Haha I don’t pretend to know much about celebrities! But I think it’s irrelevant in this particular situation referring to Michaels.
I don’t see why a celebrity who doesn’t use that aspect of themselves to make money must be open to sharing their intimate thoughts and feelings with others.
In saying that, I do agree that if they’re exploiting other people for their own gain then it should generally be exposed.

Hi Jennifer Duke, I did not say that she in particular has absurd her status; but generally speaking public figures get to abuse their status. Look at Ian Thorpe. He was paid so much money to once again lie on tv and say I’m gay. Paris Hilton gets to be released from prison because the sheets are not soft and she has a skin irritation. Surely you and me will never be so lucky to abuse the system as they do;)

Xoxo

Fadi, you make a fair point about the status quo being different for those who are public personas. However, I don’t necessarily think she has exploited her sexuality and then done an about turn. If anything, she has been completely honest about her personal challenges with homosexuality to the media and to the public. I wouldn’t class myself as a Jillian Michaels fan as such (not a Biggest Loser fan, nor do I follow many celebrities or personal trainers), but when she said what she did it resonated with me.

Whether or not we like it, public figures (if she can be called that) are human beings, and deserve freedom and respect the same as everyone else.

I also think that your statement about LGBTIQ people having “fucked up attitude towards who we are” is a little unfair. The majority of people, regardless of sexuality, go through periods of doubting or just downright disliking themselves. We are all part of some minority or another. I’m also not sure that there is a “rise” in homophobia at present – at least in my experience of where I have lived and who I have met. It is vastly different than the experiences of those in our community who are older than me. I’ve never feared for my personal safety due to my sexuality, nor have I ever felt compelled to defend myself to anyone I’ve met (in person – the internet is a different anonymous mess). I know many older LGBTIQ people who have vastly different stories growing up.

One thing I do concede to is the idea that we can be most damaging to ourselves. My fears and dread around coming out, my own insecurities, were, in hindsight, worse than what actually happened by a long shot. However, those internalised fears are based on what we have heard and seen and what is the “norm” around us. I don’t blame my teenage self for feeling abnormal, and I certainly don’t blame my younger self for causing a rise in homophobia! Most kids feel abnormal – my reasons were just different.

Feeling proud of who you are isn’t an automatic thing for many people. We shouldn’t begrudge those who take longer to get to that point.

and so glad we met on the dance floor SFO Pride 2013 :-)

“After clarifying that by “normal” she meant what is popularly perceived to be normal, she then said this gem: “If I was ashamed of who I am, I would be in the closet.”

It’s far from in the closet to be out to the world, in a magazine discussing your homosexuality and living your life with a same-sex partner. If she then chooses to make her life a little simpler by not explaining herself to everyone who asks, then that is her choice and nothing to be demonised about.”
Exactly. No one has the right to tell others how they should live

Perhaps. I suppose it rings true for some. It’s just such a personal thing. We should all be able to come out on out own terms.