Gloria Estefan explains ‘complicated’ reason she told daughter not to come out to grandmother
Emily Estefan (L) says mother Gloria Estefan was reluctant to tell her grandmother that she had come out. (Getty)
Singer Gloria Estefan has explained the “complicated” reason behind telling her daughter not to come out to her grandmother.
Emily Estefan came out as a lesbian in 2017, after starting a serious relationship with her current partner Gemeny Hernandez in December 2016.
In multiple interviews since she came out, Emily, also a singer, has shared the fact that Gloria was “reluctant” for her to come out to her 88-year-old grandmother.
Explaining the decision to CNN Gloria said: “In the Latin community, a lot of these subjects aren’t touched, they’re taboo.
“People see – but they don’t want to talk about it, they don’t want to see it. We’re all just families trying to get through the difficult moments in life.”
Gloria Estefan thought her daughter would be “comfortable coming out” to her.
“We’ve been very, very open about the support for the LGBTQ+ community our entire lives,” she explained.
“And at the same time, I had a mother with ulcerative colitis that even if I brought up a bill – or something that was not even important – would get very upset.
“Life is complicated, life is tough,” she concluded.
Emily’s grandmother passed away in 2017 before she was able to come out.
Reflecting on that, Emily told The Real Daytime: “I know that she [Gloria] was just trying to protect me and now understand it’s just a fierce love and protection for the people you love.
“But in that moment it was really difficult for me to hear.
“I never told her and she [her grandmother] passed away and that’s the one thing I regret but I know she knew because we had a really incredible relationship.
“You can’t let anybody take you from your path, you got to be yourself. I know she knew deep inside and she would love me either way.”
Emily’s sexuality and coming out journey were also the focus of a Estefan family Red Table Talk special.
Inspired by Jada Pinkett Smith and her family’s Red Table Talk. The Estefans started their own, with Gloria, Emily and Gloria’s niece Lili.
During the episode, Gloria also defends her decision, telling her daughter: “Just like you were in that turmoil of emotion, you are remembering things as we all tend to do, in a different way.”
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