9 celebrity parents proudly supporting their LGBTQ kids
From Ryan Philippe and Reese Witherspoon's daughter to Barbra Streisand's son, meet the queer offspring with a touch of stardust
Words: Brian Leonard; pictures: Instagram/Disney+/Instagram/Sony Pictures Releasing International
Let’s face it: our community members don’t always have the best relationships with our families. After all, some 24% of homeless youngsters identify as LGBTQ, as per the Albert Kennedy Trust – often a consequence of homophobic/transphobic relatives, with 77% citing coming out to parents as the main factor for their homelessness.
But in a powerful example of how celebrities really can change the world for the better, some of our favourite stars are often vocally supportive of their queer relatives.
Last year, we got to know the LGBTQ siblings of nine world-famous stars, including Chris Evans’ brother Scott and Madonna’s brother Christopher. Now, we’re spotlighting LGBTQ celebrity offspring, from Cher’s son Chaz to Jamie Lee Curtis’s daughter Ruby. And they’re all inspiring as hell!
1 (and 2) Ryan Philippe and Reece Witherspoon
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Legally Blonde actress Reese Witherspoon and Big Sky actor Ryan Philippe – who married in 1999 and divorced in 2008 – hadn’t long co-starred in 90s classic Cruel Intentions before welcoming daughter Ava.
Last month, the now-22-year-old hit back at “bigoted” Instagram trolls after coming out publicly in December 2021. At the time, she was asked by a follower in a Q&A: “do you like boys or girls?” She reportedly answered: “I’m attracted to… people! (Gender is whatever).” Preach, Ava!
3) Cher
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Is Chaz Bono [pictured above with mum Cher, grandmother Georgia Holt and girlfriend Shara Blue] the most famous LGBTQ celeb kid of them all? The star – whose TV appearances include RuPaul’s Drag Race and American Horror Story – transitioned publicly between 2008 and 2010.
Despite her reputation as a solid LGBTQ ally, Cher has confessed to not handling Chaz’s transition well at the time. She said in a 2020 CNN interview: “I remember calling and the old Chaz message was on the phone and that was very difficult. But then, you have one child, but you don’t really lose them. They just go in a different shape. Chaz is so happy, so unbelievably happy. I don’t know what the people’s problems are.”
4) Barbra Streisand
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‘Woman In Love’ singer Barbra, 79, is a proud mum to 55-year-old Jason Gould, who was outed as gay by tabloids at the age of 25 back in 1991.
In 1999, music veteran Barbra was interviewed by The Advocate, and said of her son with ex-husband Elliot Gould: “I would never wish for my son to be anything but what he is.”
5) Magic Johnson
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Appearing on the The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2017, basketball icon Magic, 62, said of of 29-year-old son EJ: “It’s all about loving them no matter who they are, what they decide to do. And when my son came out, I was so happy for him and happy for us as parents.
“We love him. EJ is amazing.” [Magic is pictured above with wife, Cookie, and EJ].
6) Sally Field
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A text exchange between Oscar-winner Sally and her gay son Sam – in which the actress tried to set him up with Olympian Adam Rippon – went viral in 2018. In a message to Sam, Sally called Adam “insanely pretty” adding “find a way [to date him]”… before sharing a screenshot of the conversation with the world!
The (now-married) Adam took the moment in good humour, telling BuzzFeed: “Sam, your mom — I admire her. And I’m sure one day we’re going to meet! So thanks, mom.”
7) Jamie Lee Curtis
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Halloween star Jamie and her daughter Ruby discussed the latter’s transition in an interview with People magazine last year.
In the piece, Hollywood star Jamie said of getting used to Ruby’s new pronouns: “My husband and I still slip occasionally. You slow your speech down a little. You still mess up, I’ve messed up today twice. We’re human.”
8) Cynthia Nixon
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Last year, Sex and the City icon Cynthia Nixon spoke in an interview about her son Samuel, who is trans. Appearing on the Homo Sapiens podcast, the And Just Like That… star said: Before I ever had an inkling my kid might be trans I read a really extensive article… [about] all of these parents of pre-pubescent kids who were really struggling with this.
“There was one dad who said: ‘At a certain point, the decision seemed to me I could have a dead son or a live daughter’ and it’s like, after you say that, what more is there to say?”
9) Dwayne Wade
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Basketball star Dwayne is a dad to 14-year-old daughter Zaya, who is trans. (Zaya’s supportive stepmom is Bring It On star Gabrielle Union.)
In 2020, he said on The Ellen DeGeneres Show: “So once Zaya, our 12-year-old, came home – first Zion, I don’t know if everyone knows, originally named Zion, born as a boy – came home and said, ‘Hey: so I want to talk to you guys. I think going forward I’m ready to live my truth. And I want to be referenced as she and her. I would love for you guys to call me Zaya.’”