Annette Bening & Warren Beatty’s Trans* Son Speaks Out About Leelah Alcorn

Stephen Ira, 23, a writer and trans* advocate, is the eldest son of Annette Bening and Warren Beatty. Stephen was assigned the female gender and given the name Kathryn at birth. He started transitioning at the age of 14. In the wake of Leelah Alcorn's tragic suicide, Ira has joined the many people sharing their stories with the #RealLiveTransAdult hashtag. He has also been speaking out against conversion therapists, which Alcorn mentioned being forced to visit in her suicide note.

"I survived conversion therapy and transphobic abuse. I'm 22 and I live in New York City and I just put on my androgel. #RealLiveTransAdult," Stephen tweeted in late December. "[I]f your therapist tries hard to convince you not to transition, that's conversion therapy! they don't have to 'be' a conversion therapist," he continued. "[I]f your therapist won't endorse transition until you are on the brink of suicide, that is conversion therapy," he further explained.

Stephen also had a message for Alcorn's parents, "If you can't handle having a trans kid, don't have kids." According to People, his own parents have never publicly addressed Stephen's gender. In the past, he has credited his friends for their support.

It is Stephen's hope that Leelah will be remembered for the support she offered other members of the trans* community, and her enduring hope that "[O]ne day, transgender people aren't treated the way I was, they're treated like humans, with valid feelings and human rights."

"[G]ive this young woman the peace in death that she deserves and work for what she wanted, work for the things she needed while she lived," Stephen eloquently reminded everyone on Twitter.