Latest news with #InternationalTransgenderDayofVisibility
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
19 Celeb Parents With Trans Nonbinary Kids
It was recently an incredibly meaningful day for members of the transgender community. March 31 marks International Transgender Day of Visibility — a day to celebrate transgender people while also raising awareness about the ongoing acts of discrimination and violence that transgender people face. 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. A version of this article was originally published in Feb. 2024. More from SheKnows Dwyane Wade Advocates for His Daughter Zaya & the Transgender Community at the Met Gala: 'I'm Going to Focus On Acceptance' Best of SheKnows 20 of Serena Williams' Most Adorable Motherhood Moments 30+ Baby Names With Ivy League Vibes — No Degree Required Michelle Obama's Best Mom Quotes — Because We Could All Use a Dose of Her Wisdom Tia Carrere's 19-year-old son Jude, who she shares with ex-husband Simon Wakelin, came out as trans in May 2025. The Lilo & Stitch star revealed that her son walked the red carpet for the premiere, dressed in a black tux with a purple flower lei. 'He doesn't love the spotlight,' she told PEOPLE about her son. 'He's more introverted, so he definitely won't go into acting or singing like I did. But he's a great artist. I don't know what he'll do! Maybe become a doctor or work with animals. He's working with animals right now.' 'He's very matter-of-fact,' the Wayne's World actress added. 'He knows who he is, and he's very happy.' In March 2025, Robert De Niro's adult daughter Airyn — who he shares with ex Toukie Smith — was effectively outed by the media when paparazzi photos of her wearing heeled boots and rocking pink braids started to circulate. A month later, in a candid interview with Them, Airyn opened up about being transgender and her desire to be a role model for trans girls, mixed girls, and people with bigger bodies. 'There's a difference between being visible and being seen,' Airyn said. 'I've been visible. I don't think I've been seen yet.' De Niro then spoke to Variety and said he 'loved and supported' Airyn before she transitioned, and he loves her now. 'I don't know what the big deal is,' the actor said in a statement. 'I love all my children.' 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.' 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. 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.' 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.' Linkin Park singer Chester Bennington's child Draven publicly came out as transgender on Valentine's Day 2024. 'As today is a day to celebrate love and what love truly means, whether it's for a partner, family, or ourselves, I thought it would be the perfect time to show some love to myself,' Draven said, per Billboard. 'For a long time, I tried to be someone, someone I truly wasn't on the inside. Ignoring it worked for a while, but continuously coming to the crossroads of being happy or being complacent was one I couldn't keep crossing Later that year, they made the 'best decision' of their life by beginning hormone replacement therapy. Sadly, Draven's dad died in 2017, but mom Samantha Bennington quickly showed her support in the comments. 'I'm so proud of you. I love you with all my heart and soul,' she wrote. 'You're my favorite human on the planet. I just want you happy and healthy forever and always.' 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.' 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.' 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. 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. 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.' 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.' 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.' 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.' 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. 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.'
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Alabama gender-affirming care ban lawsuit abruptly dismissed
Protestors hold a flag in New Orleans on March 31, 2023 as part of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) The high-profile lawsuit challenging Alabama's 2022 law banning gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 19 has been dismissed by all parties involved. Neither the plaintiffs – transgender youth and families challenging the ban – or the Alabama attorney's office filed an official explanation for the move or a suggestion of a settlement with the court. In separate statements, the plaintiffs said they would continue to fight for access to the care, while Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall declared it a total victory for the state and a vindication of their position. 'The shutting down of medical care in Alabama has forced our plaintiffs and other Alabama families to make heart wrenching decisions that no family should ever have to make, and they are each making the decisions they need to make that are right for them,' said Scott McCoy, deputy legal director of inclusion and anti-extremism litigation team at the Southern Poverty Law Center, in a joint statement from organizations representing the plaintiffs. 'We salute the courage of these plaintiffs and we will continue fighting to ensure families across the country have the freedom to get their transgender children the proven medical care that enables them to thrive.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Marshall declared the dismissal a decisive victory for the state and claimed in a statement that a 'court-ordered discovery' uncovered what he described as 'medical, legal, and political scandal that will be studied for decades.' 'We uncovered the truth,' the statement said. 