Rosie O’Donnell Reveals Heartwarming Moment Her Child Clay, 12, Embraced Nonbinary Identity: ‘A Fascinating Journey’

In a tender and deeply personal reflection, Rosie O’Donnell has opened her heart about a defining moment with her youngest child, Clay. In an intimate interview with Variety, the beloved actress and comedian shared how, at just 12 years old, Clay came to her with honesty and courage, expressing their identity as nonbinary.

“They said to me, ‘Mommy, I’m nonbinary. I’m not a boy or a girl,’” Rosie recalled with quiet reverence. “And I simply said, ‘That’s wonderful.’” With gentle pride, she remembered how Clay went on to say, “My pronouns are they and them, and I’d appreciate it if you’d respect that.” Rosie smiled, adding, “I told them I’d try my very best. And then I thought who are they, Harvey Milk reincarnated?”

As the mother of five Clay, Vivienne, Blake, Chelsea, and Parker Rosie has never shied away from nurturing her children’s individuality. Now 63, she has long spoken about the struggles she faced growing up as a lesbian in the 1970s, when simply naming one’s truth felt like an act of defiance. “Can you imagine being 10 years old in 1972 and hearing nothing but silence or shame about people like me?” she asked, her voice reflecting decades of resilience. “Words like ‘gay’ were never spoken aloud. In church, we were told we were wrong. Even icons like Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova had to deny who they were just to survive in their sport.”

These stories, she said, often leave Clay speechless. “They ask, ‘What did your classmates say when you came out?’ And I tell them, ‘That wasn’t even an option then. It was a different world entirely.’” Through these conversations, Rosie hopes to offer her child a sense of perspective, not just on her own journey but on how far society has come and how much further it has to go.

In March, Rosie made the life-altering decision to leave the United States behind and begin anew in Ireland with Clay by her side. Through TikTok videos, she has shared glimpses into their relocation, praising her child’s bravery and adaptability. “It’s not easy to uproot your life and start over,” she admitted, “but it felt like the safest, most loving choice for our family right now.”

In one especially heartfelt clip posted March 20, Rosie beamed with pride, reflecting on how Clay has adjusted beautifully to the Irish countryside. “They’re thriving,” she said softly. “And that gives me peace.”

Yet her heart remains tethered to the people she left behind. “I miss my other kids, my friends, and so many things about home,” she confessed. “But I’m building something here, something beautiful and safe. And when the day comes that everyone in America can live freely, without fear or limitation, maybe then we’ll find our way back.”

With grace, humor, and unwavering love, Rosie O’Donnell continues to illuminate the path for others — not only as a performer, but as a mother navigating the quiet, everyday courage it takes to let your child be exactly who they are.