Hollywood actress Camryn Manheim faced significant online criticism following remarks made at the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) National Dinner on Sunday. Manheim, known for her roles in television and film, joked during her speech about her desire to have a gay son and expressed disappointment that her own son, actor Milo Manheim, is heterosexual. Her comments, delivered during an event celebrating LGBTQ+ advocacy, drew applause from some attendees but quickly ignited a firestorm of debate across social media platforms.
"I always wanted a gay son." Camryn Manheim, Actress
The event saw Manheim introducing her longtime friend, Marcia Gay Harden, who was being honored with the organization’s Ally for Equality Award. Manheim highlighted Harden’s personal connection to LGBTQ+ issues, noting that all three of Harden’s children identify within the community. It was at this point that Manheim shifted the focus to her own family, stating, “That’s another thing that deeply irritates me about her, because I always wanted a gay son.”
Manheim elaborated on her sentiments, explaining her admiration for what she described as the unique relationship between gay sons and their mothers. “I love that relationship between gay sons and their mothers,” she stated to the audience. She further joked about the kind of mother she envisioned herself being, specifically one who would fiercely defend a gay child: “I wanted to be the picket sign-holding mom who would beat the s— out of somebody for her kid.” She then posed the question to the audience, “Gay sons are the best, right?”
The actress continued by recounting several aspects of her son, Milo Manheim, that she believed indicated he might be gay. She mentioned having photographs of him wearing high heels and appearing in drag during his childhood. Additionally, she cited his passion for musical theater, jokingly remarking that she thought she “had this f—ing thing locked up” in terms of him being gay. However, she concluded, Milo turned out to be heterosexual, noting, “He’s the only straight guy in his entire musical theater company.” Milo Manheim, 25, is recognized for his role as Zed in Disney Channel’s “Zombies” franchise and his appearance in the 2023 musical film “Journey to Bethlehem.” He also achieved second place on "Dancing with the Stars" in 2018.
Manheim also shared a past interaction with Harden. She recounted that approximately a decade ago, Harden called her to share that her son had come out as gay. Manheim recalled her immediate and enthusiastic response, telling Harden, “Oh my God, you are so f—ing lucky!” She then described a subsequent visit to Harden’s home where a package arrived containing thigh-high patent leather boots, joking that she felt Harden was "just showing off" about her gay son.
The Human Rights Campaign, which describes itself as the country’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, focuses on voter mobilization, candidate support, and policy advocacy for equality. Its annual dinner series includes fundraising events nationwide. While Manheim’s remarks garnered applause within the event, their circulation online prompted a swift and critical response.
Commentators across social media platforms raised concerns about the nature of Manheim's statements. Some critics argued that the actress appeared to treat her son’s sexual orientation as a personal preference or something she desired to control for her own reasons, rather than an inherent aspect of his identity. Others took issue with her expressed disappointment that her son is straight, suggesting it could convey unhealthy expectations to children regarding their sexual identity.
Several conservative commentators reacted particularly harshly to the speech. Some contended that Manheim’s remarks reflected an concerning trend of parents placing undue expectations on their children’s identities. Others labeled the comments as disturbing, inappropriate, or indicative of a broader cultural issue where personal identity is viewed through a lens of parental desire. The intensity of the criticism escalated as clips of her speech spread widely on social media, with many users specifically highlighting her comment about "always wanting a gay son" and her use of childhood photos as "evidence."
As of the time of publication, there has been no public statement from Milo Manheim regarding his mother’s comments. The backlash has primarily originated from external commentators reacting to the speech online. Fox News Digital reportedly contacted both the Human Rights Campaign and representatives for Camryn Manheim for comment, but neither had provided a response. Manheim’s remarks, delivered in a joking tone at an advocacy event, have thus become a focal point in discussions surrounding parental expectations, identity, and the boundaries of humor.
