In Hollywood and beyond, the theme of having transgender children has become more and more prominent. Now, the family of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner has entered the public eye again with news that captured the attention of many over the weekend.
Their 15-year-old daughter, previously known in the media as Seraphina Rose, made a significant personal announcement under the new name, “Fin.” At a memorial service for Jennifer Garner’s father, dressed in a black pantsuit and sporting a buzz-cut hairstyle, Fin stood before the congregation at Christ Church United Methodist in Charleston, West Virginia, introducing herself by her new name and sharing a passage from the Bible.
At the church lectern, she stated, “Hello my name is Fin Affleck,” and proceeded to recite “Better is a little with righteousness, than a large income with injustice,” from Chapter 16, Verse 8 of the Book of Proverbs.
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In April, Jennifer Garner announced the passing of her father on Instagram. She wrote, “My dad passed peacefully Saturday afternoon. We were with him, singing Amazing Grace as he left us (did we carry him across or scare him away— valid question.) While there is no tragedy in the death of an 85 year old man who lived a healthy, wonderful life, I know grief is unavoidable, waiting around unexpected corners.”
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In February, Seraphina Affleck, 15, embraced a new buzz-cut and was seen carrying a backpack embroidered with the name ‘FIN’ as her mother, Jennifer, bid them farewell. The teenager, known for a boyish haircut and typically dressing in more masculine attire, is among numerous celebrity children changing their identities and genders.
According to the DailyMail, Fin has also become close with her step-sibling, Emme Maribel Muniz, 16, the gender-neutral pronoun-using child of singer Jennifer Lopez and actor Ben Affleck, who married in 2022. The pair were spotted together on a Los Angeles street on Feb. 12, with Fin showcasing a striking temporary pink hair dye.
For whatever reasons, in recent years transgender children have become more prevalent under celebrity parents. This has been part of a larger cultural shift towards changing traditional family values and gender norms. For example:
- Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt – Their child Shiloh has been subject to media speculation regarding gender identity.
- Charlize Theron – Charlize Theron has openly discussed parenting her transgender daughter, Jackson, whom he affirmed in his gender identity by stating, “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!'”
- Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union – The couple has been vocal about their support for their son Zaya, who came out as transgender. They’ve used their platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Last week a shocking study put a dent in the transgender narrative. Tracking over 2,700 individuals from adolescence into their mid-twenties, the Dutch study found that the majority of children experiencing gender confusion may outgrow the feelings by adulthood. Published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior, the research revealed a decline in gender non-contentedness from 11% at the initial phase to 4% by age 25.
This 15-year study, part of the Tracking Adolescents’ Individual Lives Survey, indicated a significant resolution of gender dissatisfaction over time, with the majority reporting no gender discontent. The findings highlight a cautious approach to gender transition surgery for minors, amidst a rising trend in such medical interventions.