Hollywood stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner recently attended a memorial service for Garner’s father in Charleston, West Virginia. This event signified both an end and a fresh start for the former couple. At the service, they publicly endorsed their 15-year-old child’s new identity.
Their daughter, once known as Seraphina Rose, now goes by Fin and prefers the pronoun ‘they’. Dressed in a sharp dark suit and tie, with a notably masculine buzz cut, Fin introduced themselves as “Fin Affleck” and even delivered a Bible reading. This was somewhat unexpected, considering Garner’s previous comments about her conservative father’s disapproval of certain things like ear piercings.
Fin’s identification as a non-binary person challenges the conventional gender norms represented by their parents, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. Affleck is famous for his strong, masculine roles, while Garner has portrayed characters such as a sleek assassin and a seductive double agent.
The Afflecks are not the only celebrities in Hollywood with a transgender family member. Many other stars openly share their experiences of raising children who are trans, non-binary, or gender-fluid. Jennifer Lopez, currently married to Ben Affleck, has a non-binary child named Emme from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony.
Garner, Affleck, and Lopez are part of a growing group of celebrity parents who have had to adapt to using different pronouns for their children. Charlize Theron, Jamie Lee Curtis, Cher, Sigourney Weaver, Annette Bening, Warren Beatty, and Cynthia Nixon are among those who have openly talked about their experiences.
Although the percentage of the U.S. population identifying as transgender is relatively small, Hollywood seems to have a higher number of transgender individuals. This might be due to the industry’s liberal atmosphere in California, where gender non-conformity is more accepted.
Some celebrities, like Kate Hudson, opt to raise their children without assigning a specific gender, allowing them to determine their identity on their own terms. Generally, celebrities who openly support their trans children are encouraging and affirming.
A recent UK report on gender transition warned that many young people questioning their gender identity may be experiencing anxiety, low self-esteem, or body image issues. Given the often tumultuous life of being a child of a Hollywood star, which can sometimes lead to tragic outcomes, could this contribute to the ‘gender distress’ experienced by many?
However, not all parents immediately grasp or accept their child’s gender identity. Both Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver admitted to initially struggling with this but later became advocates for their children.
Charlize Theron discussed her experience of recognizing her child’s gender identity at a young age, underscoring the significance of using the correct pronouns to honor their identity.
Annette Bening and Warren Beatty transitioned from being uninformed about transgender issues to becoming outspoken advocates, highlighting the transformative impact of having a transgender family member.
Despite the hurdles, many celebrities, including Cher, Cynthia Nixon, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, embrace their children’s gender identities and support their journeys.
Even Megan Fox has faced backlash for allowing her children to explore their gender expression, indicating the persistent stigma and misunderstanding surrounding gender identity.
In conclusion, the experiences of these celebrities emphasize the crucial role of love, acceptance, and understanding in supporting transgender and non-binary individuals, both in Hollywood and society as a whole.
