Pink says she’s raising her kids without gender labels
Pop superstar Pink is speaking out in favor of challenging gender norms, saying that she does not want her two children, Willow, 6, and Jameson, 11 months, to grow up defined by their gender.
“I was in a school and the bathroom outside the kindergarten said: ‘Gender Neutral – anybody,’ and it was a drawing of many different shapes. I took a picture of it and I wrote: ‘Progress.’ I thought that was awesome. I love that kids are having this conversation,” she told Sunday People.
When it comes to how her kids express their gender or sexuality, Pink has no preconceived expectations of them. “We are a very label-less household,” the singer said. “Last week Willow told me she is going to marry an African woman. I was like, ‘Great, can you teach me how to make African food?'”
Reflecting on her role as a mother, Pink says she even sees herself as a young boy in a way. “I’m a f***ing grownup now, it’s so weird. I’m still a 12-year-old boy.”
This is not the first time Pink has advocated for gender nonconformity. When accepting the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award at the MTV Video Music Awards in August, she used the opportunity to send a powerful message about the importance of self-acceptance. She relayed a story about how Willow told her that she felt ugly for “looking like a boy.” Pink resisted the impulse to track down her child’s bullies and instead used the situation to teach her about gender fluidity.
“…I didn’t say anything, and instead I went home and I made a PowerPoint presentation for her, and in that presentation, there were androgynous rock stars and artists that live their truth, are probably made fun of every day of their life, and carry on, and wave their flag and inspire the rest of us. These are artists like Michael Jackson, and David Bowie, and Freddie Mercury, and Annie Lennox and Prince and Janis Joplin and George Michael, Elton John, so many artists,” she said in her speech.
Kudos to Pink for her open-minded stance!