# Richard Simmons transitioning to Fiona Simmons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 8, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837 "2016-06-08T16:07:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/1 "2016-06-08T16:07:06Z")
There’s a report (from the National Enquirer, ingest your grains of salt accordingly) that Richard Simmons has been in seclusion for the past three years because he’s transitioning from M to F. [Here’s a link with some pics.](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3631245/Richard-Simmons-living-woman-named-Fiona-taken-hormones-breast-surgery.html) If true, I wish him the best. If not, I suppose I can wish him the best anyway. I’m sure he’s been wondering what my wishes were for his well-being for a quite a while now. So let this be my official “I wish you the best” notification to Richard, possibly Fiona, Simmons. ---
**Author:** ![Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/4af34b/32.png) [@Zeke\_N.Destroi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeke_N.Destroi)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2016, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/2 "2016-06-08T16:20:00Z")
I gotta say I’ll be more surprised if this turns out to be false than if it is true. He always struck me as a very sad person who had turned “fake it 'til you make it” into a lifestyle. If this is what it takes to make him happy then cool. Not that he needs my aproval ---
**Author:** ![Totenfeier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@Totenfeier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Totenfeier)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/3 "2016-06-09T20:26:38Z")
The reaction straight from my spinal cord was “about damn time.” ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/4 "2016-06-09T20:54:04Z")
I’m reading all sorts of denials from his people today, but if I recall correctly, there were all sorts of denials coming from Jenner’s people too. Not that these denials aren’t legit. Maybe they are legit, but if he _is_ becoming Fiona, it just makes a whole lot make a whole lot more sense. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2016, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/5 "2016-06-09T22:36:36Z")
There was an episode of _Biography_ about him that said he was so uncomfortable with his body due to his weight that he did not date women in high school or college. I don’t think anybody believes that’s the full reason and I wonder how many takes it took before the narrator got through that without laughing. No idea if he’s transitioning or not, but I do wish he’d be comfortable enough with himself to come out. He doesn’t have to share details of his sex life, if he has one, but should feel free to share his orientation and I think it would send a message to others who are dealing with overeating disorders fed by refusal to accept themselves. Or not. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/6 "2016-06-10T00:14:02Z")
If he’s supposedly taking hormones and has breast implants then why would he be wearing a beard? ---
**Author:** ![spamforbrains](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@spamforbrains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spamforbrains)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/7 "2016-06-10T01:00:05Z")
> [@](#): > > If he’s supposedly taking hormones and has breast implants then why would he be wearing a beard? apparently feminizing hormones taken by transwomen don’t affect beard growth. Maybe s/he just doesn’t feel like shaving. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/8 "2016-06-10T02:33:48Z")
> [@spamforbrains](#): > > apparently feminizing hormones taken by transwomen don’t affect beard growth. Maybe s/he just doesn’t feel like shaving. Or could be a disguise to avoid the paparazzi. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2016, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/richard-simmons-transitioning-to-fiona-simmons/756837/9 "2016-06-10T03:46:24Z")
The National Enquirer? Now _there’s_ a reputable source. I’ve always figured him for an effeminate, deeply closeted gay man. He’s a devout Catholic who, according to Wikipedia, once considered the priesthood, so I assume he’s conflicted about his sexuality and his religion. But he was one of the first fitness gurus I can remember to feature actual obese people on his show, without mockery or shaming, and he’s helped a lot of people live a more healthy lifestyle. So, gay or straight, man or transwoman, I rate him as “weird, but basically a good guy.”