A remark from earlier this year is still circulating online. In a clip from the “Actual Friends” podcast, fitness trainer Jillian Michaels said, “The reality is that when you give gay people a month and veterans a day, I think you have wildly lost sight of your values and your priorities.” The comment is from June, during Pride Month, and it’s being shared again as Veterans Day approaches. comicsands
What she argued
According to a report in a conservative outlet, Michaels argued that Pride Month has been “co-opted” by corporations like Target, and that its commercial marketing has gone too far. She said it has turned into something that makes some people resent it. Her point about veterans was that the attention is out of proportion. lifezetteobjectivist
The pushback
Many critics responded that Military Appreciation Month is in May. Others noted that she hasn’t been a vocal advocate for veterans in her career, and that LGBTQ+ people can also be veterans. The clip drew about 1.2 million views on X. Supporters of her view say her point is about priorities and corporate marketing, not hostility toward anyone. This ultra Maga said America had ‘lost sight of its values and priorities’ by giving Pride an entire month and ended up schooled into another dimension – The Poke +2
What’s accurate: how veterans are honored
Based on widely known dates, not on the sources above:
- Veterans Day: November 11. A federal holiday honoring all U.S. military veterans.
- Memorial Day: last Monday in May. Honors service members who died in service.
- Military Appreciation Month: May.
- Armed Forces Day: the third Saturday in May.
So the phrase “a day” understates it. But the debate is also about attention and priorities, which is a matter of opinion.
A comparison that doesn’t quite work
A month of events and a federal holiday aren’t the same kind of thing, so the comparison has limits. Whether the distinction means anything is what people disagree about.
Who is Jillian Michaels?
She is a fitness trainer and a former “The Biggest Loser” personality. She has been described as openly gay. She has previously described conversations with her wife as influential in changing her perspective on politics. She has drawn criticism before, including over remarks about Lizzo’s body in 2020. comicsandsinstinctmagazine
How to honor veterans this November 11 (general suggestions)
- Thank a veteran you know.
- Attend a local Veterans Day event.
- Support a reputable veterans’ organization.
Bottom line
The comment is months old, but the question it raises about how a country marks and prioritizes its celebrations isn’t going away. Veterans Day is November 11.
