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Arthur Tam

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.
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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.
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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)

In 2016, the 21-year-old hip-hop artist and actor wore a skirt for a Louis Vuitton campaign and the internet lost it. Trolls attacked him for being feminine and gay, and called out his parents, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, for “bad parenting”. Despite the misogyny and homophobia, Jayden ended up gaining plenty of support and more followers than ever.
He was always known for his edgy fashion sense, but the skirt controversy propelled him to new heights (he’s also worn a full-on Chanel tweed set). His self-expression doesn’t end there; for example, the vibrant way in which he accessorises or colours his hair was born out of non-gender conforming culture.
According to People magazine, Pinkett Smith said her son wanted “to give other people the freedom to think out of the box for themselves and not feel like in doing that that they would be bullied or be attacked in some way”.
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Willow Camille Reign Smith (child of Will and Jada Pinkett Smith)

“I love men and women equally, and so I would definitely want one man, one woman,” said the polyamorous Willow when talking to her grandmother and mother on the television show Red Table Talk.
The young celebrity has evolved drastically from her tween Whip My Hair days to rock star and fashion icon, influenced by the likes of American singer-songwriter and actress Erykah Badu. It’s no wonder Willow has a strong queer following, with her non-gender conforming style choices that stretches the whole spectrum.
Shiloh Nouvel Jolie-Pitt (child of Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt)

Assigned the female sex at birth, the now 13-year-old of the Mr. & Mrs. Smith megastars identifies as male and would like to be called John. John has a polished style, rocking short haircuts and slick suits. His parents, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, fully support him, but have been criticised for putting their child’s happiness first.
Chaz Salvatore Bono (child of Cher and Sonny Bono)


With legendary superstar Cher and entertainer Sonny Bono as parents, Chaz has been one of the most prominent transgender figures in Hollywood to openly talk about his transition from 2008 to 2010.
Formerly called Chastity, Chaz appeared on his parent’s show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, as their daughter. In 1995, Chaz came out as lesbian, but said that something didn’t quite feel right about that label: “Like I am not being a good lesbian. Because I was really a man, so I never wanted to be a woman. That’s how I was failing as a lesbian,” he said in an ABC interview. Today Chaz is a leading activist for LGBTIQ+ rights with the support of his mother.
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Indya Adriana Moore

Moore just landed on Time’s 100 Most Influential People list. They (the preferred pronoun for their gender identity) are an outspoken trans model, activist and actor best known for their role as Angel Evangelista, a trans sex worker in the hit FX television series Pose.
On screen and in real life, Moore is taking on stereotypes and prejudice while shining a spotlight on the oppression faced by the community – they entered foster care at an early age after facing discrimination at home. Their story might not have begun from a happy place, but now, they’re winning.
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 08: Willow Smith attends the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2020 Fashion Show at JFK Airport on May 08, 2019 in New York City. Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images for Louis Vuitton/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

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This handout image shows Jaden Smith, far right, with Sarah Brannon, Rianne Van Rompaey and Jean Campbell in Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2016 campaign. Photograph: Bruce Weber/Luis Vuitton 06JAN16 [11JANUARY2016 STYLE CHECK]

FILE PHOTO: Director Angelina Jolie arrives on the red carpet with her six children (L-R) Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Pax Jolie-Pitt, Vivienne Jolie-Pitt, Knox Leon Jolie-Pitt, Shiloh Jolie-Pitt, and Zahara Jolie-Pitt for the film "First They Killed My Father" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, September 11, 2017. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File Photo

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‘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


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