In a world where visibility and representation are becoming more important than ever, many celebrity kids are coming forward to share their journeys as transgender individuals.
Recently, Robert De Niro’s daughter, Airyn De Niro, publicly came out as a transgender woman and she fully got the support of her father with his unwavering love and care.
Airyn is just one in the growing list of famous offspring who bravely share their authentic selves.
So, read on to learn about the experiences of Airyn and other celebrity offspring who came out as trans.
Airyn De Niro: Robert De Niro and Toukie Smith
In an interview with LGBTQIA+ publication Them, Airyn, Robert’s daughter to actress Toukie Smith, revealed her identity as a transgender woman.
“I think a big part of [my transition] is also the influence black women have had on me,” the 29-year-old said. “I think stepping into this new identity, while also being more proud of my blackness, makes me feel closer to them in some way.”
Airyn only started hormone therapy in November 2024 and admitted she was a “late bloomer.” Despite that, she believed it was “not too late” for her to come out after seeing other trans women share their successes and experiences.
Of course, her father’s response was unequivocal, stressing it wasn’t a big deal at all.
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” he told TMZ. “I don’t know what the big deal is…I love all my children.”
Like her celebrity parents, Airyn aspires to be an actor to be an inspiration for people like her “who is black, who is queer, who’s not a size extra small.”
“I’d want to see more trans women, more black women who are maybe bigger-bodied or don’t fit the mold of super thin or heroin chic,” she added. “I’ve been visible. I don’t think I’ve been seen yet.”
Stephen Ira: Annette Bening and Warren Beatty
Iconic Hollywood couple Warren Beatty and Annett Bening’s eldest child, Stephen Ira, came out as a transgender man in 2012.
His female-to-male transition began in his early teen years. “My name is Stephen,” he said in a video recorded for We Happy Trans via ABC News. “I identify as a trans man.”
While Stephen didn’t talk about his famous parents in the video, the two are proud of their son.
“He's managed something that's very challenging with great style and great intelligence," she said. "He's an articulate, thoughtful person,” Annette told AARP in 2019.
Warren is also all praise to Stephen.
“He's a revolutionary, a genius, and my hero, as are all my children,” he told Vanity Fair in 2016.
Zaya Wade: Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union
Ever since Zaya Wade came out in 2020, dad Dwyane Wade and stepmom Gabrielle Union have become vocal advocates for the LGBTQIA+ community and trans rights to stand by their daughter’s side.
At 12, she told her parents she was a trans girl, which her father knew she had known since she was three.
To show his support and love, the former NBA star even filed a legal petition to change Zaya’s name and gender in 2022.
After just a year, the courts approved the request, making her legally recognized as a female. Her name was also changed from Zion Malachi Airamis Wade to Zaya Malachi Airamis Wade.
“Zaya, you’ve made me a better human just by being who you were born to be: our baby girl, Zaya Wade,” Dwayne Wade said as he and Gabrielle accepted the President’s Award at 2023’s NAACP Image Awards. “So baby, thank you for showing the world what courage looks like. I’m proud that I was chosen to stand in place as your father.”
Vivian Jenna Wilson: Elon Musk and Justine Musk
The eldest child of Elon Musk and ex-wife Justine Musk, Vivian Jenna Wilson came out as a transgender woman in 2020.
In a feature by Teen Vogue, she was described as “extremely online” and “really good at it.” She, too, is outspoken about transgender issues, which she feels “obligated to talk about.”
Unfortunately, while she received support from her mother, the same cannot be said of her father.
Vivian has been estranged from her dad, revealing he has been largely absent as she grew up and if he was ever around, she described him as “cruel” and allegedly harassed her for showing her feminine side and queerness.
Hence, she filed a petition to change her name and gender, stating in court documents that she no longer wanted to be associated with her biological dad “in any way, shape, or form.” Her request was approved in 2022.
Chaz Bono: Cher and Sonny Bono
Chaz Bono is probably one of the most high-profile trans children of celebrities after coming out as a trans man in 2009.
His transition was documented in the Emmy-nominated 2011 Becoming Chaz, while it was first discussed in a two-part Entertainment Tonight special in 2009.
Chaz’s gender transition started in 2009, while he legally changed his ID to match his gender and name in 2010.
In an interview with The Times in 2013, Cher admitted she had a “hard time” accepting her son’s coming out.
However, with her respect and love for him, she knew he had to do it.
“I didn’t have a hard time in the beginning when Chaz came to see me and told me, ‘This is what I want to do.’ I said, ‘Well, if you’re miserable, then you’ve got to do it,’” she explained. “But then as it was starting to happen, you know, it’s a strange change for a mother to go through.”
After all, all that matters to her is her child’s happiness.
“Chaz is so happy, so unbelievably happy, and I don’t know what the people’s problems are,” she said on Today Show in 2020.
Ruby Guest: Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest
Ruby Guest came out to her parents, Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest, in 2021. Although she admitted it was scary, she felt reassured by the unconditional love they had always shown her.
“It was scary — just the sheer fact of telling them something about me they didn't know,” she told People. “It was intimidating — but I wasn't worried. They had been so accepting of me my entire life.”
No wonder The Bear star has become a vocal advocate for the trans community. In fact, in her birthday greeting for Ruby, the Halloween icon called for the protection of trans rights in the United States.
“I am proud and grateful to be the parent of a trans child and am sending support to all of the trans families across the US who are being targeted in this moment by conservative legislatures,” she wrote in a post on Instagram. “[...] I VOW to use my freedom of speech and my right to vote to SUPPORT my child and ALL children trying to live FREELY as who they are.”
Jamie also officiated Ruby’s wedding and dedicated her Best Supporting Actress Oscar to her daughter by referring to the Academy Award statue with they/them pronouns.”
From Airyn to Zaya and more, these celebrity kids’ stories inspire others to live authentically. With the love and support of their parents, they haven’t just helped normalize trans identities—they’ve also encouraged greater acceptance.