During a recent interview with psychologist Jordan Peterson, Tesla CEO Elon Musk made controversial remarks regarding his transgender daughter, Vivian Jenna Wilson. He expressed that she was “killed” by the gender-affirming care she received, which led him to speak passionately about what he terms the “woke mind virus.” Musk described gender-reassignment surgery negatively, referring to it as “child mutilation and sterilization.”
Musk shared that Wilson came out as transgender at age 16 and received gender-affirming care during the COVID-19 pandemic. He revealed feelings of being misled when he signed documents concerning her care, even suggesting that he was under pressure due to concerns about her mental health at the time. The CEO expressed that he felt as though he lost his son in the process, as Wilson no longer uses his surname and has sought legal recognition for her new identity.
Musk underlined his belief that children who are below the age of consent should not undergo such procedures. He stated that he was not adequately informed about the implications of puberty blockers, which do not inherently affect fertility by themselves. Following these statements, Musk’s remarks have sparked conversations about the complex and sensitive nature of gender identity and parental rights.
Interestingly, Musk’s comments come as he has been focusing on moving his companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, to Texas, partly influenced by California legislation regarding transgender youth and school policies. Musk has faced criticism in the past for his comments which some have labeled transphobic and has been perceived as shifting towards more right-wing ideologies.
In the spirit of hope and progress, discussions on gender identity and the experiences of transgender individuals are becoming more mainstream. It’s essential to foster an environment of understanding and support for all families navigating these challenges, emphasizing the importance of communication and education in such deeply personal matters.