In case you don’t know, today is a pretty meaningful day for members of the transgender community. Nov. 20 marks Transgender Day of Remembrance — a day to raise awareness about the ongoing acts of violence that transgender people face and remember the lives lost to hatred and bigotry. According to the 2024 report from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, nearly 400 transgender and gender-expansive people lost their lives to fatal acts of violence in the last decade, and 1 in 10 victims were under the age of 21.
Right now, new pieces of legislation across the country are under consideration (or already in effect) that would bring immense harm to transgender and non-binary people, especially transgender and nonbinary youth. So when public figures step up and share their love and admiration for their non-binary and trans kids, it makes a huge difference. We’re spotlighting some celebrity parents who’ve constantly shown support to their transgender and nonbinary children, and you’re going to love what they have to say.
So many of these famous parents — like Jamie Lee Curtis, Dwyane Wade, and Gabrielle Union — have opened up and used their immense platforms to spotlight LGBTQ youth and the bravery of their children who just want to live their most authentic lives. Wade has even gone so far as to partner up with his transgender daughter Zaya to create Translatable, an online resource and safe space for LGBTQIA+ kids and their parents. There are also famous parents, like Cher and Marlon Wayans, who’ve gotten very candid about their own initial biases and worries as their children transitioned. Ultimately, there’s no denying how much these parents love their kids and want them to live their lives to the fullest.
As we remember the violence the transgender community faces — both physically and policy-based — take some time to read about these celebrity parents and the love they have for their kids.
Dwyane Wade & Gabrielle Union
Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union have been so forthcoming about their support, love, and admiration for their daughter Zaya, whom Wade shares with former wife Siohvaughn Funches. Over the last few years, Wade and Union have taken every opportunity to share how proud they are of Zaya.
“I’ve sat back and watched how gracefully you have taken on the public scrutiny,” Wade told his daughter while accepting the NAACP President’s Award alongside Union. “And even though it’s not easy, I watched you walk out of that house every morning as yourself. I admire how you’ve handled the ignorance in our world. I admire that you face every day. To say that your village is proud of you is an understatement.”
Union added: “First, the intersection of Black rights and the rights of the LGBTQIA, trans, and gender non-conforming people continues to be a huge understatement, even as we demand equality at the top of our lungs. We consistently fail to extend our advocacy to protect some of our most vulnerable among us.” Whether it’s touching tributes like this, or moments of support on the red carpet, Wade and Union have an unconditional love for Zaya.
In 2024, Wade and Zaya founded Translatable, which they describe as a “safe space for LGBTQIA+ youth to express themselves and is a resource hub for our parents, families, and support systems.”
Marlon Wayans
Comedian Marlon Wayans always shares his admiration and love for his transgender son, Kai, and has talked about transitioning in his standup. “Not [about] her, his, their transition, but my transition as a parent going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance,” he said during an interview, per CBS News, adding, “I think there’s a lot of parents out there that need to have that message.”
Wayans continued, saying that “as a parent, I just want my kids to be free. I want them to be free in spirit, free in thought, free to be themselves … The more you live your truth, the happier your existence.”
During 2024 Pride Month, the White Chicks actor went after homophobic trolls who flooded his Instagram comments. “Yeah and just for the HATE MONGERS … I’m posting ANOTHER. As a father of a child in the LGBTQ+ community I show my support. Zero f*cks what people think. If i lost you… GOOD! … How can you love anyone when you’re too busy judging … HAPPY PRIDE to all my friends, fam, fans and loved ones. I am happy you’re happy … period,” he captioned a second of many posts.
Meri Brown
In 2024, Sister Wives star Meri Brown opened up on The Sarah Fraser Show about how public opinion has impacted her transgender and queer child Leon.
“The commentary that I get about Leon is very polarizing,” she said. “It’s just gonna be that way. I always appreciate the support, the comments of support I get, and obviously, I don’t appreciate the hate that comes at me.”
“Leon and I have a good relationship and I don’t talk about them a lot because they want to remain private,” she continued.
On Transgender Day of Visibility 2023, Brown shared a photo of Leon and their partner Audrey Kriss on her Instagram Story and wrote, “I see you! I love you! I got you!” She then added a sticker that said, “Protect trans kids.”
Sting
Sting is a proud father of six, and he shares a nonbinary child, Eliot Sumner, with wife Trudie Styler. Eliot has joined their father in the entertainment industry, and in a 2015 interview, Eliot said they’d rather be referred to as a musician than either gender.
“I don’t believe in any specifications,” they said. “I think forever I was trying to figure out maybe…what I am. But I don’t think anyone should feel pressured to have any kind of label or tag on them. We should treat everybody the same. Me, I don’t like to be put down to a specific thing. We’re all human beings.”
