Jonathan Van Ness

Jonathan Van Ness was born March 28, 1987, to parents Mary Winters and Jonathan Lyle Van Ness, and raised in Quincy, Illinois.{{cite magazine |url=http://ew.com/tv/2018/02/08/queer-eye-jonathan-van-ness/ |title=Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness on the moment that made him 'super-duper uncomfortable'|first=Gerrad|last=Hall|date=February 11, 2018|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 19, 2018}} He said he comes "from a family of journalists", being the sixth generation of his family-owned newspaper.{{Cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/jvn/status/1065244650045358082?lang=en|title=Twitter|via=Twitter|access-date=August 4, 2019}} This refers to broadcast and newspaper conglomerate Quincy Media and the company's local flagship newspaper, the Herald-Whig; Van Ness's mother is the vice president of Quincy Media, and he is a descendant of the Oakley family, which has controlled the company since the 1890s.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/21/style/jonathan-van-ness-hiv-memoir.html|title=Jonathan Van Ness of 'Queer Eye' Comes Out|last=Hawgood|first=Alex|date=September 21, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 21, 2019}} Van Ness's 9th Great-Grandmother, Patience Bacon, was one of the founders of Northampton, Massachusetts, and was the first female surgeon in America.{{cite web | url=https://medium.com/@greenlandgenealogy/the-maternal-family-tree-of-jonathan-van-ness-92b579e28235?sk=934ab26d6132397297300faa26680505 | title=The Maternal Family Tree of Jonathan van Ness | date=June 27, 2023 }}

When Van Ness was younger, he was sexually abused by an older boy at church, which laid the foundation for self-destructive behaviors.{{Cite web|date=October 4, 2019|title=Van Ness' battle with abuse and addiction|url=https://theweek.com/print/441091/106942/article|url-access=subscription|url-status=|access-date=October 6, 2019|website=The Week}} In his early teens, he used online chat to socialize with older men, and sometimes meet with them for sex.

Openly gay throughout his life, Van Ness experienced bullying for his femininity and natural flamboyance. He "endured years of judgment, ridicule, and trauma." Of the time, Van Ness said, "Growing up I definitely put on every nail polish, every heel, every scarf – I definitely had my mom's knockoff Hermès scarves in my hair and around my waist – those were my skirts, and I loved it. ... But when I was really young, I had really femme-shamey, gender-shamey [reactions] when I would dress like that. When I would play with those things, I knew it needed to be ... behind closed doors."{{Cite web|url=https://www.advocate.com/exclusives/2019/7/29/jonathan-van-ness-gets-bottom-being-over-top|title=Jonathan Van Ness Gets to the Bottom of Being Over the Top|last=Guerrero|first=DESIRÉE|date=July 29, 2019|website=The Advocate|access-date=October 20, 2019}} Although always comfortable in his gender expression and sexuality, he says it took time to navigate other people's reactions. In response to the bullying, he used humor as a coping mechanism and relied on a small group of close friends for support. Years later, in the late 2010s, he realized he was gender non-conforming and came out as non-binary.{{cite news|last=Tirado|first=Fran|date=June 10, 2019|title=Queer Eye{{'}}s Jonathan Van Ness: "I'm Nonbinary"|url=https://www.out.com/lifestyle/2019/6/10/queer-eyes-jonathan-van-ness-im-nonbinary|access-date=February 20, 2022|website=Out|language=en}} He uses they/them, he/him, and she/her pronouns.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fjvn%2F&is_from_rle|title=Instagram|website=instagram.com}}{{Primary source inline|date=April 2024}}

