Happy Pride Month, everyone! To celebrate, I have a wonderful Pride story for you starring Marlon Wayans. Marlon is from the multitalented Wayans Family, being the youngest of the 10 first generation siblings. He’s career achievements have been as an actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer. However, it’s clear the title he is most proud of is father. He let everyone know last Monday he wasn’t going to tolerate anyone trying to tear down his kids. Marlon celebrated Pride Month by posting this pic of his 19-year old, gay daughter, Amai, to his Instagram:
Many of us were quite moved by such a lovely statement. Then again, many of us are normal functioning human beings and not ignorant trolls who enjoy spreading hateg. Unfortunately, the latter found their way on to Marlon’s post and left a bunch of stupid comments about how tragic it was that he was supporting his amazing kid. But instead of deleting all their ignorant @sses, Marlon replied, defending Amai and who she is. One called Marlon sad and *gasp* vowed to unfollow him, to which he appropriately replied “bye.” Another accused him of “teaching” Amai the wrong lesson because she was too young to understand her own sexual preferences. Marlon’s told him that 19 is plenty old enough to know who you are, and he loves her for who she is. When one commenter pointed out that Marlon could just erase the comments, he said he’d considered it, but that he needed, “the world to see the ignorance that still exist(sic).”
In that same response about ignorance, Marlon said, “We all will some day get to unconditional love. Because of my daughter, I am one step closer.” The importance of that comment harkens back to a post he made for Amai’s birthday last month, which was an adorable throwback shot of a wound Marlon holding a toddler Amai with the caption:
Happy birthday to my pride, my heart, my love, my soul, my mini me, my inspiration, my moral compass, my sweet loving, romantic, kind hearted, intelligent, talented, soulful, conscious, angelic, beautiful daughter. I have loved you before you were even here. I rubbed you in your mommy’s belly, i read to you, i talked to you, i kissed you, i cuddled you, i loved you. I remember your head crowned all i saw was a full head of black curly hair and i began to cry like a baby. May 24, 2000, i pulled you from your mother’s womb, i held you in my arms and my world changed. My purpose shifted. I no longer lived for me… i lived for you, for my family, for us. You gave me purpose. You made me tender, you made me communicate, you made me humble, you made me attentive, you made me listen, you made me grow up. Your mere presence turned an arrogant boy into a humble man. You instantly shattered my hardcore and your mommy helped melt it away. Ask your mom you and that boy made me better. Without trying you did. You’re heaven sent. An amazing child. A kind human. A soul any and every parent would be proud to have as a daughter. You a strong minded and have always been. I tried to make you a righty you said “no nigga LEFT”. I tried to steer you straight you said “no nigga gay”. I tried demand things to be my way and you said “why”? You stood up to optimal authority, you questioned it, you challenged it and you defeated it. Thank you for that. Thank you for making me accountable for my actions. Thank u for sticking up for your brother. Once again you grew me. You changed my perspective. You made me love unconditionally and most of all you accept and love me unconditionally for all my flaws. When i am hurting for some reason you are usually present to tap them long soft fingers on my back and “it’s okay Dad”. I feel so strong to be able to be vulnerable in the presence of strong women who uplift me. Thank u for being one of those women. I can’t be no more proud of you than i already am. Never change. Just keep evolving. And know that wherever u are somebody loves u to the moon and back 4 2 4evers X infinity + 1 day… dad
This is a beautifully raw expression of pure love that clearly speaks to the evolution of Marlon’s beliefs. I could go line by line and tell you why I love each but that would take awhile so I’ll just highlight the part that he gives Amai all the credit for his change and the lines in which he emphasizes that it was her sticking up for herself and her brother that led to that change (Marlon’s son, Shawn, is 17). Later that day, he posted this:
And that’s what it’s about, isn’t it? Creating a safe place for those we love within our lives. This AM, my daughter, who identifies as LGBTQ, lamented that we had no Pride clothing to wear. Her older, straight brother left the room and came back wearing his rainbow-banded Pride fedora and said, “No, *you* don’t have any,” and sauntered by her and she tried to snatch it from him. It was fun, but it also felt safe, and I hope they both know we will always provide that for them just as Marlon has assured his kids. I’m glad to know that we have such a powerful spokesperson as Marlon among our community. He’s setting a wonderful example.
