Former Home and Away star Mat Stevenson on transgender daughter’s journey

Former Home and Away star Mat Stevenson appeared on The Sunday Project this weekend with his transgender daughter Grace Stevenson. 

The actor, who appeared on the soap in the nineties, recalled to co-host Lisa Wilkinson the reactions of his friends upon learning his son was transitioning.

Mat said while some were ‘pretty seamless’ and ‘got it’, others struggled, asking them to simply love his daughter and ‘show some empathy’. 

‘I urge people to show some empathy’: Former Home and Away star Mat Stevenson recalled the reaction to his transgender daughter Grace’s journey (both pictured), during an appearance on The Sunday Project this weekend 

Grace knew she was meant to be male as early as the age of ‘four or five’, and began transitioning at the age of 12. 

She consulted doctors, psychologists and experts in the field, for a year, before commencing any physical treatment. 

‘I came out at 12 and then I went through a gradual transition until I was 14, to grow my hair out, to get my name change sorted, to sort out my blockers,’ Grace told Lisa.

‘And then by the time I was 14, I was fully presenting as Grace to the public and at school.’ 

Journey: Grace knew she was meant to be male as early as the age of 'four or five', and began transitioning at the age of 12. She consulted doctors, psychologists and experts in the field, for a year, before commencing any physical treatment

Journey: Grace knew she was meant to be male as early as the age of ‘four or five’, and began transitioning at the age of 12. She consulted doctors, psychologists and experts in the field, for a year, before commencing any physical treatment 

Asked by Lisa how his male friends reacted to the news of his daughter’s transition, Mat responded: ‘Some of my mates were pretty seamless, they got it. Some couldn’t get it. 

‘I’m a member of the local cricket club. One of the boys came up to me and said, “Stevo, I just, I don’t get it, mate. I just don’t get it”. I said, “It’s OK, buddy, you don’t have to get it. All I’m asking you is to love my daughter and show some empathy”.’

Grace, who has become a TikTok sensation with 130,000 followers, and an Instagram star, said she would ‘not be’ where she is today without her father’s support.

A father's love: Grace, who has become a TikTok sensation with 130,000 followers, and an Instagram star, said she would 'not be' where she is today without her father's support

A father’s love: Grace, who has become a TikTok sensation with 130,000 followers, and an Instagram star, said she would ‘not be’ where she is today without her father’s support 

Candid comments: Asked as to how his friends reacted to the news of his daughter's transition, Mat said: 'Some of my mates were pretty seamless, they got it. Some couldn't get it.' He went on to recall how he told his friends to show his daughter some 'love' and 'empathy'

Candid comments: Asked as to how his friends reacted to the news of his daughter’s transition, Mat said: ‘Some of my mates were pretty seamless, they got it. Some couldn’t get it.’ He went on to recall how he told his friends to show his daughter some ‘love’ and ’empathy’ 

An emotional Mat also drew attention to the statistics of youth suicide rates, particularly with trans-adolescents, saying he didn’t want his daughter ‘to become one of those statistics’.

‘Sadly in this country, we have a really high adolescent suicide rate and it’s a tragedy. Trans-adolescents are 36 times more likely to self-harm. To commit suicide,’ he said.

‘There’s a distinct correlation between lack of support and self-harm. I didn’t want my daughter to become one of those statistics.’ 

Mat became a household name when he starred on Channel Seven soap Home and Away in the nineties, playing the role of Adam Cameron.   

For parent/carer support or community information, please reach out to Transcend

For confidential support, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. 

Nineties star: Mat became a household name when he starred on Channel Seven soap Home and Away in the nineties, playing the role of Adam Cameron. Pictured with Dannii Minogue

Nineties star: Mat became a household name when he starred on Channel Seven soap Home and Away in the nineties, playing the role of Adam Cameron. Pictured with Dannii Minogue