Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, two prominent figures in Hollywood, recently attended a memorial service for Garner’s father in Charleston, West Virginia. The occasion marked not only an end but also a new beginning for the former couple. During the service, they publicly supported their 15-year-old child’s new identity.
Their daughter, formerly known as Seraphina Rose, now prefers to be called Fin and uses the pronoun ‘they’. Fin, dressed in a dark suit and tie with a distinctively unfeminine buzz cut, introduced themselves as “Fin Affleck” and even read a Bible passage during the service. This event was somewhat ironic given Garner’s past remarks about her conservative father, who disapproved of certain behaviors like ear piercings.
Fin’s emergence as a non-binary individual challenges the traditional gender stereotypes embodied by their parents, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. Affleck is known for his roles as a strong, masculine leading man, while Garner has portrayed characters like a sleek assassin and a sexy double agent.
The Afflecks are not alone in Hollywood in having a transgender family member. Many other celebrities proudly share their experiences of raising trans, non-binary, or gender-fluid children. Jennifer Lopez, now married to Ben Affleck, has a non-binary child named Emme from her previous marriage to Marc Anthony.
Garner, Affleck, and Lopez join a growing list of celebrity parents who have had to adjust 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 discussed their experiences.
While the proportion of the U.S. population identifying as transgender is relatively small, Hollywood seems to have a higher representation of transgender individuals. This may be due to the industry’s liberal environment in California, where gender non-conformity is more accepted.
Some celebrities, like Kate Hudson, have chosen to raise their children genderless, allowing them to decide their identity for themselves. Overall, celebrities who openly embrace their trans children are typically supportive and enthusiastic.
A report on gender transition in the UK last week warned that many minors who question their gender identity are actually suffering from anxiety, bad self-esteem or troubles with body image. Given that being the child of a Hollywood star can be notoriously challenging – many come off the rails, sometimes with tragic consequences – could this help explain why so many are experiencing ‘gender distress’?
However, not all parents initially understand or accept their child’s gender identity. Jamie Lee Curtis and Sigourney Weaver both admitted to struggling initially but eventually became advocates for their children.
Charlize Theron shared her experience of realizing her child’s gender identity at a young age, emphasizing the importance of using the correct pronouns to respect their identity.
Annette Bening and Warren Beatty went from being ignorant about transgender issues to becoming vocal advocates, showing the transformative power of having a transgender family member.
Despite the challenges, many celebrities, like Cher, Cynthia Nixon, and Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, embrace their children’s gender identity and support their journey.
Even Megan Fox faced criticism for allowing her children to explore their gender expression, demonstrating the ongoing stigma and misunderstanding surrounding gender identity.
Ultimately, the stories of these celebrities highlight the importance of love, acceptance, and understanding in supporting transgender and non-binary individuals, both within Hollywood and society at large.