Chester Bennington’s child, Draven Bennington, publicly came out as a transgender woman on February 16, 2025. She now goes by the name Raven and uses she/her pronouns.
Raven’s Transition
Raven revealed that she started her transition in August 2024 when she began hormone replacement therapy (HRT). In a heartfelt Instagram post, she explained that she struggled with her identity for a long time.
She said she felt like she was pretending to be someone else and reached a point where she had to choose between continuing to hide or embracing who she truly was.
Calling it ‘the best decision’ of her life, she made her announcement on Valentine’s Day to ‘show herself some love.’ She also expressed gratitude to those who have supported her, saying their love helped her find the strength to stop hiding.
Support From Family and Friends
Raven’s mother, Samantha Bennington, was especially supportive of her transition. Raven also said that her friends and family have stood by her. Having this support helped her feel more confident in her decision and gave her the courage to be open about it.
Chester Bennington’s Influence on Raven
Chester Bennington was Raven’s father. He passed away in July 2017 at the age of 41.
Raven shared memories of their time together. In June 2022, she posted a Father’s Day tribute on Instagram with a photo of them posing with a painting they worked on for a cancer charity. She recalled how they had spent three days working on it, and how impatient she was waiting for the paint to dry. She wrote, “Love you so much!”
Why Raven Chose to Come Out Now
Raven made it clear in her announcement that she could no longer live as someone she was not. She said she spent years trying to ignore her true self, but it always led to the same choice — happiness or pretending. This time, she chose happiness.
Raven hopes to live her life fully and openly by sharing her story publicly. She ended her message with a reminder about self-acceptance: “Love is love. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
