Michaela Jaé Rodriguez is excited about taking the next step in her relationship with her boyfriend, Stephen Gimigliano.
“We’ve discussed having kids,” the actress, 33, told earlier this month, where she and fellow cover star Adam Lambert were honored.
“We’re still figuring that out, not because we don’t want them, but because we constantly wonder how our child would grow up in today’s world.”
Rodriguez shared that while she envisions the two of them “planning out life together and getting married,” she is cautious about diving into parenthood during a “weird and scary time.”
She explained, “We both want children badly, but we are concerned about them being ridiculed because I am a trans woman. Given the current climate, I always worry about that.”
She added, “I don’t want my child to face any prejudice. No matter how people perceive me, my maternal instincts will kick in, and it will be all about protecting my child. I’m not sure if I’m ready to handle the potential challenges my child might face because of who I am.”
Before considering children, Rodriguez emphasized that she and Gimigliano need to first focus on marriage. “We’ll tackle the marriage hurdle first,” she said. “Then we’ll think about having children.”
Rodriguez and Gimigliano began their relationship in 2019, and she publicly celebrated him in a now-deleted Valentine’s Day Instagram post.
Calling Gimigliano her “center,” she noted: “He keeps me grounded. I’m very creative and free-spirited with my art, and he is the more centered and calm one.
It’s a great balance with my Capricorn nature and his Pisces qualities. I love him and am grateful he’s in my life to ground me.”
She further described their relationship as “very safe,” appreciating that Gimigliano allows her to be herself.
“I really value that he supports me in everything I do. That’s something every woman wants: to be free within herself while knowing her partner is there for her.”
