Jonathan Van Ness of Queer Eye reveals he is nonbinary

(Image credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)

published 10 June 2019

In an interview with Out, one fifth of Queer Eye's "Fab Five" revealed that he is not, in fact, a gay man.

Jonathan Van Ness, the Netflix show's grooming expert, told Out, "I'm nonbinary — I'm gender nonconforming," explaining that he doesn't identify solely with masculinity. "I feel like my feminine identity is what makes me the strongest," he said, listing idols like Shania Twain, Celine Dion, and Aretha Franklin.

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Van Ness also discussed his partnership with nail polish brand Essie for Pride month. "Any opportunity I have to break down stereotypes of the binary, I am down for it, I'm here for it," he said, speaking about partnering with a brand marketed mostly towards women. As for what the rest of us can do to celebrate Pride, Van Ness recommended a healthy dose of activism: "We really need to get this Equality Act passed."

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Shivani is the editorial assistant at TheWeek.com and has previously written for StreetEasy and Mic.com. A graduate of the physics and journalism departments at NYU, Shivani currently lives in Brooklyn and spends free time cooking, watching TV, and taking too many selfies.

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