Lila Bennington is the child of the late Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington. Chester sadly passed away by suicide in 2017 at the age of 41, leaving behind a lasting legacy through his music and the profound impact he had on fans around the world.
Being the daughter of a musician who was known for his emotional depth, the 22-year-old came forward with a powerful message of self-identity.
Previously known for her male pronouns, Lila has recently embraced her new identity. In a recent change shared on Instagram, Lila has updated her pronouns in the bio. Giving up her old identity, now Lila wants to be referred to as “she/her” pronouns.
The decision of Lila to come out as transgender reflects not only her personal courage but also his father’s legacy. The decision has been met with overwhelming response from fans and the wider community. Coming out as transgender can be challenging, but the support Lila received from thousands emphasizes the growing acceptance and visibility of transgender individuals.
Responding to the love and support she got, Lila expressed her gratitude in a heartfelt post shared on Instagram. She wrote,
“Thank you for dearly showing me so much love and support! I’ve shed so many happy tears reading all of your kind words, you all light up my heart and soul! There’s not enough words for me to express how much gratitude I have for you all especially during times like these… You all are proving that love will always outshine hate! Love you all!”
She also mentioned in the post’s caption, “I’m keeping the name Draven (it’s pretty androgynous and can’t think of a cooler name lol.)”
She continued adding, “I prefer she/her pronouns, please don’t use he/him pronouns.”
Previously, while sharing her journey about accepting her identity and coming out, Lila shared on Instagram on Valentine’s Day,
“For a long time, I tried to be someone I truly wasn’t on the inside. Ignoring it worked for a while, but continuously coming to the crossroads of being happy or being complacent was one I couldn’t keep crossing.”
She continued in the same post, “As today is a day to celebrate love and what love truly means, whether it’s for a partner, family, or ourselves, I thought it would be a perfect time to show some love to myself.”
She revealed in August of last year, she started getting hormone therapy, and it was the best decision of her life. She extended her gratitude to her friends and family for their support in enabling her to achieve this. She especially acknowledged her mom, expressing gratitude for her unconditional love and saying she felt blessed to be her child. She added that she loved her immensely, to the moon and back!
