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'The Biggest Loser': NBC responds to gay trainer controversy
Does it matter to you what the sexual preferences of "The Biggest Loser" trainers are? It may and it definitely does when it comes to a few gay news websites.
To be specific, it's not the trainers' sexuality that's angering the sites, and to be even more specific, the site that first raised the question, "Is 'The Biggest Loser' trying to keep their trainers in the closet?," is lesbian pop culture news site, AfterEllen.com, though a few other gay news sites have jumped onboard.
AfterEllen.com raised the question after several requests to interview Jillian Michaels were denied and now they've been denied an interview with new Unknowns trainer Cara Castronuova.
Apparently while Jillian (who is in her last season with the show) has confessed to being bisexual, Cara has spoken openly about being partnered to lesbian hip-hop and soul singer, God-Des of the group God-des and She. Bob Harper doesn't speak openly about his sexuality, though former contestants have inferred that he's gay.
In a statement to Zap2it, NBC doesn't specifically address the controversy, but gives an explanation of how interview requests are handled.
"What interviews the trainers do is up to the discretion of the trainers and their personal publicists," an NBC rep tells us. "[Approval is] based on several factors, including timing and availability."
In its article, AfterEllen.com's writer makes a very good argument for why the trainers should do press aimed at lesbian viewers.
"The unfortunate part is that we need to be watching," the writer says. "A 2008 study found that lesbians are three times as likely to be overweight and are twice as likely to be obese as straight women. We also tend to have higher BMIs (Body Mass Indexes). It would appear that health should be a priority for the lesbian community just as much, if not more, than for any other subset of people."
Do you believe the trainers should do more press with LGBT new sites?
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Photo/Video credit: NBC
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Um, this is completely off topic but,I don't think there is a choice or a "preference" when it comes to sexuality. It's not as simple as asking someone if they prefer pie over cake. Sexuality is way more complicated and it is a biological matter. you're born the way you are. I think it's completely irresponsible for people to still call it a preference when there is countless evidence out there that says it's not.
This is ridiculous... the sexual prefereence of the trainers has no bearing on the content of the show whatsoever...
If all of TBL's trainers were gay or lesbian, would that fact not simply be a continuing of the ages-old tradition of queer folks having to step in and 'clean up' what heterosexuals have befouled?
I mean, isn't that what we, as a people, do? In Hebrew, it's 'Tikkun olam' - repairing that which has been shattered.
Jonathan,
I agree completely in the sense that I prefer the term "orientation" to "preference"... but I don't think you need to be as offended as you are. I genuinely don't think Jethro Nededog is a homophobe. He's actually openly gay on his "Meet the Team" page. In fact, it appears that every man who works for this site is gay, with the possible exception of Rick Porter.
Zap2It is a super gay and gay-friendly place. It's safe to say there is no homophobia here.
What difference does it make as to what a persons sexual preference is? There are alot more pressing issues going on in the world today.
So long as the person performs his/her job well it should not make any difference at all. I worked with Special Needs children and they didn't care at all! Just the parents and staff.
I trully feel that if the Trainers do not want to discuss their sexuality then they should be respected in that matter what their sexuality is does NOT in any way effect what they are doing on TBL they do a wonderful job
being gay and working out shouldn't change your methods of healthy weight loss, right! what's everyone talkin' about!!!
I think that every person here seems to have missed the whole question that was being asked in the first place. Their not asking whether their sexual orientation is relevant, or whether it should be said "sexual orientation or sexual preference". Their question is whether or not the LGBTQ trainers should be doing interviews to LGBTQ magazines or websites? I think it begs the question "should they speak openly about their sexuality to help with the visibility of the community?" With that being said, I think if they have no problem with everyone knowing they're orientation, then maybe they should take interviews for LGBTQ magazines/websites. - Just my opinion as I feel it's their responsibility as high-profile LGBTQ people. And I think they've started well in doing that.
I am not a homophobes.(fear of sexual degenerates)I am disgusted by them.I wanted to be a contestant on that show.but no more.to be handled by one of "them"makes my skin crawl.when i was military we often were accosted by them.tattoos degrade and ear ring effeminate.that should have told me at the beginning of the series.how about the host?do i have to question her preference too?
First off if anyone has watched this show, there is nothing about the show that is Gay or Lesbian. Alison is married with children. Enough said there. If you're fat, it has nothing to do with your sexual identity. I happen to Love Bob, Jillian, Kim, Cara and Bret. What's the big deal? We have Gay and lesbians in our families. Some are our friends, neighbors and co-workers. I also don't feel it is nec/ for Gays and Lesbians to have special rights. I, this point don't care anymore about what they need or want. They are human beings and not for me to judge nor for me to treat, as another type of human. Stop with all the special treatment . You're a man or a woman. Nothing more, nothing less.