- Marlon Wayans says his first instinct as a father is to protect his child.
- He describes a learning curve that moved him from denial to unconditional acceptance after his eldest child Kai transitioned.
- Wayans calls for parental love over condemnation and challenges public hostility toward transgender people.
- He credits honesty, growth and examples like Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union in shaping his response.
H2: Wayans speaks openly about his parenting journey
Comedian Marlon Wayans has been candid about how his feelings evolved after his oldest child, Kai, came out as transgender. On the We In Miami podcast he said, “My natural instinct as a father is to protect my child,” and explained that the transition forced him to confront his own ignorance and fears.
Wayans first publicly confirmed Kai’s transition in 2023 and has discussed the shift in interviews and on television. He told Good Morning America that he “went from ignorance and denial to complete unconditional love and acceptance.” The change, he said, taught him what real, unconditional love looks like.
H3: Painful learning curve and public honesty
Wayans has not shied away from admitting mistakes during that learning process. He has previously acknowledged attempts to stop Kai’s transition, including a widely reported effort involving hypnosis — a choice he now describes as part of a painful but necessary education.
That honesty has been paired with a clear message: parents should prioritize their children’s freedom and mental health. “People can judge and say what they want, but at the end of the day, that’s my child,” Wayans said. “I’m gonna love my baby regardless of what anybody says.”
H3: Pushing back against hostility
Beyond his personal story, Wayans has used his platform to push back against public hostility toward transgender people. He’s challenged critics and called for parental love over condemnation. In the We In Miami interview he emphasized that people should be allowed anonymity and the right to live as they choose.
Wayans publicly praised figures like Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union for their supportive responses to family transitions. He described them as “heroes” and “examples” for other parents facing similar situations.
H2: What Wayans wants parents and the public to hear
Wayans frames his transformation as both moral and practical. Accepting his child taught him that trying to force someone to be a different gender or sexual orientation is futile and harmful. “You can’t beat gay out of someone. You can’t hypnotize someone to not be transgender. You gotta accept and love them,” he said.
His message is direct: parental protection means defending your child from stigma and giving them space to be themselves. For Wayans, that’s nonnegotiable.
Embedded posts:
- We In Miami podcast episode (clip): https://weinmiami.com/
- Good Morning America interview (archive): https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/marlon-wayans-opens-accepting-trans-son-kids-free/story?id=104856788&
Wayans’ willingness to speak publicly about his mistakes and growth adds a high-profile voice to conversations about parenting transgender children. He frames his experience as a call to other parents: love first, learn quickly, and protect your child.
Image Referance: https://www.bet.com/article/3zzceu/marlon-wayans-on-parenting-a-trans-child
