed to be nonconforming or genderqueer or nonbinary — I was just always like “a gay man” because that’s just the label I thought I had to be.

...(he) also clarified that he prefers he/him pronouns, but does not identify as a “man.”

His extreme, in-your-face behavior now makes sense. Is he in therapy to deal with his anger and guilt issues?

Karamo has broken out of the Queer Eye pack by starring on Dancing with the Stars and now Jonathan has broken out of the pack with this confessional story. What will each of the other three do to get attention?

Antoni wrote a book and had a book signing in NYC almost no one showed up for.

I so wanted to dislike the QE reboot but I like it mostly because of Jonathan.

He basically gives the other 4 personalities. They are all boring without him.

I hate people that try to make having HIV seem like some beautiful thing and experience.

Attention whore

[Quote] I hate people that try to make having HIV seem like some beautiful thing and experience.

He may have never got clean if he didn't seroconvert. It's not like he's implying that HIV is where it's at.

I never finished the fist season of the reboot. I feel better for it.

I've not watched the Queer Eye reboot. I like him for Gay of Thrones. It was the only post-Game of Thrones recap I needed.

So flawed. He uses the Jesus hair and beard and the high heels and dresses and the over-the-top “personality” to mask the fact he’s a hot mess express. How could anyone ever love that freak?

[Quote] How could anyone ever love that freak?

You don't sound so loveable yourself.

Funny that he's hawking a book revealing the real, vulnerable him while complaining in the same article about having his vulnerable moments intruded upon by the public. They could have done the interview in someone's abode. I'm sure a friend would have given him the use of their living room for a few hours...

[quote]somedays I feel like a boy and somedays I feel like a girl.

Not possible. There is no such thing as "feeling like a boy or girl". You feel alive or you're dead and you don't feel anything. You might label yourself a boy or girl because of sex-based stereotypes, but that's all that really is.

[quote]Hmm... Let's say this was between 1995-2000. So 24-19 years ago. Which means he was trolling AOL chat rooms when he was 8-13 years old. 32 my ass....

He is. My BIL went to high school with his brother Thomas who is 37 or 38.

R17 If he was 14 in 1999, he'd have been born around 1985. That would make him 34 now, which is not a huge jump from the stated age.

Yeah, what does “feel like a girl” mean? Does he feel the sensation of ovulation?

JVN's annoying personality aside, HE GIVES THE WORST MAKEOVER HAIRCUTS IN THE UNIVERSE on QE. If I were one of those makeover people I'd demand a recut done by a capable stylist.

How many times does this guy need to come out?

I like him a lot. Over the top flouncy persona aside (which I actually like, it seems authentic and not an act), I think he’s extremely intelligent and hides his intelligence a lot more so he can make people comfortable and come off as non-threatening.

He’s sharp, ambitious, focused, works hard and seems like he has genuine empathy for the ones who don’t fit in judging from his own past. I think if he can keep the ego and addictions under control he could go really far with whatever path he chooses, whether it’s activism or showbiz.

Welcome to the 21st century where being a victim is a career option.

He's a lot more open about his issues than Kyan.

Why did this man ever think he was in the closet?

More importantly WHY is this freak a “thing”? How is trash like this on TV?

I find him handsome and loveable too. He doesn't fit the "Queeny" bill for me as he is awfully sweet. He doesn't put people down over superficial crap. When he does take someone to task, they always deserve it, and he keeps his dignity intact. I don't mind femmy blokes... especially when they are sweet. I really dig his beard, "Jesus hair", and chest hair too. There's something authentically sexy about him.

He's certainly sucking his 15 minutes of fame as dry as he possibly can. But those 15 minutes pass quickly for reality TV stars (ask Kyan Douglas and Carson Kressley and the others from the original "Queer Eye" if you don't believe me).

Carson Kressley has made his 15 minutes last longer than most.

Why do celebrities always keep these secrets about themselves...until they have a book to hawk??

So he was a teenage prostitute who got HIV? Eve Plumb can play him in the inevitable TV movie...And this...

“member of the beautiful H.I.V.-positive community.”

is the stupidest thing ever said

How is it stupid? Shock! Horror! Someone who has HIV makes a point of describing other people who share his status as "beautiful."

R52 All he had to do was use a condom........but no

All you had to do was use three dots to form an ellipsis... but no.

But life is a banquet, and banquets don't have condoms!

r25 I'm not surprised his book signing was a flop, but please provide evidence of this failure.

Such a role model.

Well, this explains his hair and beard. Is he now a "hero" & an "inspiration" to sloppy drug addicted millennials, like Lizzo is to fat people?

He went to school on a cheerleading scholarship.

I’m technically an eldergay (49) but I’m so disgusted at what passes for “celebrity” these days. And he’s one of US!! (Except he’s a diseased drug addict) I should be happy for the representation but I’m just disappointed. Gays like Jonathan are why they smile at us but feel utter contempt and disgust underneath it all. He’s nothing but a clown playing it up for the straights.

