Airyn De Niro, daughter of Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, recently shared her journey of starting hormone therapy and coming out as transgender in an interview with Them, an LGBTQ magazine. At 29, she reflected on her upbringing, feeling out of place and labeled as a “late bloomer.” Airyn expressed the challenges of growing up, sharing that she often felt caught between societal expectations regarding race and gender. These experiences made her feel “too much” or “not enough” in various aspects of her identity.
Inspired by openly transgender figures like Laverne Cox and Marsha P. Johnson, Airyn found courage to embrace her femininity over the past year. She noted that their visibility and success made her believe it was not too late for her to be her true self. Additionally, she highlighted the influence of Black women on her identity, mentioning that one of her first steps in expressing her gender was getting dreadlocks, inspired by Halle Bailey’s portrayal in “The Little Mermaid.”
Despite being raised by famous parents, Airyn appreciated their efforts to protect her from the spotlight and allow her to pursue her own career. She now aspires to be a public figure to inspire others, particularly during a time when transgender rights are under threat. Committed to making a difference, she is studying to become a mental health counselor, emphasizing the need for more advocacy and support for people of color and queer individuals in the mental health community. “People of color and queer people definitely need more mental health advocacy and support,” she said, reflecting her dedication to helping others.
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