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Russell Brand considering raising child as gender neutral

Written by . Published: October 15 2016

British funnyman Russell Brand is considering raising his soon to be born first child without assigning it a gender.


The 41-year-old comedian and his fiancee Laura Gallacher, 27, expect to become parents very soon, with Laura reported to be due this month (Oct16).


They have chosen not to find out whether they are having a boy or a girl, and Russell says he may decide not to impose a gender on his child so they can decide on their identity themselves.


"We don’t know the gender I may not even ever impose a gender upon it, let the child grow up and be the whatever the hell it is, never tell it there is such a concept,” he tells U.K. chat show host Jonathan Ross.


In recent years there has been a movement among some parents to raise children as 'gender neutral' meaning a child is not raised to conform to traditional male or female norms of behavior.


The notorious Lothario says he's put his wild days behind him and is now throwing himself into preparing for fatherhood.


“I read a different book every week and I read one on preparation for fatherhood to mentally prepare me for it," he explains. "I don’t know that it has prepared me for it. I’ve painted the room, I’ve done the things that you’re supposed to do, I’ve accepted the idea that that person will be more important than me."


However he has not entirely given up his eccentricities as he jokes he's thinking of calling the new baby "Jesus Three".


He also credits his stable home life and his move with his wife-to-be to leafy Henley-on-Thames, England with giving him a new inner calm.


“Well some of that is because I’m in a monogamous relationship now so I’m a lot calmer," he says. "I like it as a matter of fact. I live a quiet rural life now out in the country."


Russell's relationship with Laura has been lower profile than his first marriage, to pop star Katy Perry, a union which ended in 2012 after less than two years.


The Get Him to the Greek star was determined to start his engagement to Laura well by ensuring his proposal was perfect.


"I properly planned it and put proper ideas into it and made it all nice and did like a surprise party for her and her mom helped me to organize it, get her on side!” he adds.

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