I mean... ok, I guess?

[Quote] Gays like Jonathan are why they smile at us but feel utter contempt and disgust underneath it all.

No. It's because you give up your manhood by taking it up the butt. (Even if you don't take it up the butt.)

I stopped taking him seriously when he came out as non-binary. All that non-binary, trans and cis shit can stay far away from me. I'm GAY. Stop using that cis slur.

I’m afraid this non-binary trend is going to last a long time. Sooner or later even Gus Kenworthy will succumb to lipstick and high heels.

[quote] He doesn't fit the "Queeny" bill for me as he is awfully sweet.

Do you have a head?

The problem is that we grow up to be total messes regarding sexuality and sexual identity. Not just gay kids, but also bi, lesbian, and straight kids who are conditioned to feel shame about sex, the urge for sex, and questions about sex. Yes, making mistakes is part of growing up, but not being able to really work things out and learn from your experiences (mistakes or not), because you are not supposed to talk and share what happened to you (shame!) is what screws with our perception of sex, love, relationships, etc. And kids, who don't know any better, grow into adults, who don't know any better, who don't even know how to take responsibility for their own misguided actions.

[quote]Sooner or later even Gus Kenworthy will succumb to lipstick and high heels.

Fuck, I hope not. But deep down I know that you're right - there's a good chance of that, along with the requisite "non-binary" self-labelling and a photo op with Alok or Jacob.

R50 They like to keep secrets for their books. if everything was out there would be no juicy stuff left for the lucrative book deal.

I always love JVN. I appreciate him sharing his story; for a lot of people you can learn you’re not alone in some of your past traumas and it can lessen the guilt.

His Gay of Thrones were he turns into Ros the red headed slut is inspired!

The genderqueer shit is the true attention-seeking bs tho.

The next season has been filmed but it will be interesting to see how Ordinary Joes cope with knowing he is HIV positive.

And it will be interesting to see what kind of message he teaches them. I hope other than acceptance fucking with a condom and not sharing needles is also mentioned.

It's all about perception.

To some someone sharing personal details on social media is an attention whore movie, to others it's about self empowerment, and to others it's about helping others who struggle with the same issue.

So sorry, attention whore move (not movie).

R30, 12 step nazi . “HIV is a gift towards sobriety”

[Quote] HIV is a gift towards sobriety

I'll take a voucher instead, thanks.

Bless her heart.

R65 Not all femme guys, or even cross dressers are Queens. In my world and language, that word is a pejorative reserved for bitchy, catty, superficial mean gays, who are usually bitter as well. JVN doesn't tick any of those boxes for me.

Tan France is my favorite cast member, but JVN adds to the show as well.

R63- is right on the $$

I dislike celebrities answering personal questions that haven't been asked. In real life I feel the same way with friends. I don't need to be saddled with information that I didn't want in first place.

[quote]I dislike celebrities answering personal questions that haven't been asked

Unless they have a big dick of course

I guess he didn't want to speak to press after the interview, hence his not attending the Emmys.

[quote]Bless her heart.

Bless them heart. Bitch.

Poor guy. Hate to hear that he was abused and that he's poz. He seems like a kind person, for a celeb.

Well this bit of publicity hasn't aged well.

Fuck Jonathan. Poor little rich boy with HIV has a family that pays for his meds, so yay for Ronald Reagan, who used to be hot and served those looks!

I never imagined that the relatively conservative Tan would be the sensible one politically. I guess coming from the North of England being anti-conservative is in his blood.. It made me hate Karamo as well, Antoni is stupid and Bobby is a fence sitter.

Insufferable, blech

Yes, let's look to these twats for thoughtful insights into US politics. Particularly the Brit. Good idea.

Tan French is the biggest tool that ever lived. Can’t stand anything about him. Was a fan of Karamo’s until he said Sean Spicer was a “nice guy”.

Not one of those five can hold a candle to the real Fab Five.

He’s an insufferable fop. I’m so sick of these 5 dipshits being dragged through the media as the end all and be all of gay culture. Jonathan out of all of them, is the worst. I don’t give a flying fuck about his “non binary” existence or whatever the fuck he wants to come up with for attention. So he did meth, has HIV and was a hairdresser. Many more talented people had the same life and aren’t held up as role models.

Wow. Don’t hold anything back, will ya?

Is Jonathan of the Kinderhook, New York, Van Nesses?

Personally I cannot stand him. The above poster is correct about the Queer Eye people being the end all and be all in representing us, in the media. Jonathan has, hands down, the worst fashion sense. I don’t care if he’s wearing a dress, he manages to make his dresses look absolutely frumpy and cheap. Almost as if some retarded person saw something sparkly and decided “I want that!”. He’s the most annoying of them all, and doesn’t come across as genuine. Sex abuse, check. Meth use, check. Hairstylist, check. HIV+, check. It is flabbergasting right see how he’s considered “unique” with his story, as it could be the story of anyone, yet because he has a platform (of nothing, really!) he gets all the attention. And yes, I do agree...he’s insufferable.

