Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness breaks down in tears during trans rights debate
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Queer Eye's Jonathan Van Ness has broken down in tears during a debate with Dax Shepard on trans rights.
During an appearance on Shepard's Armchair Expert podcast on Monday (September 25), the non-binary star got into a passionate discussion with the host after Shepard called The New York Times a "left-leaning" publication (via The Independent).
Van Ness claimed that the newspaper was "anti-trans". Shepard brought up the subject of the paper reporting on trans athletes and young people transitioning, asking Van Ness if "questioning" trans rights made someone an "enemy". Digital Spy has reached out to The New York Times for comment.
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"I feel like I'm talking to my dad," Van Ness told Shepard before the pair began a long discussion about trans rights.
"I'm not calling you a transphobe," added Van Ness. "You can not be transphobic and still have thoughts that espouse trans misogyny and espouse transphobic ideologies and beliefs."
After telling Van Ness he didn't want to upset them, Shepherd said: "I adore you. I think that you're hysterical and talented and I love that you're an activist."
Van Ness then began to cry, saying: "I'm so tired of having to fight for little kids because they just want to be included."
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Calling it "a really difficult time right now", the Queer Eye star shared that they were sceptical of people "casually questioning" trans rights and that they weren't "disappointed" in Shepard, just "emotionally exhausted".
Elsewhere during the discussion, Van Ness also became emotional when telling Shepard that they "still struggle with my gender expression" and are "scared of the vitriol that trans people face every day".
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