Gender identity embraced by Hollywood stars who support their nonbinary and transgender kids
From Ben Affleck to Naomi Watts, many Hollywood heavyweights have children who are comfortable expressing their “authentic self”.
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From Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez and Jamie Lee Curtis to Naomi Watts and Sigourney Weaver, many Hollywood heavyweights have children identifying as either non-binary or transgender.
While there has been some discourse about the ‘increasing number’ of silver screen children coming out as non-binary or transgender, clinical psychologist Dr Maria-Elena Lukeides ascertains this has more to do with the embracing of gender identity than anything else.
“There is certainly a noticeable shift in how gender diversity is discussed and accepted in Hollywood – and beyond,” Dr Lukeides said.
“Rather than a sudden ‘rise’ in non-cisgender identities among Hollywood children, what we’re witnessing is a broader cultural change where young people, especially those with public platforms, feel increasingly safe and supported to express their authentic selves.
“My guess is that this is less about an actual increase in the number of non-binary or transgender people and more about a decrease in stigma, and a greater willingness to be open about one’s identity. While gender nonconformity and fluidity have always existed historically, societal pressures often forced people to hide these aspects of themselves. In Hollywood, famous figures like David Bowie and Prince challenged gender norms decades ago, but mainstream acceptance seemed to take a lot longer.”
Affleck and ex-wife Jennifer Garner’s child Fin, who goes by they/them pronouns, revealed their preferred name at a memorial service for their grandfather in April last year.
“Hello, my name is Fin Affleck,” the 16-year-old, born as Seraphina Rose, told the crowd before commencing a bible reading. While several media outlets took this to mean Fin was coming out as transgender, there has been no confirmation of this.
Fin gets along well with singer Emme, the non-binary 17-year-old child of Lopez and ex-husband Marc Anthony.
The teenagers are often pictured together with Affleck and Lopez, who tied the knot in July 2022 and finalised their divorce early this year.
Lopez referred to Emme with gender-neutral pronouns for the first time publicly during a stage performance together in 2022.
“The last time we performed together was in a big stadium like this and I ask them to sing with me all the time, and they won’t,” she said.
“So this is a very special occasion. They are very, very busy. Booked. And pricey. They cost me when they come out. But they’re worth every single penny because they’re my favourite duet partner of all time.”
Actor Liev Schreiber recently revealed why “it wasn’t a big deal” when his 16-year-old transgender daughter Kai asked to be referred to by her preferred pronouns.
“Kai was always who Kai is. But I suppose the most profound moment was her asking us (Schreiber and ex-wife Watts) to change her pronouns. To be honest with you, it didn’t feel like that big of a deal to me only because Kai had been so feminine for so long,” Schreiber said of his model daughter.
“Kai is such a fighter. It’s important that she goes, ‘Hey, I am trans’, and, ‘Look at me’.”
Watts has been similarly supportive of her daughter. “That’s my @maisonvalentino baby! I’m squealing with pride,” the proud Australian wrote on Instagram after Kai’s runway debut for Valentino during Paris Fashion Week in March.
After winning the Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2023 for film Everything Everywhere All At Once, Jamie Lee Curtis said she would refer to the Oscar statuette as ‘they/them’ in support of her 28-year-old transgender daughter, Ruby.
“I’m not proselytising, and I’m not trying to force-feed something to people,” Curtis said in an interview.
“I’m simply saying, ‘This is our family’s experience.’ I am here to support Ruby. That is my job. Just as it is to care and love and support her older sister Annie in her journeys. I’m a grateful student.”
Charlize Theron is also learning, admitting she thought daughter Jackson was a boy – up until the now 12-year-old told her otherwise.
“Yes, I thought she was a boy, too. Until she looked at me when she was three years old and said, ‘I am not a boy!’ So there you go,” the actor said in an interview in 2019.
Both Jackson and August, Theron’s other daughter, were adopted as babies.
“I have two beautiful daughters who, just like any parent, I want to protect and I want to see thrive,” she continued.
“They were born who they are and exactly where in the world both of them get to find themselves as they grow up, and who they want to be is not for me to decide. And I will do everything in my power for my kids to have that right and to be protected within that.”
Actress Sigourney Weaver, whose only child Shar identifies as non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, said the 34-year-old professor was the most important person in her life.
“My family comes first and I’m so grateful to them that they let me go off and make films,” Weaver said. “If I have any regrets, it’s that I would have liked to have had more children. But you can’t have everything. I’m thrilled beyond belief to have [them].”
In discussions online, Dr Lukeides has noticed many who view identity politics as privileged.
There are even comments around transgender kids of Hollywood stars coming out for ‘attention’ because they have the ‘money to undergo transgender surgery’.
“I honestly feel that this kind of framing is dangerous. While children of celebrities, including transgender and non-binary youth, are certainly privileged, dismissing their experiences as just privilege can minimise or trivialise what they’re going through,” Dr Lukeides said.
“It also stigmatises those who are not privileged but are going through similar experiences. While a celebrity’s child’s privilege can make it easier for them to access gender-affirming care and to publicly express their identities, it doesn’t automatically mean their experiences are without any challenges. Public scrutiny, media attention, and online harassment, just to name a few, can create a lot of pressure for these young people.”
Earlier this month Robert De Niro expressed his love for daughter Airyn, who came out as transgender.
Like Schreiber, the legendary actor didn’t know what the fuss was about.
“I loved and supported Aaron as my son, and now I love and support Airyn as my daughter,” he said of the 29-year-old model and actor.
“I don’t know what the big deal is. I love all my children.”
For LGBTIQA+ support, contact QLife on 1800 184 527 or chat online at qlife.org.au.
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