If you haven't tuned into the Brown family drama for a couple of years, popping back into the world of Sister Wives can feel a little like walking into a movie halfway through. You see a name like Leon Brown and wonder if you missed a new casting announcement. Honestly, you didn't. Leon has been there since day one, the only child of Meri and Kody Brown, but their journey has shifted significantly since those early days of modest clothing and "big picture" polygamy talks in Utah.
Leon is trans. They came out publicly in June 2022, and since then, the conversation around their role in the family has become a touchstone for how this massive, complicated plural family handles change. It’s not just about a name change. It’s about a complete evolution from the person we saw as a teenager—someone who once insisted they wanted to live a polygamist lifestyle—to a person who has firmly stepped away from the church they were raised in to live an authentic, queer life.
Leon Brown: The Identity Journey Most Fans Missed
For the longest time, the world knew Leon by a different name. Growing up in the spotlight of a TLC reality show is weird enough, but doing it inside a fundamentalist religious bubble? That’s another level. Leon was always the "intense" one. They were the kid who was laser-focused on the faith. Looking back, that feels like a classic case of trying to fit into a mold that was never meant for them.
In 2017, Leon came out as a lesbian. It was a massive moment for the show because, let’s be real, the AUB (the Browns' former church) isn't exactly a Pride parade. Meri was stunned. Kody, surprisingly, was more "it is what it is" at the time. But that was just the first layer. In June 2022, Leon shared a post on Instagram that basically changed everything.
They officially came out as transgender and non-binary, announcing they go by Leon or Leo and use they/them pronouns.
Leon was pretty blunt about it, too. They mentioned they’d known they weren’t a girl since they were very young, but the "incredibly gendered and restrictive" environment of the Brown family made it impossible to process that.
📖 Related: Al Pacino Angels in America: Why His Roy Cohn Still Terrifies Us
The Current State of the Relationship with Kody
Things are... messy. That's the only way to put it. If you’ve been watching the 2024 and 2025 seasons, you know the family is basically a pile of glass shards at this point. While some of the kids are still trying to bridge the gap with Kody, Leon is not one of them.
As of late 2025, the tension has boiled over into the public eye. Kody has been doing the rounds on podcasts claiming he "always reaches out" to his kids and that the estrangement is their fault. Leon isn't having it. In a rare social media post in November 2025, Leon called Kody a "liar" and a "joke of a father."
The breaking point? According to Leon, Kody "blatantly blew [them] off" at the funeral of their brother, Garrison Brown, in March 2024. Leon was incredibly clear: they haven't heard from Kody since Garrison's passing. It's a heartbreaking situation, but it highlights a recurring theme in Leon’s life lately—setting hard boundaries for the sake of their own mental health.
Where does Meri fit in?
Surprisingly, Meri has turned out to be one of Leon's biggest champions. It wasn't always smooth. Remember that 2017 coming-out scene? Meri looked like she’d been hit by a truck. But people change.
Meri and Leon are currently very close. Meri has been vocal about supporting Leon's transition, often posting "I got you" messages on Transgender Day of Visibility. Even when the internet trolls come for Leon, Meri is usually right there in the comments or on her "Fridays with Friends" lives, making it clear that her child is her priority.
👉 See also: Adam Scott in Step Brothers: Why Derek is Still the Funniest Part of the Movie
Life with Audrey Kriss
You can't talk about Leon without talking about Audrey Kriss. These two are the real deal. They met at Westminster College, got engaged at the 2019 Women's March, and have been each other’s rocks through multiple transitions.
People were waiting for a big TLC wedding special, but Leon and Audrey pulled a fast one. They actually got married on October 29, 2022. It was a "self-solemnized" ceremony in Colorado. No cameras. No massive polygamist reception. Just them.
Audrey has also transitioned and uses they/them pronouns. Together, they’ve built a life that is almost entirely separate from the Sister Wives reality TV machine. They live in Colorado, they have dogs, and they seem to prefer the quiet mountain life over the constant "what-if" drama of the Flagstaff crew.
The Career and Privacy Shift
Don't expect Leon to come back to the show. Gwendlyn Brown (Leon’s sister) has mentioned in her YouTube recaps that Leon has been "separating" from the family to feel safer.
While Leon used to be a central figure in the show’s narrative, they’ve moved into a much more private sphere. They’ve pursued higher education—specifically focusing on social justice and social work in the past—and they seem intent on using their platform for advocacy rather than reality TV entertainment.
✨ Don't miss: Actor Most Academy Awards: The Record Nobody Is Breaking Anytime Soon
Why Leon’s Story Matters in 2026
It’s easy to dismiss reality TV stars as just "characters." But Leon’s story is a pretty heavy look at what happens when you grow up in a system designed to suppress identity.
- The Religious Impact: Leon was the kid most likely to follow the faith. Their transition proves that sometimes the most "devout" kids are the ones struggling the hardest with their internal truth.
- The Power of Boundaries: Leon’s willingness to call out Kody shows a shift in the Brown children. They aren't kids anymore. They are adults who don't feel obligated to maintain toxic ties just for a TLC paycheck.
- The Evolution of Meri: Meri has been a polarizing figure for years, but her relationship with Leon has humanized her in a way the "catfishing" drama never could.
Moving Forward: What to Keep an Eye On
If you’re looking for Leon on your TV screen, you’re probably going to be disappointed. They’ve made it clear that if people won’t use their correct name and pronouns, those people don’t get access to their life. That includes the viewers.
However, Leon’s influence on the family remains massive. As the other Brown kids (like Logan, Maddie, and Hunter) continue to navigate their own relationships with Kody and Robyn, Leon serves as a blueprint for what it looks like to leave the "polygamist bubble" entirely.
If you want to support or follow their journey, the best place is Leon’s Instagram (@leointhemountains), though they frequently take social media breaks. They are living a life that is "unapologetic," and honestly, after years of watching them struggle on camera, it’s kind of a relief to see them finally at peace with who they are—even if that means the family tree is missing a few branches.
The best way to stay informed on the Brown family's evolving dynamics is to look for direct updates from the adult children themselves rather than relying solely on the edited narratives provided by TLC.