Van Ness was the first male cheerleader at Quincy Senior High School and continued cheerleading in college at the University of Arizona, where he majored in political science.{{Citation|author=92nd Street Y|title=Netflix's Queer Eye in Conversation|date=June 21, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noRolBwYkYQ|access-date=June 23, 2018|via=YouTube|author-link=92nd Street Y}} One month in his initial semester at college, he used his monthly allowance on cocaine and, too embarrassed to ask his parents for funds, turned to sex work. His addictions to sex and drugs increased to also include methamphetamine. His grades fell, and he lost his cheerleading scholarship; he dropped out after one semester to pursue hairstyling.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.verygoodlight.com/2018/02/26/jvn/|title=The irresistible charm of 'Queer Eye's' resident sassy queen Jonathan Van Ness|first=David|last=Yi|journal=Very Good Light|date=February 26, 2018|access-date=April 13, 2018}}{{cite news |title=Jonathan Van Ness's First Financial Principle: "I'm a girl who has to stop herself from shopping" |url=https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-us/magazine/money-diary-jonathan-van-ness-us |work=Wealthsimple |date=June 15, 2018 |access-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-date=June 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624204335/https://www.wealthsimple.com/en-us/magazine/money-diary-jonathan-van-ness-us |url-status=dead }}

Van Ness trained at the Aveda Institute in Minneapolis.{{cite web|url=https://www.out.com/television/2017/12/08/meet-five-fab-men-netflixs-queer-eye-reboot|title=Meet the Five Fab Men of Netflix's Queer Eye Reboot|first=Chris|last=Thomas|website=Out|date=December 8, 2017|access-date=February 19, 2018}} After graduating,{{Cite web|url=https://jonathanvanness.com|title=Jonathan Van Ness {{!}} Gay of Thrones Star {{!}} Queer Eye Netflix|website=Jonathan Van Ness|access-date=March 10, 2018}} he worked in Arizona for five years,{{Cite web|url=http://wereabigdeal.com/youre-a-big-deal-jonathan-van-ness/|title=You're A Big Deal: Jonathan Van Ness, LA Hair Stylist|website=WBD|access-date=March 14, 2018}} before moving to Los Angeles in 2009.

In Los Angeles, Van Ness found a job as a personal assistant at Sally Hershberger Salon.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whig.com/20180305/life-stories-van-ness-on-whirlwind-journey-as-one-of-fab-five-on-queer-eye-reboot|title=LIFE STORIES: Van Ness on whirlwind journey as one of Fab Five on Queer Eye reboot|first=Matt|last=Dutton|work=Herald-Whig|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=March 5, 2018}} One day in 2012, at age 25, he fainted in the salon while doing highlights for a client's hair. Later at a clinic, he found out he was HIV-positive. He used the revelation to get clean from drug use and publicly shared his story, saying, "I want people to realize you're never too broken to be fixed."{{Citation not found|date=February 2024}}

He worked at MoJoHair and Stile Salon, both in Los Angeles, which he co-founded with Monique Northrop of Arte Salon in New York City.{{Citation not found|date=February 2024}}

In 2013, while dressing the hair of friend Erin Gibson, who worked for the comedy syndicate Funny or Die, Gibson asked Van Ness to perform his recap of a Game of Thrones episode for Funny or Die, which became the Gay of Thrones web series.{{cite web|title=A Chat with Jonathan Van Ness|url=https://nerdist.com/a-chat-with-gay-of-thrones-star-jonathan-van-ness/|first=Eric|last=Diaz|publisher=Nerdist|date=July 14, 2014|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719024602/https://nerdist.com/a-chat-with-gay-of-thrones-star-jonathan-van-ness/|archive-date=July 19, 2018|url-status=dead}} In 2018, Van Ness was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for the series.{{cite web|url=http://www.emmys.com/shows/gay-thrones|title=Awards & Nominations: Gay Of Thrones|publisher=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences|access-date=February 19, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Ben-Moche |first1=Erin |title=Jonathan Van Ness is nominated for Gay of Thrones and Queer Eye—and he 'can't even' |url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2018-live-jonathan-van-ness-is-nominated-for-gay-1531415340-htmlstory.html |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 13, 2018}}

Since 2015, Van Ness has hosted the weekly podcast Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.{{cite web|url=http://gettingcurious.libsyn.com/|title=Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness|website=Getting Curious Podcast|access-date=February 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160517033301/http://gettingcurious.libsyn.com/|archive-date=May 17, 2016|url-status=dead}} His podcast took off upon the airing of the first Queer Eye episode.{{cite web|url=http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/best-podcasts-2018-so-far.html|title=The Best Podcasts of 2018 (So Far)|last=Quah|first=Nicholas|work=Vulture.com|date=August 3, 2018|access-date=August 18, 2018}}

