'We have to love and understand': Annette Bening speaks up in support of trans rights on 'The View'

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Annette Bening appeared on the January 12 episode of 'The View' to promote her latest film, 'Nyad', but used the platform to address a more important social issue.

A well-known voice in support of trans rights, the 65-year-old actress shared how personal it was for her as she spoke of her son Tephen, 32, who identifies as transgender.

When did Annette Bening decide to be an open ally?

Co-host Sara Haines asked the actress about the time she decided she "needed to enter that ring of speaking out" in support of the LGBTQIA+ community.

"At the beginning, I felt very protective of (Stephen's) privacy, because he’s the son of these two famous people," Bening responded. "So I felt very protective, and I felt it was his right to say what he wanted to say publicly, or not."

"And now, as time has gone on — especially now with what’s happening, unfortunately, in the political process, (with how) trans people are being used — fear and ignorance is being stoked against trans people in the most frightening way. It’s so unfair," she continued.

Stephen is the eldest of the four children Bening shares with her husband of over 30 years, Warren Beatty, according to People.

The prevalence of fear

Stating that she felt "very, very strongly" about the issue, Bening exclaimed, "I am a Democrat. We need a strong Republican party. We need a strong opposition. But we don’t need people to stoke up fear."

The actress went on to share how a friend of hers shifted from Texas to Los Angeles with her family because "she was very worried about what was going to happen" to her trans daughter had they remained.

"As you know, some of the laws in Texas have gotten very Draconian, and they’re able to actually go and intervene at the school without the parent present and talk to the child. So my friend was terribly frightened... We need the Republicans to stand up and say that this is wrong. And that this is heartbreaking," she added.

Bening stressed the importance of greater understanding, and said that she hoped "people would find someone in their lives who's a trans person ... who is just like they are, (but) they happen to be trans."

"And if you’re even luckier, you have someone in your family, because then you really do understand that we don’t have to judge — we have to love and understand."