'We exposed the scandal. We won. Alabama led the way, and now all families are safer for it.' Messages were left with the Attorney General's office seeking clarification. According to the statement, the discovery process in the case revealed that 'key medical organizations misled parents, promoted unproven treatments as settled science, and ignored growing international concern over the use of sex-change procedures to treat gender dysphoria in minors,' but does not state how. The statement also alleged that internal communications showed the 'standards of care' were legally and politically crafted but does not provide specifics. The law, known as the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, made it a felony for medical providers to prescribe puberty blockers or hormones to transgender minors, carrying a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years. The law did not ban the use of puberty blockers to treat precocious puberty in cisgender children. It also prohibited gender-affirming surgeries for individuals under 19, though health care providers have repeatedly testified such surgeries are not performed on minors. The legislation led to immediate legal action after being signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey in April 2022. Initially, a federal judge blocked the ban on medications, citing interference with parental rights and a lack of evidence demonstrating harm from the treatments. But that decision was overturned in August 2023 by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, which stated that there was no fundamental right to gender-affirming care. U.S. Circuit Judge Barbara Lagoa, writing for the majority, cited the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which struck down federal abortion protections and ruled that abortion was not a right 'deeply rooted in the nation's history and tradition.' Lagoa wrote that gender-affirming care had no historic grounding in the law. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Poll: Nearly half of Americans think politicians should not focus on transgender issues
Protestors hold a flag in New Orleans on March 31, 2023 as part of the International Transgender Day of Visibility. A new poll found most Americans think politicians should focus less on transgender issues and found a majority opposed legal bans on gender-affirming care. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) This story was originally reported by Jasmine Mithani of The 19th. Meet Jasmine and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy. President Donald Trump has taken aim at trans people during his first 100 days in office in his second term. He has sought to restrict access to accurate passports, erase the accomplishments of trans elders, remove transgender members from the military and purge the government of what he has termed 'woke gender ideology.' But a new 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll shows that 49% of Americans think politicians should not be focusing on transgender issues at all. It's a rise from before the election, when 43% of Americans said they believed politicians should not focus on trans issues, versus protecting trans rights or restricting gender-affirming care. In 2023, the figure was 44%. Democrats and Independents are less likely than they were in September to think politicians should be protecting transgender rights, and 42% of Democrats think politicians should not focus on trans issues — up from 33% last year. More Republicans also think politicians shouldn't focus on trans issues — 57% vs 53% last year — and the number who think lawmakers should concentrate on restricting transgender rights has fallen. Overall, despite the Trump administration's attempts to erase trans people from public life, the majority of Americans (59%) support the right of transgender adults to access gender-affirming care. However, fewer Americans, 43%, support the right of trans youth to seek such care. That doesn't necessarily translate into a desire for bans. In fact, 55% opposed laws that would restrict gender-affirming care for minors, including 41% of Republicans and 57% of Independents. Gender-affirming care for trans people is any health care designed to support and affirm their gender identity, and typically differs depending on age. For trans adults, care can include therapy, consultations with doctors, hormones or other medication, and surgery. For trans youth, gender-affirming care can include therapy, consultations with doctors, hormones or puberty blockers, other medication, and, rarely, surgery. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health does not recommend gender-affirming gential surgeries for anyone under 18. The results are from a 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll conducted online from April 11-21, 2025, among 5,032 American adults. Results have a margin of error of 1.5 percentage points. The majority of Americans are not confident that politicians are informed enough about gender-affirming care for transgender minors to make fair policy. But the number who say they are informed enough has risen from 24% last year to 31% this year. Women continue to be more likely than men to support access to gender-affirming care for both adults (65% versus 52%) and youth (46% versus 38%). While this survey collected only binary gender data, a 19th News/SurveyMonkey poll from September showed widespread support for access among nonbinary and transgender Americans. Movement in favor of transgender rights is notable given how central antri-trans rhetoric was to Trump's campaign, which is now manifesting into federal policy impacting hundreds of thousands of lives. Meanwhile, Democrats are split on whether to support their trans constituents. In the immediate aftermath of the election, some congressional Democrats loudly criticized their party for supporting trans people. And in the inaugural episode of his new podcast, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signaled interest in restricting how trans women athletes can compete in sporting events. But others, like Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, have vocally condemned Trump's anti-trans policies and refused to back down. This was notably seen a couple months into the Trump administration, when Senate Democrats did band together to block a bill which would have prevented transgender girls from playing on girls' sports teams in federally-funded schools. This 19th News|SurveyMonkey poll was conducted online from April 11-21, 2025, among a national sample of 5,032 U.S. adults 18+. Respondents were selected from the more than two million people who take surveys on SurveyMonkey each day. Results for this non-probability survey have an error estimate of plus or minus 1.5 percentage points. Data have been weighted for age, race, sex, education and geography using the Census Bureau's American Community Survey to reflect the demographic composition of the United States aged 18 and over.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
New gender laws spark confusion: What we know for LGBTQ+ tourists going to the UK, Hungary