Oh, and because I know you want to know, Buzzfeed helped us out with Amai’s awesome shoes. They think it’s Vans Rainbow Skate Shoe which you can purchase at Journey’s or Goat.
Photo credit: WENN Photos and Instagram
What a sweet sweet post. That’s the way parents should love their children — unconditionally.
I bawled. I literally bawled. The safe space…oh my gah! I’m about to start again. And the fact that he named his son after his brother/best friend… there I go again …
Holy Cow … I cried too!! When gossip touches the heart. Wow, this man is ELOQUENT. I am so disappointed I have used the phrases WOW and HOLY COW.
Ok, I didn’t expect to bawl this early in the morning.
That post was such a beautiful expression of fatherly love. Reading it, I couldn’t help but wish my own father had said something like that to me even once. Amai is so blessed to have such a supportive family.
Damn you! Making me cry into my morning coffee! That is parenting at its best.
That’s a good dad.
That is so unbelievably sweet.
I wish to be a parent like that.
Mow let me go like that picture
I loved this so much.
I saw this on IG. The level of hatred and bigotry is so mind boggling. The fact that you make it a goal every day to troll and lecture people about their kids, what they are wearing, etc tells me that these people are insecure about something in their own lives.
I’m so glad he didn’t back down from these dumbasses. One commenter said something stupid about how 2 women can’t make a baby and Marlon said something like the technology is out there and he’s got the money. The one commenter that told him that she wasn’t old enough to understand, Marlon told him to go hate his own kids.
I read that too about her not being old enough to know who she is attracted to.The girl is 19 not 9.SMH BTW most of my gay friends knew before they were 9.
I’m glad she has a supportive dad.
My 10 year-old daughter knew last year. I’m super grateful that her school is a safe space because not only was she able be herself, she felt safe enough to sing it aloud for everyone to hear. So many kids don’t have that ability. Because of that, I’ve also had to talk with her about how unfortunately outside the school and home it’s not safe like that, and to know her audience. I hated that in 2019 that reality still exists.
It’s one of many, many ways homophobes and misogynists try to sexually gaslight and uphold the stigma around certain people: The ‘How could someone so young know/ make such a decision about their lifestyle’ card. Usually homophobes save it for people younger than this though. For example, if a girl reveals that she figured out at 15, 12, or 11 that she was bisexual, they’ll act like there’s something dirty and exploitative going on there. It happens with gay and lesbian teens/tweens too. I’ve got to admit, though, this is the first time I’ve seen a homophobe try this card with someone who isn’t even a minor. She’s 19. Do they think their straight 19-year-old sons who are already exclusively getting with girls and have never had interest in a guy are just too young to know they’re straight? Of course not.
It’s great that her dad not only expresses his support for her in private, but in public too. Beautiful.
My kids knew from when they were young that they were straight. Why is that any different from knowing one is LGBTQ+ from an early age? Why is OK to know you’re straight when you’re young, but not to know you’re gay?
@paranormalgirl – EXACTLY!
Team Marlon. And Team My Family. One of my kids came out on our way to PrideFest, and I was all like, “YAY! Now I can join PFLAG!” (I haven’t yet, but I can…..)
Happy Pride month everyone!
Oh Fish. I really do miss the Wayans brothers together on TV. I need them back in my life.. Al that comedy needs to be on TV, Netflix, somewhere. Just them two men together. 💖👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿💖. Someone make it happen.
I’m not crying, you’re crying!
I’m a fan now.
Now my mascara is running. Thanks, Hecate.