In other words Jonathan, no one cares.

Just die already he’s exhausting.

[quote] somedays I feel like a boy and somedays I feel like a girl.

[quote] Not possible. There is no such thing as "feeling like a boy or girl". You feel alive or you're dead and you don't feel anything. You might label yourself a boy or girl because of sex-based stereotypes, but that's all that really is.

What a silly comment. You can feel however you want to feel. Certain food smells or seeing toys from your childhood can make you feel like a child again and dwell in nostalgia. I feel like a Frau when I watch some sappy Hallmark or Lifetime movie and cradle the shit out of a mug with hot coco. I mean, what kind of pseudo Bond villain are you trying to be to insist certain feelings don't exist?

There's a difference between physical feelings and labelling yourself something, R94.

[R47] He builds people up, and advocates for the underdog. I like his podcast too. He is all over the place, talking about whatever strikes him as interesting, which I can relate to! He’s very smart and refreshing because he’s not “intellectual” .

R36 Thank you! A man can’t feel like a woman! He can only feel like a man who thinks he feels like a woman.

R42 Hi Johnathan!

R94 you have a low IQ.

r99. I rather have a low IQ than be a hater like you who gets outraged over something so trivial like someone sharing his feelings.

I'd suggest you get a life, but life is obviously ghosting you.

R96 “He’s very smart and refreshing because he’s not intellectual.”

Therein is the perfect reason why he’s an idiot because someone who is an intellectual is very smart. I don’t think JVN will ever win any awards for intelligence. His “very smart and refreshing” personality is a dime a dozen for people like him. He’s not unique, he’s not special. I take that back, he’s a cheerleader who never stopped clapping special.

omg him so grosssssss......…..a fug of the highest magnitude.

So bad stuff happened to him. Still no excuse for constantly playing the cartoon gay for straights’ entertainment.

R94 your feelings are real, but you habe no way of ever feeling like something you are not. You feel like something you think feels this way.

Comparing it to feeling like a child again is incomparable, since you actually were a child yourself, so you know what that feels like.

You think in stereotypes and propagate stereotypes as well.

TMI.

Jonathan is gross. Period. Don’t care about his life or struggles, he’s gross.

He’s annoying, he’s obnoxious, and I’m sick of him being dragged out for the “gay opinion” on everything. I don’t care that he’s femme, I am myself. But he’s just an insufferable human being. If he’s not in the weekly news having done something, he suddenly discloses something so the wires pick it up and run with it. He’s self serving.

Blind and deaf dogs on Pluto have known JVN was gay for decades.

If I never see this boner-wilting, repulsive, attention-grabbing media whore again, it will be too soon. I can't stand his gay Steppinfetchit mugging for the camera. Totally vomit-inducing.

How in the world did this mess get chosen for television? She deserves nothing better than being the “trailer trash that stole my man” panelist on the next Jerry Springer show.

I used to think he was somewhat sexy, but like others have posted, he's all over the media in ridiculous cartoonish outfits looking like he stepped out of an explosion in a glitter factory. I used to find Billy Porter talented and engaging, but after "Kinky Boots", he exploded into an obnoxious queen who is now nothing but a big gay bully in a dress. They do not represent the gay community they think they are leaders in, and give really bad p.r. for those of us just trying to live a quiet, dignified life and just happen to be gay. There are reasons why people come out of the homo haters closet, and they are two of them.

WHO?!?

TMI.

r104, well said.

God he’s a fucking bore!

gags he is gross, cant he jus go away????

No. Just no. Who gives a shit? His life experience is so reflective of SO many gay men. Put the hairy butterface in a tacky dress and all of a sudden his life and opinions are speaking for all of us? Fuck him.

I can’t stand him or the cast of Queer Eye.

Well, it truly is sad the life he’s been through. But he’s annoying as fuck, and his issues don’t endear me to him at all. What he is sharing is nothing new in our community.

Nothing about his “revelations” are new in our community. I’m just sick and tired of him being dragged out as the end all and be all opinion of gay life. Just looking at his face and his awful taste in clothing, makes me cringe. Sorry about how shitty his life has been, but he’s not unique or special....and I wish he’d quit being promoted as so.

His fourth coming out will be as a person who pours his milk before the cereal.

Weird and fugly.

He had to come out????? Why???? Purses fell out of his mouth, along with loads of cum.

He's an embarrassment to the gay community, just like that other media-whore, super-nelly Johnny Weir. Their super-fake stereotypical fag behavior makes me cringe. They don't represent me or most other gay men.

All of these conditions seem to be base-level requirements for being in the public sphere these days.

They indicate "authenticity" in all areas!

Jonathan Van Ness was an special animated guest star on OUR CARTOON PRESIDENT.