Former actor Leandro Muñoz recounted how his eldest child Cheska, now a transgender man who goes by the name Frankie, once talked to him crying to reveal his true gender identity.
The now US-based former matinee idol was Paolo Contis’ guest on his YouTube show “Just In” last Sept. 2.
“This is something that I will never hide from the public because this is a serious matter,” Leandro said when Paolo asked permission if they could touch the topic.
He narrated that Frankie was then 16-years-old when he turned to him crying: “Yung anak ko when nagturn sya ng 16-years-old kinausap nya ako… He was crying tapos sabi nya, “I need help. I am wrong. I need help maybe from a psychiatrist.” Sabi ko, “Why?” Because attracted sya sa same sex.
“Sabi ko, “There’s nothing wrong with you. Is that what makes you happy?””
At that point, he said Frankie replied: “Yeah, that’s what makes me happy. I feel like I am a boy. I am a man.”
Leandro did not say anything, except: “Then go with what you feel.”
“Since then”, he said, “hindi na sya closet. Hindi na sya nagtago. He came out. He’s a transman.”
The actor advised parents to assess the kind of support their children truly needs: “Ang point ko here is talagang support our children with what will make them happy.”
“Kung meron kayong anak who’s trying to come out, support. Give a 100 percent of support,” he added.
Leandro now lives in Northern California with his wife. They just welcomed their new bundle of joy in January and transferred to a new residence when the pandemic took hold.
