Interview with Braunwyn Windham-Burke of The Real Housewives of Orange County

Braunwyn Windham-Burke is not only one of The Real Housewives of Orange County but also a mother of seven. To me, that’s the most impressive aspect. I can barely juggle my own kids, but here she is juggling seven. On top of that, she’s a later-in-life lesbian, so juggling another level of fun there too.

MS) I’ve heard some criticism that children are coming out earlier and earlier in age. The criticism being that we shouldn’t have to identify ourselves so quickly and sometimes it takes time to know. What’s your stance on that?

BWB)I don’t believe that children are coming out earlier in age just simply for fun or trend. It’s because we are starting to see the tides turn in a more positive direction for LGBTQ+ acceptance, which is a beautiful thing. When you feel loved and accepted in your environment, it makes it all the more easier to be your true self.

MS) So are we saying that by giving love and acceptance it helps kids along their journey to know their true selves?

BWB) The combination of unconditional love and acceptance are key in helping young ones along their journey and find their true path. Unconditional love is not shutting a kid down, telling them no, and detaching. It’s listening, understanding, and even asking questions!

MS) In parenting teens in the LGBTQ community, I feel like children don’t know 100% of what they want to eat for dinner, let alone their identity. What do you do to help them along?

BWB) There’s a big difference between a 4-year-old not knowing if they want Mac N Cheese for dinner, and a teen knowing their sexual/gender and or personal identity. From a young age, children are shown sexual/gender norms in movies. So often people cry “don’t make superheroes gay! It will change your children!” Well, what about all the straight superheroes? That obviously doesn’t influence a gay child to be straight.

I think one of the biggest steps in moving forward is not assigning a negative connotation to gay or straight. It’s just what it is! Some people are gay, some people are straight. Again, it’s all about listening to your child, respecting their boundaries, and being there to guide. Our words as parents speak volumes to children. As long as we stay open-minded and choose our words carefully when talking about all kinds of people, our children will feel comfortable expressing themselves. And yes, by teenage years when kids are dating, queer kids definitely have the right to know their own sexuality.

MS) I love the Mac n Cheese metaphor. Do new societal norms/more role models make it easier for kids to understand their true self?

BWB) Thank you! I think it’s really helpful. I believe representation is the key to moving forward. More representation in media, the more we understand and accept.

MS) How will this holiday post-Covid be different?

BWB) We are still navigating Covid-19 this holiday season the best we can! Due to the recent surge in cases, we are keeping gatherings to family only this year, which is still big because of all the kids we have!

MS) In your opinion, how can we get our holidays back to normal?

BWB) Obviously, we can’t change certain circumstances, but I think honing in on those long-standing traditions make things feel normal. Dive into the magic of Christmas through hot chocolate, visions of sugar plums, magical movies – all the good stuff!

MS) Do you think Christmas will ever revert to the big celebrations of yesterday?

BWB) Yes! And I believe we will appreciate them even more in the years to come.

Maria Spanadoris

Maria Spanadoris an experienced online writer with a passion for general entertainment stories. As a Greek mom, Maria brings her unique perspective to her writing, infusing her work with warmth and humor. She has been writing online for over 20 years, starting her career at thecelebritycafe.com. Since then, Maria has honed her skills as a writer, developing a talent for crafting engaging and informative content that keeps her readers coming back for more. Whether she's covering the latest celebrity gossip or writing about her own experiences as a mom, Maria's writing is always relatable and engaging.