Comedian Ellen DeGeneres said it’s “unfortunate” that some parents think they can “mold” their child’s gender instead of supporting those who want to change their gender identity.
DeGeneres was joined by actress Gabrielle Union during her show Monday to discuss the coronavirus and how Union and her husband, retired NBA player Dwyane Wade, are coping with the pandemic while raising children. Wade and Union are parents to Zaya, a 12-year-old who came out as transgender earlier this year and identifies as female.
“I know this is silly to say because, you know, who doesn’t love their children unconditionally? But I guess a lot of people don’t. But it’s so amazing how supportive you’ve both been,” DeGeneres said.
“Yeah, I mean, to us, it’s a little, it’s a little odd to be, to get, you know, any kind of recognition for doing what, you know, you’re supposed to do, which is love and accept and embrace your kids. So it’s odd to get recognition for that. But unfortunately, there are so many people who just don’t. They just don’t. And so many people who really truly feel like their kids are disposable. If they’re not perfect images of them, they’re not interested. And it’s heartbreaking. So for us, we are just doing what’s natural to us and loving her,” Union said.
DeGeneres responded: “Zaya is very, very lucky to have both of you as parents, and it is unfortunate that a lot of people have children thinking they can mold them and make them who they want them to be and have a certain idea of what they are supposed to turn out like. But they all turn out different.”
