Sally Field is an ardent advocate of LGBT rights, even winning the Human Rights Campaign's Ally for Equality Award. Her youngest son, Sam, presented her with the honor.
During
an EW Radio town hall on SiriusXM this week, PEOPLE and Entertainment
Weekly editorial director Jess Cagle asked Field for any advice she
would give to parents who expected their
child was about to come out to them.
"First
of all, don't be frightened. And don't put your own prejudices or fears
about sexuality – your own fears about sexuality – on your children,"
Field says. "Sexuality is a human
glorious part of existence."
Field
noted in Sam's case it was initially difficult for her son to become
accustomed to his identity as a gay man. The Oscar-winner said she did
her best to encourage Sam to discover
his true self: "I welcomed him to welcome himself and find that part of
his life."
She hopes other parents can do the same.
"What
horrifies me is that there are parents who so disapprove, who are so
brainwashed to think that this is something out of the Bible or ungodly
or against nature," Field continued.
"It's not against nature if nature has actually done this. Sam was
always Sam, this wonderful human that he is, from the time he was born.
... Some people actually shut their children out of the house when
they're young, they're teenagers – they're having
a hard enough time to be teenagers and own any part of sexuality. I'm
still trying to figure it out!"
Field's latest movie, Hello, My Name is Doris, is in theaters now. "The Sally Field Town Hall," hosted by Jess Cagle, debuts March 17 at 2 p.m. ET on EW Radio.