New gender laws spark confusion: What we know for LGBTQ+ tourists going to the UK, Hungary Show Caption Hide Caption Rallies around the world honor International Transgender Day STORY: :: People across the globe gather on the International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, 2025. The U.K. Supreme Court ruled that "biological sex" defines "woman" in equality law, but this shouldn't impact trans travelers. Hungary amended its constitution to require male or female identification, impacting LGBTQ+ events. U.S. Customs and Border Protection states that passport gender and personal beliefs about sexuality don't affect admissibility. The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled Wednesday that the definition of a woman under the nation's equality legislation is based on "biological sex." The court insisted that trans people would not be at a disadvantage as a result of the ruling. For trans and nonbinary travelers, there shouldn't be a major change to border policies. Still, governments around the world are tightening restrictions on trans and nonbinary identification documents, so many travelers are left wondering what's happening. Earlier this week, Hungary amended its constitution with new regulations requiring people to identify as either male or female, and new restrictions on LGBTQ+ public events. USA TODAY previously reported on a transgender U.S. citizen who was pulled aside for extra questioning by border agents when returning to the country Can trans and nonbinary travelers access the UK or Hungary if their passports don't match? It's unclear how Hungary's new law will affect travelers. However, the Supreme Court ruling in Britain should not impact travelers. The U.K.'s Home Office, which regulates the country's border, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but the court ruling was an interpretation of the country's Equality Act, an employment nondiscrimination law. It does not appear to change any policy on the government's ability to issue or recognize documents that align with a person's gender identity. What about travelers with birth-assigned gender on travel documents, but identify differently? The British government will still issue gender recognition certificates, which are formal documents that legally recognize a person's new gender. However, under Wednesday's Supreme Court ruling, those documents will not qualify someone to be recognized by their gender identity for Equality Act enforcement purposes. Still, the ruling should not have a direct impact on border policies for travelers. Story continues below. Can a border patrol officer look through your phone and other devices? U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers can go through your phone, including any deleted items on the device. Will trans or nonbinary American travelers be denied entry back to the US? While the Trump administration has said it will no longer issue passports with nonbinary gender markers or that reflect a person's gender identity, current passport holders should still be able to travel with their existing documents. "A foreign traveler's gender as indicated on their passport and their personal beliefs about sexuality do not render a person inadmissible. Claims to the contrary are false. Travelers must present an official government-issued travel document and be the rightful bearer of that document when seeking entry at a U.S. Port of Entry," a Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told USA TODAY in an email. Still, trans and nonbinary travelers have previously reported more difficulty clearing customs in the U.S. "Border crossings have always been a top source of stress for trans and nonbinary travelers, and we've seen this anxiety increasing around travel to and from the U.S. We expect to see a similar reaction toward the U.K. after the Supreme Court ruling," John Tanzella, president and CEO of the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association, said in a statement. "One of our biggest challenges in providing advice is the lack of clear guidance from the government agencies travelers rely on. It's incredibly frustrating." Contributing: Reuters Zach Wichter is a travel reporter and writes the Cruising Altitude column for USA TODAY. He is based in New York and you can reach him at zwichter@
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Lena Dunham says her sibling's transition was ‘a profound gift to our family'
has delivered a powerful, empassioned speech about the need to support trans people in this difficult political climate. Speaking in front of the US Capitol as part of a rally organised by the Christopher Street Project on International Transgender Day of Visibility, Dunham touched on the 'horrific government abuses' of the Trump administration, before going on to speak about her trans brother, writer Cyrus Grace Dunham. 'When my sister came out as trans, I learned that I actually never had a sister at all, but a wise, funny, resilient, powerful, remarkable brother,' Dunham explained. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) 'I found that the greatest [person] you could have in your corner was not a sister, but it was a happy and embodied sibling and just as divine, a trans person in your family,' the creator went on to say. Later, she extolled the virtues of having a trans family member, noting how much her family has learned from the experience of Cyrus's transition. 'The experience of going through my brother's transition has been a profound gift to our family. We have laughed, we have cried, we have learned and re-learned and laughed some more.' In reference to her and Cyrus's father, the acclaimed artist Carroll Dunham, Lena joked: 'You really have not lived until you have seen a 75-year-old, white, cis man standing in the middle of a party of trans girls trying to call an outfit 'a slay.' He really tried, and we love that for him.' She went on to address the trans and nonbinary community directly, declaring: 'We love you, we see you, we bow down to your charisma, uniqueness, nerve and talent, and we are so lucky to love you and to fight with you and for you, to learn from you, and to ensure that our rights are inseparable from yours.' Dunham was one of many speakers at the event which also included US representatives Jill Tokuda (Hawaii), Sara Jacobs (California), Summer Lee (Pennsylvania), Katherine Clark (Massachusetts), Robin Kelly (Illinois), Val Hoyle (Oregon), and Maxwell Alejandro Frost (Florida) and Senator Brian Schatz (Hawaii). Later, Dunham reflected on the public appearance on Instagram, writing: 'Speaking at the rally for Trans Day of Visibility organized by @christopherstreetproject yesterday was a total pleasure and honor. We stood in front of the capital celebrating a community that has meant more to me than Instagram allows characters for. 'It's a privilege to get a chance to share the love and joy being in family and community with trans people has given, and to hear these politicians, leaders and organizers offer tangible ways to protect our trans loved ones right now,' the actress continued. 'The crowd and leadership were so inspiring- the youth really will save us, and the elders will show us the way.' You can watch Dunham's speech in full below: The post Lena Dunham says her sibling's transition was 'a profound gift to our family' appeared first on Attitude.
