---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be able to see people's humanity. I think…"
description: "\"Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their surface value is, say, you're reading something i..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg"
---

#  Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you…

![“Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their surface value is, say, you're reading something in the news: the gender pay gap, or gay adoption, anything that involves a group of people being marginalized.” quote by Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg)

> “Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their surface value is, say, you're reading something in the news: the gender pay gap, or gay adoption, anything that involves a group of people being marginalized.”

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Understanding others beyond stereotypes requires seeing their humanity, especially marginalized groups.

**In simple terms:** Look deeper than surface labels.

Key Takeaway

Practice empathy toward all.

Themes

empathy social justice humanity

Mood

thoughtful inspiring

Type

reflective motivational

When to use this quote

- reading news
- advocacy
- community building

Key Concepts

intersectionality bias awareness

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you recognize hidden biases?
- What steps help you see beyond stereotypes?

A Different Perspective

Biases can blind us even with effort.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Gay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/) [Gender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gender/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Nature of man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nature-of-man/) [News](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/news/) [Pay gap](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pay-gap/) [Value](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/value/)

## Related quotes

> [The news is not gender-neutral, but it's usually reported as though it's gender-neutral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-fonda/the-news-is-not-gender-neutral-but-it-s-usually-reported-as-though-it/)

[Jane Fonda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-fonda/)

> [On gay adoption I have changed my mind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-may/on-gay-adoption-i-have-changed-my-mind/)

[Theresa May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-may/)

> [Every child deserves a home and love. Period.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/every-child-deserves-a-home-and-love-period/)

[Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/)

> [Respect gay couples but no gay adoptions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-huckabee/respect-gay-couples-but-no-gay-adoptions/)

[Mike Huckabee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-huckabee/)

> [Gay adoption is discrimination against children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/gay-adoption-is-discrimination-against-children/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [People ask me. 'What about gay adoptions? Interracial? Single Parent?' I say. "Hey fine, as long as it works for the child and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-thomas/people-ask-me-what-about-gay-adoptions-interracial-single-parent-i/)

[Dave Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-thomas/)

> [Adoption was a bumpy ride - very bumpy. But, God, was it worth the fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariska-hargitay/adoption-was-a-bumpy-ride-very-bumpy-but-god-was-it-worth-the-fight/)

[Mariska Hargitay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariska-hargitay/)

> [There are people who've said that I'm being brave for being openly supportive of gay marriage, gay adoption... With all due respect, I humbly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/there-are-people-who-ve-said-that-i-m-being-brave-for-being-openly/)

[Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/)

> [Don't lose faith in humanity; think of all the people in the United States who have never played you a single nasty trick.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/don-t-lose-faith-in-humanity-think-of-all-the-people-in-the-united/)

[Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/)

> ["X-Men" is not really about mutants; it's about humanity. I think it's about the human race. We're an absolutely destructive race. It seems that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-fassbender/x-men-is-not-really-about-mutants-it-s-about-humanity-i-think-it-s/)

[Michael Fassbender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-fassbender/)

> [I mean the price of our technology may very well end up being our humanity, so I think you got to have that balance.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-buffalo-mailer/i-mean-the-price-of-our-technology-may-very-well-end-up-being-our/)

[John Buffalo Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-buffalo-mailer/)

> [“Everybody wants a happy life - and our individual happy life depends on a happy humanity. So we have to think about humanity, discover…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama-xiv-desmond-tutu-douglas-abrams/everybody-wants-a-happy-life-and-our-individual-happy-life-depends-on/)

[Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu, Douglas Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama-xiv-desmond-tutu-douglas-abrams/)

> [If we could put material things into their proper place, and use them without being attached to them, how much freer we would be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peace-pilgrim/if-we-could-put-material-things-into-their-proper-place-and-use-them/)

[Peace Pilgrim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peace-pilgrim/)

> [“We have elevated money to the level of humanity. But money and humanity are enemies. Enemies who feed off, lie to, and use each…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-wilsey/we-have-elevated-money-to-the-level-of-humanity-but-money-and/)

[Sean Wilsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-wilsey/)

> [You have cast out the wonder of creation - man and woman - and you have put money in its place. This is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/you-have-cast-out-the-wonder-of-creation-man-and-woman-and-you-have/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

## More by Jonathan Van Ness

> [Even though I'm a hairdresser and I love doing hair, I feel like I don't look like a groomer. When I think of how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/even-though-i-m-a-hairdresser-and-i-love-doing-hair-i-feel-like-i-don/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [If I could only have one grooming tool, it would be floss. I don't want to have broken Cheetos in my teeth. To protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/if-i-could-only-have-one-grooming-tool-it-would-be-floss-i-don-t-want/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [One of my closest friends is a trans man who is incredible. And a lot of my clients are trans women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/one-of-my-closest-friends-is-a-trans-man-who-is-incredible-and-a-lot/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I think that because I struggled and did get very bullied, that definitely made me learn how to be funny and let things roll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-think-that-because-i-struggled-and-did-get-very-bullied-that/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [Typically, you're not gonna find me out at night; I don't go to industry parties. Like, I will go sometimes if I'm invited, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/typically-you-re-not-gonna-find-me-out-at-night-i-don-t-go-to/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [My biggest secret is that I don't over-wash my hair. I wash it twice a week at the most, unless I'm on set every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/my-biggest-secret-is-that-i-don-t-over-wash-my-hair-i-wash-it-twice-a/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [God, I miss TLC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/god-i-miss-tlc/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [If you're feeling a little down, you're never fully dressed without a strong heel. But only if you're depressed - if you need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/if-you-re-feeling-a-little-down-you-re-never-fully-dressed-without-a/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [Coming from a town of 30,000 people on the Mississippi River, having 'Queer Eye' in 2003 through 2007 when I was in high school was really important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/coming-from-a-town-of-30-000-people-on-the-mississippi-river-having/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I think that the ideal of men's physiques in general, gay or straight, is one of the most under-talked-about things ever. Ninety-five percent of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-think-that-the-ideal-of-men-s-physiques-in-general-gay-or-straight/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I used to be pretty hard on myself, like, if I didn't like a haircut I did on someone, I would think about it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-used-to-be-pretty-hard-on-myself-like-if-i-didn-t-like-a-haircut-i/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I went from being pretty fit to 230 lbs., which isn't, like, the biggest for being 6-feet-tall, but I had been 165 lbs. just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-went-from-being-pretty-fit-to-230-lbs-which-isn-t-like-the-biggest/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [So often, grooming is meant to make you feel better about yourself, and a lot of times, we use it to make ourselves feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/so-often-grooming-is-meant-to-make-you-feel-better-about-yourself-and/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I remember saying I wanted to be a cosmetologist when I was really young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-remember-saying-i-wanted-to-be-a-cosmetologist-when-i-was-really/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

