Actor Ian Veneracion has fiercely defended his daughter, Deirdre “Dids” Veneracion, against detractors who have criticized her for being a lesbian. In celebration of Pride Month, Veneracion posted his daughter’s magazine cover on Instagram, praising her values and emphasizing that her sexual orientation should not be a matter of public concern.
“Seriously, let’s all just cut the bullshit. People should be honored and respected for their compassion, courage, and integrity—not for the choices they make in the privacy of their bedrooms. Proud of my daughter for embodying these values. Who she loves is her business,” Veneracion wrote.
In 2020, Veneracion revealed that his daughter came out to him at 16 years old, and he assured her of his unwavering support. He encouraged her never to be apologetic about her identity, saying, “You can be whoever you want to be, and I have full support.”
The actor emphasized the importance of living authentically and not wasting life by being apologetic or ashamed of one’s true self. “Nakaka panghinayang lang, isa lang ang buhay natin. Tapos pag nabuhay ka—ano pa, apologetic ka pa, na nahihiya ka sa sarili mo, hindi mo mailabas ang pagkatao mo. What a waste of life,” he expressed.
In a separate interview, Veneracion stressed that he cannot impose his preferences on his children but can only support them. “We have our lives to live, and they have their lives. They don’t come from us; they come through us lang. Hindi ako willing to strain that relationship just para masunod ang gusto ko kahit hindi ’yun ang gusto niya. That’s absurd,” he said.
Veneracion has always shared a close bond with Dids, whom he considers his “mini-me.” He noted their similar personalities and interests, saying, “She plays the piano and the guitar. So, pag may piano at guitar, kunwari pumunta siya sa piano, kunin ko iyong guitar. Magja-jam kami.”
Ian Veneracion and his wife of over 25 years, engineer Pam Gallardo, have three children: Deirdre and two sons.