Author Khaled Hosseini's message to his daughter who came out as trans is a lesson in parenting

Afghan-American novelist Khaled Hosseini wrote a beautiful message to his daughter, Haris, after she came out as a transgender woman. Hosseini, who is known for his books "The Kite Runner" and "A Thousand Splendid Suns" shared the message on Instagram on Wednesday, July 13. Hosseini posted the message a day after Haris came out to the world as a trans woman. Hosseini's message of kindness, love and acceptance is a lesson in parenting. The author shared he was aware of her journey and that she had the support of her family. "I have known about Haris’ journey since last year and I’ve watched her navigate some very trying personal times. Transitioning is such a complicated undertaking — emotionally, physically, socially, psychologically — but Haris has met each challenge with grace, patience, and wisdom," he wrote.

At a time when the trans community is being targeted across America through legislation tabled by Republican-led governments, Hosseini's message of support and acceptance is a strong rebuke of anti-trans rhetoric that is becoming increasingly mainstream. "She is sober to the cruelty trans people are subjected to daily. But she is strong and undaunted," said the author before hailing his daughter. "As a father, I have never been prouder of her. I am delighted to now have not one but two beautiful daughters. Most of all, I am inspired by Haris’ fearlessness, her courage to share with the world her true self. She has taught me and our family so much about bravery, about truth. About what it means to live authentically. I know this process was painful for her, fraught with grief and anxiety," she wrote. 

Hosseini added that he and his family were firmly behind her. "I love my daughter. I will be by her side every step of the way, as will our family. We stand behind her. It’s a privilege to watch her enter the world as the beautiful, wise, and brilliant woman that she is. May God bless her," he concluded in an emotional post that included a picture of Haris now and one of her sitting on his lap as a child. Affirmation and support from your loved ones can be lifesaving, as a study by The Trevor Project showed. The study highlighted that 45% of LGBTQ young people "seriously considered" suicide this past year. It also noted that LGBTQ members with a loving and supportive family reported significantly lower rates of attempting suicide, highlighting how important acceptance is. 

Another famous parent who showed support for their trans child is actor Jamie Lee Curtis. As we reported, she wished her trans daughter a happy birthday and sent a strong message on the protection of constitutional rights in the wake of anti-trans laws being passed in America in March earlier this year. Jamie Lee Curtis, known for her role in the "Halloween" series and "Freaky Friday" sent wishes to her daughter Ruby Guest before rallying to support other families with trans kids. Ruby came out as transgender to her parents in 2020 and her parents Jamie Lee Curtis and Christopher Guest supported her transition. On March 13, Ruby's birthday, Curtis posted a picture of herself wearing a t-shirt with a fist in the colors of the trans flag. She raised her fist in solidarity and posed doing an acrobatic kick as well. “I am proud and grateful to be the parent of a trans child and am sending support to all of the trans families across the US who are being targeted in this moment by conservative legislatures,” she wrote. 

Lee Curtis also called out leaders who were trying to pass anti-trans laws. "This country was founded on freedom. A profoundly simple idea that everyone living here should be free to dream and achieve what they want freely," she wrote. "OUR declaration of independence promises that we are endowed with certain unalienable rights including Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.....AND that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to defy it to ensure Safety and Happiness. A profound idea. Safety and Happiness!"

If you're a trans person and are being subjected to abuse, or need any help, please reach out to TRANS LIFELINE at 877-330-6366.