Khaled Hosseini and His Trans Daughter© Getty Images, Khaled Hosseini

Khaled Hosseini Pens A Moving Note For His Trans Daughter

Salva Mubarak
Senior Features Writer

Afghan-American author Khaled Hosseini set a shining example of how simple and powerful acceptance and support can be for LGBTQ+ children all around the world. Hosseini’s 21-year-old child Haris had recently come out as transgender and the author announced it to the world in one of the most heartwarming ways possible.

The writer penned a long and thoughtful note, along with a picture of his daughter, where he applauded her for her courage and handling the challenges that come with the transition with “grace, patience, and wisdom”. He also expressed his delight at having two beautiful daughters now.

The Kite Runner author wrote, “Yesterday, my daughter Haris came out as transgender. I have never been prouder of her. She has taught our family so much about bravery and truth.”

Hosseini revealed that he had known about this since last year and had learned what it truly means to live authentically through her. “I know this process was painful for her, fraught with grief and anxiety. She is sober to the cruelty trans people are subjected to daily. But she is strong and undaunted.” After asserting that her family stands behind her with their unequivocal support, the author concluded his note by writing, “It’s a privilege to watch her enter the world as the beautiful, wise, and brilliant woman that she is. May God bless her.”

Hosseini has joined the ranks of public figures who have openly spoken up about acceptance of different gender identities by vocally supporting their trans, non binary, or gender fluid children.

More recently, Jennifer Lopez set an example of how easy it is to respect and acknowledge your child’s preferred pronouns without making it a big deal.

Other than her, actors like Charlize Theron and Gabrielle Union have spoken up about the importance of the press using the right pronouns for their children. Union and her husband Dwayne Wade were subjected to widespread backlash and online harassment for choosing to embrace their child Zion’s gender fluid identity. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s oldest child has also been subjected to intense and, oftentimes, cruel scrutiny for the way they choose to express their gender identity.

We can only hope that this serves as a reminder to any parent who is struggling to accept their child the way they are and inspire them to provide the much-needed support they need.