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Heather Dubrow Reflects on Raising LGBTQIA+ Kids: "It's a Beautiful Thing"
The RHOC mom also shared some advice for other parents of LGBTQIA+ children: "You learn a lot more by listening."
The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Heather Dubrow is waving her “proud momma” flag.
In celebration of Pride Month, the multi-hyphenate spoke to E! News about her role as a mother and raising three children who identify as LGBTQIA+. The Beverly Hills resident — who shares her four children with Dr. Terry Dubrow — said she was thankful that her kids were comfortable sharing their stories with her, as she was raised in a household in which sensitive topics were avoided at all costs.
“It’s a beautiful thing,” she told the outlet about her kids’ coming-out stories. “I came from a family that was very 1950s and no one ever talked about anything and everything was sort of brushed under the rug.”
Heather recalled telling herself, “If I were lucky enough to have a family, I would be the opposite of that. And so I have to say I’m proud of them, I’m proud of me, I’m proud of us as a family for having the communication that we have.”
Heather and Terry Dubrow's daughters, Max and Kat, come out
Heather and Terry’s oldest daughter, 20-year-old Maximillia, came out as bisexual in 2020, while their youngest daughter, 17-year-old Katrina, came out as a lesbian in the following year. Fans got a closer look at the latter’s coming out experience in RHOC Season 16 Episode 10 when Kat revealed she had faced bigotry at school.
“From what I saw from the outside of my older sister’s coming out story, everyone was supportive,” the teen said in an interview alongside Heather. “Her friends were supportive. But when I came out, I was dealing with a lot of homophobia.”
“That breaks my heart,” Heather said.
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Heather Dubrow shares advice for parents of LGBTQIA+ kids
The OC ’Wife told E! News that her job as a mom is “to support [her kids] and defend them and take care of them and guide them”; however, she emphasized how crucial it is to simply lend an ear.
“But the most important lesson I can give to a parent of an LGBTQ+ child, or any child, is to listen because people just want to be heard,” she explained. “[It’s tempting] to talk at our kids and give them our words of wisdom and teach them our lessons. And the truth is, you learn a lot more by listening and it helps them more to let them speak.”
Heather and Terry Dubrow's youngest son, Ace, comes out as transgender
Heather and Terry’s youngest child, Ace, came out as transgender in early 2023. The OC mom confirmed the news in an Instagram post for National Son’s Day.
“Our job as parents is to give our kids a safe and supportive environment so they can grow up as healthy, happy, confident, independent humans,” she wrote in the caption. “Since Ace is a 12-year-old child, with a long life ahead of him — we will let him tell his own story someday if he chooses to do so. All we can say is Ace, we love you so much and we are proud to be your parents. Your brother and sisters love and support you too.”
Heather Dubrow on Using Her Platform to Raise Awareness
Heather said she and Terry, who also share a 20-year-old son named Nicholas, are using their platforms to raise awareness on LGBTQIA+ issues and hope their stories will inspire other parents of LGBTQIA+ children.
“We came back to Housewives because I thought, ‘Hey we’ve got this great platform, they’re asking us to come back, wouldn’t it be nice to show our very normal family and maybe start conversations in other people’s families?’” Heather said. “And I feel like in a little way we’ve been able to do that, so that’s all been really amazing…. I love my children. They’re incredible human beings. And I’m so proud of who they’re growing up to be.”
