Actress Coleen Garcia shared that she dreams of a world where children can be accepted for who they are after a Facebook page claimed she responded to comments criticizing her son for holding flowers.
The showbiz personality on Friday, February 6, clarified that the page, which alleged she spoke up about Amari supposedly being bashed for liking flowers, was not hers.
“This page is not mine,” she wrote in an Instagram Story.
Nevertheless, the actress agreed “with what they responded, and to many of the other parents who have been chiming in.”
In another Instagram Story, the actress said she “wouldn’t waste” her “breath or time” justifying her son’s interests to someone she does not know.
“People who go out of their way to say something unkind about an innocent child who they’ve never even met. Can we all just pause to think… seriously… what kind of person even does that?” Coleen said.
“It’s disgusting behavior. I would be more proud to have a gay friend or relative than to ever be associated with someone who bashes or gives unsolicited comments to strangers online regarding their children,” she added.
The actress reiterated that the Facebook page, which claimed she responded to alleged criticisms of her son, is “fake.”
“Again, I don’t usually comment on these things, but fake pages make it seem like I did, so I might as well speak up on it the way I want to,” she wrote.
“I dream of a world where children can be loved and accepted for who they are, without having to be boxed in by society’s standards and assumptions; where they have the freedom to unapologetically be themselves, so they can grow into secure, confident, compassionate, and empathetic adults who bring out the best in the people around them,” Coleen said.
“Seeing and appreciating the simple beauties of this world does not make you less of a man. Being gentle with God’s creations does not make you weak,” she added.
“I know this is why I was blessed to be a boy mom. I grew up with men, and let me tell you this: I will not let toxic masculinity have a place in our home. I know the world won’t easily give my boys that space and grace, but I will always fight for it,” the actress said.
“If we want a better, kinder, safer world for our children, we need to pave the way,” Coleen continued.
“I’ll never have full control over what happens outside our home or what other people think and say, but what I can do is give my boys a strong foundation that won’t easily be shaken—so that one day, when someone has the audacity to verbalize their ignorance, they will know how to respond with self-confidence and grace,” she said.
Earlier reports said Coleen allegedly called out some of Amari’s supposed critics, who questioned his gender identity after seeing a photo of him holding flowers while the family was on vacation.
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The report originated from a Facebook post that falsely claimed to be from the actress.
“Liking flowers doesn’t define who a child is. Amari has loved flowers and plants since he was little, and that’s simply part of who he is, curious, gentle, and appreciative of nature,” it said.
The page using Coleen’s name also commented on a Facebook user who claimed, “”95% of boy children who like flowers and other gentle things will eventually become gay when they grow up, and Amari has the highest possibility of becoming one.”
The page, using the actress’ name, also commented: “Let’s stop assuming a child’s gender or sexuality based on their interests. A boy liking flowers doesn’t mean anything beyond the fact that he likes flowers. Amari has loved plants since he was little, and that should be celebrated, not labeled. Kids deserve the freedom to be themselves, gently, fully, and without assumptions.”
The fake page can no longer be found on Facebook.