Beginning in 2018, Van Ness has starred as the grooming expert on the Netflix revival of Queer Eye.{{cite web|title=Netflix Press Release|url=https://media.netflix.com/en/only-on-netflix/120625|website=Netflix|access-date=February 18, 2018}}

Van Ness's memoir, Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love,{{Cite book|last=Ness|first=Jonathan|title=Over the Top: A raw Journey to Self-Love|publisher=Harper One|year=2019|isbn=978-0-06-290637-3}} was published in October 2019. His memoir discusses his past and how it helped sculpt his future.

In 2020, Van Ness released a picture book titled Peanut Goes for the Gold, which tells the story of a nonbinary guinea pig named Peanut and their adventures as a rhythmic gymnastics prodigy. Peanut is inspired by Van Ness's own childhood pet.{{Cite web|title=Peanut Goes for the Gold|url=https://www.harpercollins.com/products/peanut-goes-for-the-gold-jonathan-van-ness|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=HarperCollins|language=en}}

In 2022 Van Ness released a collection of essays in a book titled Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life.{{cite web | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/04/11/jonathan-van-ness-queer-eye-new-book-love-that-story/7248669001/ | title='Queer Eye' star Jonathan van Ness gets even more 'curious' in new book 'Love That Story' | website=USA Today }}

Van Ness is non-binary.{{Cite web|last=Van Ness|first=Jonathan|date=June 25, 2019|title=What's Your Experience with the Binary? with Alok|url=https://www.earwolf.com/episode/whats-your-experience-with-the-binary-with-alok/|access-date=September 23, 2019|website=Earwolf Podcast Archive}} Although he has stated a preference for using the pronouns "he/him", he has also used "she/her" and "they/them" interchangeably.{{cite news |last1=Mazziotta |first1=Julie |date=December 1, 2020 |title=Jonathan Van Ness Says 'There Are Not Enough Resources' for HIV Positive and Disenfranchised People |url=https://people.com/health/jonathan-van-ness-hiv-positive-disenfranchised-not-enough-resources/ |access-date=December 13, 2021 |work=People |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=June 11, 2019|title='Queer Eye' Star Jonathan Van Ness Says He Identifies As Gender Nonbinary|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/queer-eye-jonathan-van-ness-gender-nonbinary_n_5cfffa56e4b011df123be67f|access-date=February 20, 2022|website=HuffPost|language=en}} He explained his gender in an interview with Out, saying, "Some days I feel like a man, but then other days I feel like a woman. I don't really — I think my energies are really all over the place. Any opportunity I have to break down stereotypes of the binary, I am down for it, I'm here for it." However, on his Instagram account, the pronouns displayed by order of preferences are they/he/she.

Van Ness lives and works in Austin, Texas and New York City. He has psoriasis, a chronic skin condition, and advises clients on skin care.{{cite web|title=Queer Eye Star Jonathan Van Ness Opens Up About His Psoriasis on Instagram|url=https://www.allure.com/story/jonathan-van-ness-queer-eye-psoriasis-instagram/|first=Kahleigh|last=Fasanella|date=March 9, 2018|access-date=August 17, 2019}} In 2019, he revealed that he is HIV positive.{{Cite news|last=Hicklin|first=Aaron|date=September 22, 2019|title=Jonathan Van Ness on being HIV positive: 'It gave me a reason to really fight'|language=en-GB|work=The Observer|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/sep/22/ive-finally-put-my-life-together-jonathan-van-nesss-rise-to-inspirational-star|access-date=March 25, 2021|issn=0029-7712}}