> [I've worn a 100% polyester cheerleading outfit in stadiums full of people - it is pretty hard to embarrass me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/i-ve-worn-a-100-polyester-cheerleading-outfit-in-stadiums-full-of/)

[Jonathan Van Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

[Explore all 98 Jonathan Van Ness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/)

## More Gay quotes

> [As a child, I had a lot of older gay men taking care of me. There's a trust there. I feel like little girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-cho/as-a-child-i-had-a-lot-of-older-gay-men-taking-care-of-me-there-s-a/)

[Margaret Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-cho/)

> [I'm not against gay people. I have a relative who is also gay. We can't help it if they were born that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manny-pacquiao/i-m-not-against-gay-people-i-have-a-relative-who-is-also-gay-we-can-t/)

[Manny Pacquiao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manny-pacquiao/)

> [Jeff Chu's pilgrimage across America to discover his own place as a gay man in the Christian church as well as attitudes about being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-freitas/jeff-chu-s-pilgrimage-across-america-to-discover-his-own-place-as-a/)

[Donna Freitas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-freitas/)

> [Each of us is precious to God because each of us has their name written on the palms of God's hands. And God says…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/desmond-tutu/each-of-us-is-precious-to-god-because-each-of-us-has-their-name/)

[Desmond Tutu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/desmond-tutu/)

> [“A disproportionate number of stories are love stories – and what is homosexuality but a special narrative of love?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bram/a-disproportionate-number-of-stories-are-love-stories-and-what-is/)

[Christopher Bram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bram/)

> [The Bible is to gays what Mein Kampf is to Jews.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-tatchell/the-bible-is-to-gays-what-mein-kampf-is-to-jews/)

[Peter Tatchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-tatchell/)

> [I had to smile when stories emerged questioning whether I was gay. Obviously I knew I wasn't but people were curiously desperate to suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-radcliffe/i-had-to-smile-when-stories-emerged-questioning-whether-i-was-gay/)

[Daniel Radcliffe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-radcliffe/)

> [Jesus never said a word about homosexuality. In all of his teachings about multiple things - he never said that gay people should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/jesus-never-said-a-word-about-homosexuality-in-all-of-his-teachings/)

[Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/)

> [Any home where there is love constitutes a family and all families should have the same legal rights, including the right to marry and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/any-home-where-there-is-love-constitutes-a-family-and-all-families/)

[Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/)

> [Since 'coming out,' I've marched in gay pride parades all around the world, I've filled my home full of rainbow tat and I've become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-carr/since-coming-out-i-ve-marched-in-gay-pride-parades-all-around-the/)

[Liz Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-carr/)

> [I tend to get reactions just by being on screen, because I guess I'm physically queer-coded or something. Especially with 'Star Wars;' I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katy-o-brian/i-tend-to-get-reactions-just-by-being-on-screen-because-i-guess-i-m/)

[Katy O'Brian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katy-o-brian/)

> [I didn't have any role models. I really thought I was doomed to this loveless, lonely life. I didn't know any gay people until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-batt/i-didn-t-have-any-role-models-i-really-thought-i-was-doomed-to-this/)

[Bryan Batt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-batt/)

> [ That is another theme in the book \[Dreams from My Father\]. How do we exercise more empathy in our public discourse? How do we… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/that-is-another-theme-in-the-book-dreams-from-my-father-how-do-we/)

[Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/)

> [Western culture is what keeps women and gays safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/milo-yiannopoulos/western-culture-is-what-keeps-women-and-gays-safe/)

[Milo Yiannopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/milo-yiannopoulos/)

> [Unless you're of a certain age, you may not know my name, but you can Google it - I was a pretty big movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tab-hunter/unless-you-re-of-a-certain-age-you-may-not-know-my-name-but-you-can/)

[Tab Hunter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tab-hunter/)

[Browse all 5,038 Gay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gay/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their surface value is, say, you're reading something in the news: the gender pay gap, or gay adoption, anything that involves a group of people being marginalized.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Jonathan Van Ness"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think-the-way-that-you-do-that-and/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Gay"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think-the-way-that-you-do-that-and/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f62/jonathan-van-ness-6662_gay_be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think_3096207.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Be able to see people's humanity. I think the way that you do that and see people for more than their…” — Jonathan Van Ness",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Jonathan Van Ness",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-van-ness/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Be able to see people's humanity....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think-the-way-that-you-do-that-and/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-van-ness/be-able-to-see-people-s-humanity-i-think-the-way-that-you-do-that-and/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
