Actress Sally Field has encouraged parents to embrace their gay children.

In October, Field was presented with the Human Rights Campaign's (HRC) Ally for Equality Award at the group's 16th annual National Dinner at the Walter E. Washington convention center in Washington D.C.

The 66-year-old Field was introduced by Sam Greisman, 25, who told the crowd that his mother was “overjoyed” when he came out gay to her.

Field touched on the topic of her gay son during an interview with Oprah Winfrey to be broadcast on cabler OWN's Oprah's Next Chapter.

“It's important to have a parent speak about raising a magnificent, proud, intelligent, funny, lovable, sexy gay son,” Field told Winfrey. “And there are so many parents who are frightened of that. And who don't embrace their children as they struggle. Those children are struggling to embrace who they are, what nature intended them to be.” (The video is embedded on this page. Visit our video library for more videos.)

The episode including Field is scheduled for broadcast on Sunday, December 2.