Jonathan Van Ness is not taking the government’s response to the monkeypox outbreak lightly! In an essay published in TIME on Monday, the hairdresser and Queer Eye star reflected on the United States’ “botched” and “homophobic” response to the 2022 outbreak, stating: Snap!
The 35-year-old continued, calling the whole situation “messed up”: Van Ness recalled the moment monkeypox “really hit home” for him.
He was exposed and had to cancel a planned trip to New Orleans where they’re currently filming Queer Eye: He also expressed his disappointment in “political leaders” such as President Joe Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for waiting until the situation “ballooned out of control” before “taking it seriously”: He did give the US credit on declaring the virus a public health emergency — but says it was “a day late and a dollar short”… Related: California Man Shares ‘Excruciating’ Monkeypox Experience! Jonathan questioned legislators about their little-to-no incentive approach to monkeypox.
He also compared it to the AIDS epidemic — and we all remember how horrifying that was! He says in his essay the new outbreak is being “brushed off” as something only affecting LGBT people and pointed out the differences in the government’s COVID-19 response: JVN went on to call the monkeypox outbreak “a tragedy” and reminded everyone they should care about it “even if it doesn’t affect” them — because “we should care about each other”: He concluded by saying people have “become bold” about what they’re “willing to witness” and no one should’ve witnessed this outbreak spreading “for the last two months” without acting: Mic drop.