'Biggest Loser' Trainer Comes Out as Gay

On a recent episode of NBC's weight-losing reality show, "The Biggest Loser," trainer Bob Harper publicly came out in order to help a contestant, who was struggling with coming out to his family, the Huffington Post reports.

Harper told a contestant named Bobby that he was gay, hoping to encourage him to come out to his family, especially his father.

"I haven't talked about my sexuality on this show ever," Harper said on the show. "And now, meeting Bobby, I really do believe this is the right time. I want to show Bobby that he doesn't have to live in shame."

Harper then shared his coming out story to Bobby and the viewers, saying, "When I came out, when I was 17 years old, it was one of those things where I realized that there was going to be so many obstacles, but being gay doesn't mean being weak. And being gay doesn't mean that you are less than anybody else. It's just who you are."

Harper urged Bobby to tell his father that he is gay, saying that his father would support and love him no matter what.

As HuffPo notes, Bobby has yet to come out to his father but the contestant said the trainer's words and story were inspirational.

Soon after the episode aired, fans lauded Harper on Twitter for coming out and encouraging Bobby to be open to his family.

"THANK YOU to everyone that supported my decision to talk about being gay w/ Bobby," Harper tweeted. "I felt like it was appropriate & necessary. LOVE Y'ALL!!"