Jamie Lee Curtis
Oscar-winner Jamie Lee Curtis is the proud mom of daughter Ruby. On Trans Visibility Day 2023, the actress took to Instagram and penned a heartfelt letter of support, writing, “Love is love. A mother’s love knows no judgment. As a mother, I stand in total solidarity with my children as they move forward in the universe as their authentic selves with their own minds and bodies and ideas. On this trans visibility day my daughter and I are visible. #transvisibilityday.”
Cher
Cher was very open about how she initially handled her son Chaz Bono’s transition, telling SheKnows in 2020, “It took me a minute. Because you’ve been with a child for 40 years, and then all of a sudden … but you know what? Chaz was so happy!”
The actress and singer said she used a simple analogy to understand her son’s experience and talk to other parents of transgender children. “It’s like, if I woke up in the morning, and I wasn’t me anymore and I didn’t feel like me and I couldn’t be me, I would just be beyond grief stricken. And that’s what I have to tell a mother or father: You are who you are, but how would you feel if you were someone else and you couldn’t be that someone else? That’s how I had to get it. And, you know, I didn’t do it all that well in the beginning. So, I can’t take too many kudos, but now, it’s fabulous.”
Jennifer Lopez
In June 2022, Lopez introduced one of her twins, Emme Maribel Muñiz, at a concert using gender-neutral pronouns. “The last time we performed together was in a big stadium like this,” Lopez said, per CNN. “And I ask them to sing with me all the time and they won’t.”
Lopez referred to the moment as “a very special occasion. They are very, very busy. Booked. And pricey,” she said. “They cost me when they come out. But they’re worth every single penny because they’re my favorite duet partner of all time.” Lopez tries to keep her kids’ lives as private as possible, so while she has yet to confirm the way Emme identifies, this may have been her way of showing Emme support.
Cynthia Nixon
In 2018, Cynthia Nixon showed love and support to her son Seph with a touching tribute on Instagram. “I’m so proud of my son Samuel Joseph Mozes (called Seph) who graduated college this month. I salute him and everyone else marking today’s [Trans Day of Action],” her caption read.
Dean McDermott
Actor Dean McDermott shared a very sweet shout-out to his child during a screening for his film My Fake Boyfriend back in June 2022. “The thing I love about this movie is I got to share it with my 15-year-old who identifies as trans and my gay son,” McDermott said. “I love that they get a safe space to come and watch this.”
Annette Bening & Warren Beatty
In 2019, Annette Bening gushed about her son with Warren Beatty, Stephen, who began transitioning when he was 14. “He’s managed something that’s very challenging with great style and great intelligence,” she told AARP, adding, “He’s an articulate, thoughtful person, and I’m very, very proud of him.”
In 2016, Beatty called Stephen a “hero,” telling Vanity Fair, “He’s a revolutionary, a genius, and my hero, as are all my children.”
Ally Sheedy
In January 2022, actress Ally Sheedy opened up about life with her transgender son, Beckett.
“I want him to be able to do what he wants to do with his life and have the freedom to make his own choices and surround himself with a loving, supportive community,” she told People. “So far, he’s been able to do that.”
“[As a parent] I’ve learned a lot,” she continued. “Beck doesn’t hide anything. And I feel very comfortable talking to anyone whose kid is just beginning the process of transition. Parents need to educate themselves.”
Sade
Singer Sade’s son documented his transition on social media and gave his mom a touching shout-out. “Thank you for staying by my side these past 6 months Mumma. Thank you for fighting with me to complete the man I am,” he said on social media, per People. “Thank you for your encouragement when things are hard, for the love you give me. The purest heart. I love you so much. Queen of queens.”
Marcia Gay Harden
Oscar-winning actress Marcia Gay Harden expressed her love for all three of her children during the Drag Isn’t Dangerous telethon in May 2023, saying, “What drives me is — my children are all queer. My eldest child is non-binary. My son is gay. My youngest is fluid. And you know, they are my kids and they teach me every day,” she said, according to People.
Khary Payton
In June 2020, The Walking Dead actor Khary Payton shared a moving tribute to his son on Instagram.
“This my kid. One of the most happy, well-adjusted individuals I’ve ever known. My son, Karter. Karter with a K because it reminded him of my name. He chose it. You see, he was born female but has always identified as a boy,” Payton wrote.
“He thought it would be cool if I announced it on social media. I told him that there would be so many supporters but also a lot of jerks who would be harsh. He said, ‘Yeah, I know about trolls, daddy. I can handle trolls.’ Man, there is nothing more beautiful than watching your child feel the joy of exploring what it means to be true to themselves. This is his journey, and I am here for it. I hope you all have the opportunity to feel the unquenchable love that I am feeling right now.”
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