Warning: This article contains discussion of discrimination against the trans community which some readers may find distressing.
Jennifer Stallone, the wife of actor Sylvester Stallone, has been thrust into the spotlight once again following her controversial comments regarding transgender children in Hollywood.
She recently made an appearance on the Katie Miller Podcast where she was asked, despite having no personal stakes in the matter, by the host: "Why do you think it is that so many kids in Hollywood now and kids of, you know, celebrity parents are transgender?"
Following a brief pause, the 57-year-old former model confessed as per an excerpt obtained by Fox News Digital: "I just think Hollywood is, you know, it’s all about expression."
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Stallone went on to explain: "So, you know, however you want to express yourself. If you feel like a cat today, you’re a cat. And it’s so loosey-goosey.
"I don’t think that we’re really understanding that these kids are not our accessories."
The mother-of-three went on to insist: "They’re little human beings that need structure. And structure is really important for them because it helps their brain organise everything.
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"I think, growing up in a Hollywood home, there's really no structure - you've got this thing going, you've got private planes, giant homes with chefs and secretaries and assistants and housekeepers and nannies."
Stallone added that there's 'too much of everything', claiming this can get 'confusing for a little person'.
"It's okay what you decide to be as an adult," she continued. "But raise them just with good common sense."
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The businesswoman went on to describe her own daughters - Sophia, now 29, Sistine, 27, and Scarlet, 23, as 'tomboys' as they grew up.
"They'd prefer to wear pants than dresses, they love sport - but I never said, 'Oh, you're a boy now'. I just said, 'Let's play sports, you love to hang out with boys, that’s awesome,'" Stallone went on.
It didn't take long for many to call out Stallone's remarks wit Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies professor Jules Gill-Peterson stating that the belief that transgender children are something of a 'new phenomena' is laughable, with decades-old evidence of trans youth in the US being well-documented.
So, on that note, which celebs out there proudly support their transgender children?
Robert De Niro
Airyn De Niro, the 29-year-old daughter of actor Robert De Niro, publicly came out as transgender in an open and heartfelt interview published in April of this year.
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In her conversation with Them, Airyn reflected on her journey and transition - a process that has, at times, been discussed in the media without her direct involvement.
Addressing earlier reports about her transition that surfaced in March, Airyn, who has typically valued her privacy, told the outlet: "There’s a difference between being visible and being seen. I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet."
Cher
Pop icon Cher has long been open about her love and support for her transgender son, Chaz Bono.
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Back in 2020, the 'Life After Love' singer reflected on how their relationship deepened once she made the effort to truly understand his experience.
"It took me a minute - you’ve been with a child for 40 years, and then all of a sudden... but you know what? Chaz was so happy," Cher said at the time.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Freaky Friday star Jamie Lee Curtis has been a proud and vocal supporter of her transgender daughter, Ruby Guest, who came out in 2020.
A year later, the two spoke publicly about their journey together, with Curtis sharing: "Freedom is the goal for all LGBTQIA+ human beings."
The actress has since continued to use her platform to advocate for the trans community and champion acceptance.
Cynthia Nixon
Sex and the City icon Cynthia Nixon, who came out as lesbian publicly in 2004, has spoken candidly about her son Samuel’s journey, sharing that he came out as transgender while studying at university.
In 2020, the actress admitted that adjusting to new pronouns was initially challenging, but said it has since become 'more natural' with time.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron’s transgender daughter, Jackson, whom she adopted in 2012, came out at a very young age.
In a 2019 interview with the Daily Mail, the Oscar-winning actress recalled: "She looked at me when she was three years old and said, 'I am not a boy.' "
That same year, speaking with Jimmy Fallon, Theron opened up about her role as a parent: "My job as a parent is to celebrate [my children] and to love them and to make sure that they have everything they need in order to be what they want to be. And I will do everything in my power for my kids to have that right.
"I grew up in a country [South Africa] where people lived with half-truths and lies and whispers and nobody said anything outright, and I was raised very specifically not to be like that."
Marlon Wayans
White Chicks actor Marlon Wayans has openly embraced and celebrated his transgender son, Kai.
In an interview with The Breakfast Club, the award-winning comedian reflected on his personal growth as a parent, saying: "Not his… their transition… but my transition as a parent - going from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance."
Naomi Watts
In April of last year, British actress Naomi Watts was seen beaming with pride as she watched her 15-year-old daughter, Kai Schreiber, walk the red carpet at Dior’s pre-fall fashion show in Brooklyn, New York.
Watts and Kai’s father, Spotlight and Ray Donovan star Liev Schreiber, have both been openly supportive of their transgender daughter.
Back in 2022, the proud parents shared heartfelt birthday tributes on Instagram to celebrate Kai’s 14th birthday with Schreiber calling her 'beautiful' and Watts writing that she was 'beyond proud' to be her mum.
Dwyane Wade
Basketball icon Dwyane Wade has long been a proud and outspoken supporter of his daughter Zaya, who publicly came out as transgender a few years back in 2020.
Alongside his wife, actor Gabrielle Union-Wade, the former Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls star has consistently defended and celebrated Zaya’s identity using speeches, interviews, and social media to push back against intolerance and advocate for acceptance.
Khary Payton
Actor Khary Payton, known for his role on The Walking Dead and as the voice of DC Comics’ Cyborg in Teen Titans, has a transgender child.
His child’s journey served as the inspiration for Tolo, a character Payton created for himself in the Dungeons & Dragons web series Encounter Party. Tolo stands out as a transgender character within the fantasy world of D&D.
Reflecting on Tolo and his son, Payton explained: "The struggle and the fight that goes on within yourself, when you’re trying to figure out who you are, and the answers aren’t easy. So I wanted to have that lonely conversation that people have by themselves.
"I was like, 'Here’s a moment where I can say it out loud,' and they can do that. And they know that they’re not alone."
Annette Bening
Academy Award nominee Annette Bening is a vocal ally of the LGBTQ+ community with her eldest son, Stephen Ira, being transgender.
Bening has spoken proudly about his intelligence and resilience throughout his transition. While respecting his privacy, she has also used her platform to highlight the challenges faced by transgender individuals.
Bening’s advocacy has become more prominent in response to rising anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, saying on The View: "As time has gone on, especially now, with what’s happening unfortunately in the political process, trans people are being used.
"Fear and ignorance are being stoked against trans people. We don’t have to judge – we have to love and understand. That’s how I feel."
Cindy Barshop
The Real Housewives of New York alum told People magazine back in 2019 that one of her twins is transgender.
Speaking to the outlet, Barshop emphasized that trans children 'know their identity' and that being transgender 'isn’t about sexuality'.
She added: "That’s the most important thing because people are like, 'Well, how do they know?' Be open and listen to your children - they know."
Heather Dubrow
Heather Dubrow, who is married to plastic surgeon Dr. Terry Dubrow, has four children in total, three of whom identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community.
In March 2023, The Real Housewives of Orange County star told People magazine that her youngest child, Ace, is transgender.
Ace was part of the reason Dubrow returned to the reality TV programme, explaining: "I feel like our purpose is to keep these conversations going in other families."
She also spoke about the family’s decision to publicly share Ace’s journey on her podcast, Let’s Talk with Heath Dubrow: "The goal was to acknowledge who our incredible son is and show how much we love and support him.
"We’re not hiding our son, but we want to protect him from the world, as all parents do. Even though I don’t want to tell my children’s stories for them - and I never have, nor will I ever - something had to be said by us before someone else made a statement."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]
Topics: Celebrity, LGBTQ, Sex and Relationships, Parenting
Rhiannon Ingle