File:Pelosi and Jonathan Van Ness at the Speaker's Balcony.jpg

On April 4, 2019, Van Ness, Bobby Berk, Tan France, and Antoni Porowski visited Nancy Pelosi and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to discuss the Equality Act, a bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of classes protected in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.{{Cite web|date=April 4, 2019|title=The 'Queer Eye' guys just met with Pelosi and Ocasio-Cortez on Capitol Hill|url=https://www.rollcall.com/2019/04/04/the-queer-eye-guys-just-met-with-pelosi-and-ocasio-cortez-on-capitol-hill/|access-date=February 4, 2022|website=Roll Call|language=en}} On September 25, Van Ness announced his endorsement of Elizabeth Warren for president in 2020 based upon healthcare being a human right.{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Kate |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/politics/queer-eye-jonathan-van-ness-elizabeth-warren/index.html |title='Queer Eye' star Jonathan Van Ness endorses Elizabeth Warren for president |publisher=CNN |date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 27, 2019 }}

On June 23, 2020, Van Ness and Queer Eye costar Bobby Berk praised recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions that ruled that LGBT employment discrimination was a violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Van Ness described the ruling as "a great step in the right direction." However, both of them still urged the United States Congress to pass the proposed Equality Act,{{cite news|url=https://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/TV/2020/06/24/Queer-Eye-stars-say-Supreme-Court-LGBTQ-ruling-is-step-in-right-direction/9271593004960/|title='Queer Eye' stars say Supreme Court LGBTQ ruling is 'step in right direction'|first=Annie|last=Martin|work=United Press International|date=June 24, 2020|access-date=June 24, 2020}} which passed the House but ultimately stalled in the Senate following a filibuster.

In December 2020, Van Ness revealed that he had married his partner, Mark Peacock, earlier that year.{{Cite web|author=Marianne Garvey|title='Queer Eye' star Jonathan Van Ness reveals he got married|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/01/entertainment/jonathan-van-ness-married/index.html|access-date=January 1, 2021|publisher=CNN|date=January 2021 }}

• Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love (2019)
• Peanut Goes for the Gold (2020)
• Love That Story: Observations from a Gorgeously Queer Life (2022)

• 2018 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for Gay of Thrones
• 2019 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series for Gay of Thrones{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2019/outstanding-short-form-variety-series|title=Nominations for Outstanding Short Form Variety Series – 2019|website=Emmys}}
• 2020 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality Or Competition Program for Queer Eye{{Cite web|url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominations/award-search?search_api_views_fulltext=jonathan+van+ness&submit=Search&field_celebrity_details_field_display_name=&field_show_details_field_nominee_show_nr_title=&field_nominations_year_op=%3E%3D&field_nominations_year%5Bvalue%5D=1949-01-01&field_nominations_year_1_op=%3C%3D&field_nominations_year_1%5Bvalue%5D=2022-01-01|title=Nominations for Outstanding Host For A Reality Or Competition Program|website=Emmys}}
• 2021 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality Or Competition Program for Queer Eye
• 2022 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality Or Competition Program for Queer Eye
• 2023 Nominated for Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Host for a Reality Or Competition Program for Queer Eye
• 2023 Winner of Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program for Queer Eye
• 2019 winner for Goodreads Choice Award for Memoir and Autobiography for Over the Top: A Raw Journey to Self-Love{{Cite web|url=https://www.goodreads.com/choiceawards/best-books-2019|title=Announcing the Winners of the 2019 Goodreads Choice Awards!|website=Goodreads|access-date=February 7, 2020}}
• 2019 winner of iHeartRadio Podcast Award for Best LGBTQ Podcast (for his podcast Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness){{Cite web|url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2019-01-18-2019-iheartradio-podcast-awards-full-list-of-winners/|title=2019 iHeartRadio Podcast Awards: Full List of Winners|website=iHeartRadio|access-date=October 22, 2020}}
• 2019 winner of Critics Choice Award for Male Star of the Year{{Cite web|title=Critics' Choice Real TV Awards | Critics Choice Awards|url=https://www.criticschoice.com/2019-critics-choice-real-tv-awards-winners/|access-date=October 22, 2020|archive-date=April 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210414223341/http://www.criticschoice.com/2019-critics-choice-real-tv-awards-winners/|url-status=dead}}

• LGBTQ culture in New York City
• List of LGBTQ people from New York City

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• {{Official website|https://jonathanvanness.com/}}
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Category:1987 births

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

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Category:American gay actors

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Category:People with HIV/AIDS

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