R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Defends Transgender Daughter, Jay
R. Kelly and ex-wife, reality star Andrea Kelly’s youngest daughter, recently came forward with her decision to transition from female to male. A story that practically broke the internet and sparked so many debates online. R. Kelly has made it known that he wouldn't want anyone addressing his daughter as his son but his ex-wife, in a new interview with VH1 thinks otherwise and says he's wrong for not supporting their daughter.
Andrea told VH1:
- This past June your 14-year-old son Jay came out as a transgender boy on his Ask.fm page. How is your family adjusting to that? Are there any misconceptions you’d like to clear up?
All I can say about Jay is he makes it so easy to be a proud mom. For
parents, we need to realize, [our kids] have their own journey. Parents
get it wrong when they don’t support their children. They have to go out
and fight every day and face this world. The first battle should not be
at home. I think that a lot of children in the LGBT
community don’t succeed because the one thing they need the most is
foundation. I just tell Jay all the time, baby you won the war. You’re
gonna have a lot of battles but you won the war. Mama accepts and loves
you for who you are. Your family does.
- It’s pretty remarkable for a 14-year-old to be so open publicly. I mean that takes some courage.
It’s like Jay; you don’t understand that you’re changing people’s lives
just by being courageous. The kid is so courageous. She has…and see,
there I go [using the wrong pronoun]. It’s a learning experience. It
really is. It’s something we smile about. When I make that mistake I’m
like, “Girl, you got a son, honey, get it together. Get it right.”
[Laughs]
- Being R. Kelly and your child, there has been a lot of attention surrounding Jay coming out as trans. Was that surprising to your family?
