Life

Leona O'Neill: James Woods remarks totally offensive

Already, too many young people grow up feeling like they are too wrong or too different. And then along comes a Hollywood actor spouting vitriol and prejudice, to add fuel to the fire – a shameful intervention, writes Leona O'Neill

The photo of CJ, with his mum and dad at Pride event, that prompted James Woods's twitter comments
The photo of CJ, with his mum and dad at Pride event, that prompted James Woods's twitter comments The photo of CJ, with his mum and dad at Pride event, that prompted James Woods's twitter comments

RECENTLYa huge online row erupted after a Hollywood actor posted an offensive remark about a family raising an American 'gender non-conforming' child.

Oscar-nominated actor James Woods caused outrage after throwing some serious transphobic vitriol at the eight-year-old child and his parents on Twitter.

The abuse centred around a photograph US mum Lori Duron put on her blog that showed her, her husband Matt and their son CJ celebrating at a Pride rally. Lori blogs at Raising My Rainbow about her "gender creative nonconforming son", CJ. Gender creative is a term applied to children who are so young that gender and sexuality would be uncertain anyway, but the term 'gender creative' applies to kids who don't adhere to strict gender roles set by society.

CJ's mum, dad and brother are hugely supportive of him and his choices. CJ started to show signs of gender non-conformity when he was just three years old. At five he started to refer to himself as gender non-confirming and identified himself as LGBTQ at eight years of age. The child now wears make-up and dresses. His mother describes him as "the most captivating child you will ever meet with an insane knack for art and color, interior design and gymnastics". She says his passions include "Barbie, Monster High, LEGO Friends, American Girl dolls and women’s hair and shoes".

He sounds like an incredible kid. And then comes James Woods who saw the family at the Pride march and decided to throw some hate their way.

"This is sweet,” he said. “Wait until this poor kid grows up, realises what you've done, and stuffs both of you dismembered into a freezer in the garage."

A vicious, hurtful and totally unnecessary comment, I'm sure you'll agree.

It infuriates me that people with considerable platforms use them as a vehicle to drive hate home. Assuming that it is the parents who are forcing their child into wearing what he wears or acting like he does is totally repugnant. Mr Woods is just another person who will make people who do not conform to strict societal 'rules' feel like outsiders, that they are not good enough, that there is something wrong with them.

A friend of mine who is gay grew up playing with Barbie Dolls, rummaging about in his mother's make-up bag and stumbling about in her heels. He remembers his grandfather scolding his mother, telling her to 'nip it in the bud before he turns gay'. My friend knew from when he was six that he was gay. No amount of bud nipping would have made any difference, but accepting him as the beautiful and fabulous person that he was would have saved him years of heartache.

Woods's fellow US actor and proud gay man Neil Patrick Harris said exactly what needed to be said to fight back against this type of prejudice.

"Utterly ignorant and classless, Mr Woods,” he said. “I'm friends with this family. You know not of what you speak, and should be ashamed of yourself."

Too many of our young people are growing up feeling like they are too wrong or too different. Too many of our young people think it's OK to bully or attack those who are beautifully different in our society because people like James Wood spout their vitriol and normalise prejudice.

I think CJs mum and dad are absolutely wonderful parents by embracing their child's unique personality, loving him exactly as he is and how he wants to be and being his cheerleaders in life. That love and support will provide him with the very best of armour as he ventures into a world that is unfortunately populated with some idiotic people who have to put others down to make themselves feel better.

Personally speaking, no matter who my kids grow up to love, I know they'll be great people. Love is all that matters.