On the latest episode of Facebook Watch’s Red Table Talk: The Estefans, Gloria Estefan‘s queer daughter, Emily, did not hold back when talking about coming out to her family and her mother’s negative response.
Gloria, of course, is known for being a longtime LGBTQ ally who has often credited gay clubs and DJs for helping to bring her music into the mainstream early in her career.
But when her own daughter said she was in love with another woman, the singer didn’t take the news well.
Recalled Emily, “I was like, ‘Hey, I’m in love with this girl.’ The first thing you said was, ‘If you tell your grandma and she dies, her blood is on your hands.’ I just wasn’t ready for that.”
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Emily went on to say that she understood her grandmother was old-fashioned and might not respond well to the news, but having her mother say those words made her feel like “whatever it is, hide it, it’s not OK.”
“That’s where my hurt started,” Emily continued. “I’m never going to forget that.”
After quietly listening to her daughter speak, Gloria said that she remembered things differently, saying, “Just like you were in that turmoil of emotion, you’re remembering things, as we all tend to do, in a different way.” Then she shared her perspective of the story.
Watch.
Cam
Emily identifies as lesbian.
radiooutmike
I love you Gloria. But, that is pure Grade A bullshit she uses saying her daughter remembers things ‘differently’ because of emotions.
zealot
Actually I’m not shocked. I remember some things Estefan said early on in her career that weren’t exactly embracing of our community. It was later, after our acceptance that she started paying lip service to us— but to me it always came off as self serving. I’ve never trusted her as an ally. Less so, now. She should be ashamed…but like most so-called allies, she’ll continue to view our community and not see us as people, but dollar signs.
danozard
what a crock of shit you’ve just posted, i’ve been a lifelong fan of gloria and she has always shown her unwavering support for the gay community as far back as 1992 , the VP of her company is a gay man and she has hired plenty of gay staff over the years and has done so much for her gay fans and has always been thankful to them . If you can back up your statement, i’d be interested to hear it.
eireapparent
I appreciate that as a family they are having a tough conversation that many can relate to. I think Gloria is a huge ally but when it’s your own kid, it can be difficult to process. It’s so easy to judge from our keyboards. The whole family seems very real, grounded, and loving.
wooly101
I really don’t know why the gay community thinks parents should jump with joy when a child tells them he or she is gay. I don’t think any parent sees nothing but a heterosexual life for their child. Parents first have to process the information, understand it and then the acceptance can begin. I bet my bottom dollar my mom will go to her grave wishing that I had married and fathered children, even though she states she loves me.
bachy
Same. But spurning parental ‘approval’ is probably what saved me. My siblings sought and won parental approval. They’re both married, parents – and completely out of their minds.
Cam
How horrible of the community thinking that the first thing a parent does shouldn’t be to say something belittling to their kid.
Donston
Well, this is 2020. A great percentage of parents don’t care anymore. And there’s more awareness than ever that “gays” can be healthy and safe. There’s more awareness now that same-sex love and commitment can be sustained and more fulfilling. There’s really no excuses any longer. My parents couldn’t have cared less when I let them know what was up a decade ago. (Then again, they already had three kids in hetero marriages). Nowadays, there are too many out “queers” and it’s very easy to educate yourself. There’s no excuse for that reaction nowadays. It’s the responsibility of every parent to prepare themselves for however their kid evolves and what path that go down. That doesn’t mean you have to be over the top happy and delighted. But such a reaction in today’s world does equate to bad parenting.
rocknstan
Gays would even begin to trust an Anti-Castro renegade from the island?
The “right”-wing spirit in South Florida still runs deep (they’ll try to re-elect the Monster), even after Cuba has begun to reform itself, especially with regard to its past anti-Gay policies from the 1950s (look at the States’ practices in the ’50s, including electroshock therapy).
“It will kill your grandmother” is the kind of reactionary thinking that perpetuates the bourgeoise, status-quo lies and misconceptions about “gay.”
I have never trusted Ms. Estefan. Of course she built her career on the backs of Gay people.