The personal trainer, who’s known for her stint on the NBC reality series The Biggest Loser, chose to make a statement that she’s not comfortable talking about her sexuality. She continued, saying that she wish she could be normal and have a husband, so she wouldn’t be uncomfortable in some social settings. In an interview with Health magazine, she explained her stance.
“I don’t know that I am comfortable talking about being gay now to be honest with you. The gay thing has always been hard for me.”
Michaels has been with partner Heidi Rhoades for years. Despite that, she said she isn’t comfortable referring to Rhoades as her partner if she’s in conversation with an older person.
“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.”
It doesn’t exactly sound like she’s proud to be gay, and actually seems like she’s ashamed to be in a relationship with her partner.
These comments didn’t go over well with the LGBT community, and now Michaels has come forward to say that her comments were misunderstood. To clear up any misunderstanding, Michaels said in a statement to People Magazine:
“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.”
Michaels and Rhoades have two children. Back in 2012, Rhoades gave birth to Phoenix Michaels Rhoades, and the pair also adopted a daughter Lukensia Michaels Rhoades the same year. At the time, Jillian told People
