Will Ferrell has some great advice for people who just had a friend come out as trans

Will Ferrell has some advice for everyone who has someone in their life who comes out as trans.

Ferrell and his longtime best friend and collaborator, Harper Steele, are on the newest cover of The Advocate talking about their friendship, how it changed when Harper transitioned, and their upcoming documentary Will & Harper.

Ferrell and Steele met thirty years ago when they both started working Saturday Night Live on the same week in 1995, with Ferrell as a new performer and Steele as a new writer. They continued working there until they both moved to Funny or Die and continued to collaborate on movies like Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.

After Steele came out as trans during the pandemic, the two took a cross country road trip (chronicled in Will & Harper, debuting on Netflix on September 27), and got to know each other better than ever before.

Now, Ferrell is sharing his advice for others who know someone who transitions.

"My advice would be to not be afraid to ask questions, no matter how stupid you think they may be," Ferrell said. "The other recommendation is to just listen. Sit back and listen to their story, their journey, and try not to assume anything. It will feel strange, but it's exciting to learn about your friend in a completely different way."

The two also recommend comedy as a way to approach sensitive subjects, but only if you're not being mean-spirited about it.

"If you're friends with [a trans person], laugh with them about what they're going through," Steele said. "I mean, I laugh about my bodily changes, my life all the time. I don't think there's not a serious side to this, but also it's my nature to be comic."

Will & Harper premieres September 27 on Netflix.

The September/October issue of The Advocate featuring Will Ferrell and Harper Steele hits newsstands on August 28.