this post was submitted on 26 May 2024
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Today I Learned (TIL)

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[–] lemmus@lemmy.world 74 points 4 months ago (1 children)

It isn’t a requirement that anybody discusses their sexuality publicly. Society only expects explanation when someone is suspected of not being heterosexual.

[–] lemmus@lemmy.world 15 points 4 months ago

I’m not suggesting you’re wrong to be surprised by this—just celebrating Simmons’ decision not to respond to the question.

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 44 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Aaaaaand…. Why does this matter?

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's zero percent interesting to you? And then you decided to click on it and tell us that?

It's interesting to me. I am fond of Simmons and the work he did just by being so visible. While paradoxically being so private. If you find nothing interesting about that, geeze man, unclench.

[–] JimSamtanko@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

I’m genuinely curious- why is his sexuality important to you?

And I’m as “unclenched” as one can get. Maybe don’t read into things. I guarantee- It’ll serve you far better than your assumptions have.

[–] jerkface@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Your entire tone, rhetorical posture -- "body language" if you will -- is extremely clenched.

His sexuality is important to me because he is an icon and an activist for people who are not hetero-normative in a time that was (and still is) aggressively hetero-normative. I am exploring my own sexuality and learning things about myself, and that is in part thanks to the space Simmons created with his kindness and bravery that I even have the opportunity to do that.

Sexuality isn't the two or three labels people like to use. It's a universe of individual sexualities. It would have been fascinating to be able to learn more about Simmon's unique sexuality. It would be fascinating to learn about anyone's (to a person with curiosity about sexuality), but especially his.

My genuine question to you. How the hell can you not see any of that. How can you be so triggered as to deny that and the millions of other reasons people might care could even exist. And why did you think we needed to know. You might not realize it but it come across as homophobic dog whistling.

[–] Perfide@reddthat.com 39 points 4 months ago

Dude left the public life altogether a decade ago. Man clearly values his privacy, as he should.

[–] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 35 points 4 months ago (2 children)

Who cares about Richard Simmons sexuality. We all should talk about how Richard hasn't been seen since 2014.

[–] WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago

He's 75. Let him spend his final decades in peace.

[–] xor@infosec.pub 3 points 4 months ago

he’s been hanging out with shelly miscavige

[–] schwim@lemm.ee 20 points 4 months ago

In fairness, he didn't need to.

[–] yemmly@lemmy.world 16 points 4 months ago (1 children)

His only lover is fitness.

[–] n3m37h@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 4 months ago

Idk he really seemed to like all the guys on Whose Line Is It Anyways?

[–] UFODivebomb@programming.dev 14 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I hope he's doing ok. That's all.

[–] don@lemm.ee 1 points 1 month ago

He passed away July 13 of this year.

[–] teamevil@lemmy.world 12 points 4 months ago

Dude is an amazing guy and really helped people....hope he's well.

[–] erp@lemmy.world 9 points 4 months ago

I too, have never actually publicly discussed my sexuality

[–] DemBoSain@midwest.social 6 points 4 months ago

The perennial bachelor. He'll find a nice girl and settle down eventually.

[–] Chozo@fedia.io 6 points 4 months ago

I wish he'd hurry up and say something already, I've been dying to know!

/s, obviously

[–] darkpanda@lemmy.ca 6 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I don’t know about all that, but I did catch his appearance on the American version of Whose Line Is It Anyway?…

https://youtu.be/b-r4Flc_d2M?si=l3MB5RJu48lWBbRj

[–] GreyEyedGhost@lemmy.ca 1 points 4 months ago

Yeah, after that he doesn't have to spell it out, does he?

[–] Zachariah@lemmy.world 5 points 4 months ago

Neither have I.

[–] Twinkletoes@lemm.ee 5 points 4 months ago
[–] NESSI3@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)