I love everything about this post. It really is just that easy, to be an ally. You just make the choice not to be an a-hole and listen. We need more of this in the world.
This is the way it should be. I’m crying. I love my son the same way and no matter his sexual orientation, will wholeheartedly love and embrace him.
Without going into detail, because it hurts too much, my smart, funny, handsome, and artistically talented cousin never got that love from him mom (my aunt). He passed away over 5 years ago (also so much tragedy and pain around that to rehash right now).
Marlon’s words are beautiful, just beautiful… I have a dull ache in my heart now–remembering having to leave home in the 1980s to escape to the big city and find my safety in like-minded gay strangers. An army of lovers, indeed. And yet, how much more would I have loved to stay home with my family. Religious fundamentalism erased that possibility.
It’s still morning, but this needs to be the last news I read today because it made me so happy. Thank you for sharing it!
This is heartwarming and wonderful! Ever parent should aim to be a loving shelter for their children
Wow…and now I have a lump in ny throat…
His post is pure, simple, unadulterated love.
OMG that’s so awesome. Tears. So intelligent and full of love.
Not to throw a wet blanket, but did anyone read about the astronomically ridiculous straight pride parade? So stupid and egotistical.
The one they’re trying to do in Boston? It’s being spearheaded by a white supremacist to boot, although no one should be surprised by that.
Happy Pride to Amai and her beautiful family. I love how he evolved and opened his mind. Kids do help us grow, as parents.
This is so beautiful! The content I need after looking at Tr*mp’s scowly, jowly face in the other posts.
This is so wonderful, not just for his daughter, but for all of us, because we just do not see enough of this in the world. I grew up when LGBTQ+ kids would be scared to tell even their closest high school buddies out of fear for being ostracized–and the idea of coming out to their parents often wasn’t even on the horizon for most of them. When I was in college, most of my encounters with LGBTQ+ people my age were of homeless or otherwise vulnerable young adults who had fled or been disowned by their biological families. So much trauma and woundedness. No wonder I grew up feeling my generation (Gen X) was doomed. I decided to not have kids because of my own financial problems, but I always wanted to have them, and over the years, I’ve acquired a new level of horror and disgust at people who were fortunate to have children of their own only to abuse and reject them for being LGBTQ+. Obviously this world has a lot to learn about love and what it means to be blessed with a child of your own. And I’m so glad for people like Marlon who are showing us exactly that.
Last comments from him about his personal life from years ago he came across as quite misogynistic towards the mother of his kids so I’m glad to hear it sounds like his daughter has changed him.
Re-Watching the scary movies recently he and his family wrote and directed, I see how incredibly misogynistic they were. Hope his experience with his daughter opens his heart and mind to all women
My daughter’s closest friend is gay. And my family is her safe space. Not her own family, who can’t accept her for who she is. She’s funny, smart, caring, talented, and all around awesome. And it’s her family’s loss that they can’t or won’t see that. She’s afraid now that she won’t be going to college because her family won’t help her. Like my husband said, not on our watch. She WILL be attending the college she has chosen and been accepted to.
Good lord. Do people question one knowing they are straight at 19?
The need to tell people who they should be is so…weird.
What a beautiful love letter from a father to his daughter ❤
That man RIGHT THERE is a mfin’ DAD. What a beautiful statement.
Beautifully and very well put, Marlon! His post about his “pride and joy” is what true parental love should be: unconditional love and support for who your kids are and not who you might want them to be. I don’t have biological children, but I have nieces and nephews whom I love and I have enjoyed seeing them grow up and find their ways in the world. I’m glad he included the negative statements; it says a lot about the hate in people’s hearts and the love in his.
Not about to go into details, but I’m close to her age and I’m bisexual and I have experienced so much hatred and abuse coming from my family of homophobic and biphobic religious zealots.
I envy her, tbh. Wish I had a father like that.
Hang in there. I hope things get easier for you.
Lovely!!