From Jaden Smith and Indya Moore to Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, 5 young celebrities who inspire the LGBTQI+ community
‘Be supportive’ is the motto of top Hollywood couples like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith when it comes to their children’s sexual and gender identity. Here’s a list of young celebs who are thriving
Gender and sexual identity have been a significant part of pop culture discourse in recent years. Finally, the voices of the LGBTQI+ community are being heard, and their influence is being seen around the world on television shows like RuPaul’s Drag Race, Pose, Queer Eye and Transparent.
What should not be mistaken for sexual identity is gender identity
As of now, most people are familiar with homosexuality – loving and feeling attraction to someone of the same gender. We use words like gay and lesbian as descriptions to indicate if a same-sex relationship is between men or women.
What should not be mistaken for sexual identity is gender identity – the feeling and perception of one’s gender, which may not correlate with your assigned sex at birth. Here’s a brief glossary of those identities:
Transgender – people who have a gender identity or gender expression that differs from their assigned sex at birth
Q ueer – an umbrella term adopted by people who have a nonconforming gender or sex
Intersex – individuals born with biological characteristics of both sexes, to any degree of variation
The most modern take on gender is it evolves and can keep changing during someone’s lifetime. It’s a concept that some of us still struggle to grapple with, but remember, it’s more of a struggle, even exhausting, for those in the transgender and queer community to convey.
But to simplify, there are two rules for easier understanding.
Firstly, gender is a construct. Ever wonder why the colour blue is associated with boys, and pink with girls? Because it was convenient for businesses to market anything from toys, clothing and beauty products that way, and it has a resulted in certain standards for how men and women “should” perceive themselves. But that’s changing, as gender roles are slowly being eroded and replaced by increasing freedom of expression.
Secondly, gender falls on a spectrum. Think of words like transgender, non-binary, gender fluid, gender queer, agender (someone who doesn’t choose to identify) – categories other than the binary boxes of male or female. Everyone’s path is different and unique. So, when someone tells you how they identify, be supportive and affirming, not dismissive.
That’s the type of motto Hollywood celebrities have adopted in recent years when nurturing their children, understanding both their sexual and gender identity. Here’s a list of young celebs – some of them with A-list stars for parents – who are thriving.
Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (child of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith)
