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World & Nation

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s daughter shares her queer identity: ‘You are not alone’

Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo attends her father's State of the State address in 2017
Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, shown in 2017, has often used her social media accounts to advocate for the LGBTQ community.
(Richard Drew / Associated Press)
By MARINA VILLENEUVE
Associated Press
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Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, the daughter of New York’s governor, used a social media post Thursday to share her “queer identity” and call for allies to speak up against homophobia.

“To those who are contending with the compulsive heterosexuality our society force feeds us and innate attraction beyond cis het folks, please know that you are not alone,” the 23-year-old wrote on Instagram. “Today, I stand in my queer identity with pride, and in memory of those who came before me. I stand indebted to the activists who fought for my right to love and happiness.”

Kennedy-Cuomo has often used her social media accounts to advocate for the LGBTQ community, including those affected by sexual assault.

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She has also shared pictures from Pride marches of herself with family members including her father, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who successfully pushed for passage of same-sex marriage legislation in the state 2011.

El Centro, CA - March 04: "Enrique" walks around some fields he hangs out at when he's feeling overwhelmed by his parents, who are not accepting of his transgender identity on Thursday, March 4, 2021 in El Centro, CA. For many queer and trans young people who have families that are unaccepting of their identities - or whom they are not out to - college is a time when they can finally embody their authentic selves. They can date and receive validation from those around them. They might come out if they haven't already. The pandemic has ripped away this affirming environment from queer and trans students who have been forced to live at home while they take classes online, some for almost a year now. This has had devastating mental health impacts for many in this situation. For example, 19-year-old "Enrique" (his nickname) has been living with his unaffirming parents for a year. He has struggled with depression and suicidal ideation. Usually loud and flamboyant, he is now quiet and reserved. He desperately misses being around young people who accept him completely. His features should be obscured, so please shoot from the back or silhouettes. He is bringing a rainbow jacket he wore at Pride last year, so I was thinking you might take a portrait of him looking out at the fields while wearing this jacket.(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

California

A year at home has forced many LGBTQ college students ‘back into the closet’

The forced homecoming of students because of COVID-19 has been painful for those whose families do not know of or reject their LGBTQ identities.

March 24, 2021

“I love, support and couldn’t have more pride in Michaela,” Cuomo said in a statement.

June is Pride Month, with events scheduled in New York, site of the 1969 Stonewall rebellion, and throughout the nation.

Kennedy-Cuomo is the governor’s youngest of three daughters that he has with ex-wife Kerry Kennedy.

In her Instagram post Thursday, Kennedy-Cuomo complained that filtering programs on social media platforms have at times made it harder to find content with key words such as “lesbian and bi.”

Without such “censorship,” she wrote: “maybe I could have accessed the information and tools that as a bisexual person I would need to protect myself from increased rates of sexual victimization, homelessness, hunger, unemployment, hate crimes, and mental health challenges.”

Kennedy-Cuomo urged people who need help with issues around their sexuality to reach out to the Trevor Project, a national group based in West Hollywood providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth.

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