Busy Philipps Says 12-Year-Old Child Birdie Is Gay, Uses They/Them Pronouns

Busy Philipps says her oldest child, Birdie, 12, is “gay and out” and goes by they/them pronouns.

The Dawson’s Creek alum made the announcement during the “New Year’s Eve Eve Special” episode of her podcast, Busy Philipps is Doing Her Best. “For those of you who are my friends listening at home, this is the first you’re hearing that Birdie is gay and out,” the 41-year-old told listeners. “Birdie told us at 10 years old and we immediately … I mean, obviously, I knew that Birdie knew.”

As Busy explained, Birdie came to their mother about their personal pronouns, which the TV star had been reluctant to use in public due to her own “public persona” in an effort to protect Birdie’s privacy. However, Busy says Birdie gave her their permission to discuss their pronouns on the podcast.

"Birdie said that they would like their pronouns to be they/them, and I haven't been doing it, and I said because I have this public persona, and I want Birdie to be in control of their own narrative and not have to answer to anybody outside of our friends and family if they don't want to," the Busy Tonight star added. "Bird was like, 'I don't give a f—k. You can talk about how I'm gay and out, you can talk about my pronouns. That would be cool with me.’”

Staying true to the show, Busy admitted she “sometimes” still does “f—k up” Birdie’s pronouns, but insists she is “trying [her] best at that.”

"I love that kid, and this has been a f—ing wild year, and you know, I feel like I finally just really understand a lot of bigger things, life-wise,” Busy added of Birdie, who she parents alongside her other child, 7-year-old daughter Cricket, whom she shares with her screenwriter husband Marc Silverstein.

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