Bruce Jenner, Olympic gold medal winner, celebrity and TV star recently came out as a transgender woman, and according to CNN the overwhelming reaction has been love. If a true man’s man like Bruce Jenner can announce he is transitioning with such positive reaction, have we reached the tipping point for transgender acceptance?
At first blush it would seem that Bruce Jenner has helped shift the public perception another tick in the direction of acceptance. The reactions from his [Ed: Bruce has asked that we use male pronouns until transitions fully, so we are honoring his wishes] family members was love, and support.
Khloe, his stepdaughter says she is ‘soooo proud of you! Dads really are heros’, his ex-wife says ‘Not only was I able to call him my husband for 25 years and father of my children, I am now able to call him my hero’. Kourtney, his step daughter says ‘Couldn’t be a more proud daughter. With courage and bravery, let’s change the world. I am honored to stand by Bruce’s sideand support him’.
Before I pontificate more, a few words are in order:
Welcome to the Community
Bruce, welcome to our community! It is a wonderful, diverse, loving and supportive group of people from around the world. We welcome you with open arms, and are grateful for the positive light in which you’ve shown the transgender community. We all know intimately how long and how hard your struggle has been. You have displayed great courage to take your first steps in the public limelight.
I am sure that any in the transgender community will be here for you if you ever need support in your journey!
Does this change the transgender experience?
Bruce Jenner transitions to a woman
Stepping back to view the past and future by decades and generations we will doubtless see Bruce’s revelation as a strong step forward in transgender rights. However, as @TheTaskForce notes on Twitter – “Beyond Bruce Jenner, Transgender people are twice as likely to be unemployed, 1 in 5 experience homelessness and 29% have been denied medical care.”
Those in the transgender community are more likely than any other group to be in crisis mode. Transgender people attempt suicide at a rate 10x that of the overall population, and twice that of lesbian, gay or bisexual people. Loss of income, loss of family, loss of friends, even loss of life – transgender people have a difficult road to travel. For every success story there are hundreds, maybe even thousands more who aren’t so lucky.
We need to keep working to help those in our community – share your gifts with those who need it most. Whether it’s a helping hand, a kind word or a smile when you see someone stepping out for the first time. We are strong when we stand together. When we stand together the world will stand with us.
Hope peaks over the horizon
Of all the quotes about Bruce Jenner, I think this one from Jimmy Fallon so fittingly captures the zeitgeist of the moment, and the historical impact his coming out will have on future generations of transgender women (and men):
One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind. #BruceJenner #Brave
— jimmy fallon (@jimmyfallon) April 25, 2015
Bruce said it best himself, “I would like to think that we can save some lives here,” said Jenner, who admitted he once considered suicide at a low point when seen by paparazzi heading to a surgery to have his Adam’s apple shaved back. “I have a feeling this is my cause in life. This is why God put me on this Earth, to deal with this issue.”
May we all grow stronger from your courage. Thank you Bruce!
—
Image from ABC News.
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It is all good! People are talking….This will over ride the push back we have had as of late from the haters trying to halt our progress that we made over the last couple of years. The timing was perfect!
Hi Vanessa,
It’s nice hearing from you again. I’ve missed you.
I think his public declaration is a very good thing. True, he does have the advantage of already being a role model. But, declarations like his do help. Perhaps not immediately. Basically anything positive helps.
Thanks Alicia – it’s good to be back 🙂
Bruce did beautifully as did Diane Sawyer. . . Refreshing and very encouraging. . .
ABC Television then showed yesterday the CNN special about Renee Richards . . . Wonderfully similar and sooo enlightening. . . The stories are both revealing of the true person who lives within their bodies . . . I’m pleased that I saw both. . .
I think the simple daily fact of our existence, as it’s more and more prevalent and common, will eventually desensitize people to our phenomena, reaching a status of “normal". People simply need to see us enough to get used to us. *Any* transgender specimen contributes to this end, whether she-male prostitutes, drag queens on tv, or transsexual women co-workers. We don’t need to express only a specific formula approved by the latest political agenda and powers that be, but rather all individuals in our full diverse splendor. We’re too small a community to exclude whole groups of members that may… Read more »
Relax and live our lives in safety – it’s such a simple wish, but would be transformative for our community!
I forgot to mention I think the “pushback" is almost entirely from groups with a political or religious agenda, on matter of principle (theirs). I haven’t found this in everyday people I meet in the ordinary avenue of my life-experience.
I would say a long flat tipping point. Here in the south the prejudice is incredible. People get fired all the time. It may be the start of the tipping point, but we are not there yet. It is going to take a couple more decades, as I think we are that far behind the Gay issue.
Hi Teresa, I’ve never been to the south, so only have second hand accounts to go from. To paraphrase the words of a great man, – I hope that one day even the south, sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.
Yes we are a long way from being free, Bruce is just a start here. We need to stand up for who we are. Thank you Bruce Jenner for the start. Maybe the south will someday open its eyes
It starts with each of us, in our own small way standing up. Some stand where more can see them, but we all stand where someone can see us. Bruce has shown grace and courage – if we all could garner the courage I believe the country would change!
Watching Bruce Jenner on TV was like letting my breath out. It was so good to see Bruce coming out as he did with the full support of his family. I also saw a man who was very nervous and really scared stiff! Poor guy! I contemplated transgender (MTF), but never could find the courage to take the long lonely trip. Go Bruce!!
I can only add to that – Go Bruce!!
Bruce Jenner typifies the saying *Grace under pressure*. What he did for any reason what reason is to my way of thinking bravery. Doing this quietly under the radar is NOT even an option for him. He is meeting this head on. Good luck Bruce and may your dream come to fruition.
Very brave of her to come out. This will give corouge to others. Un Undia, upper house has voted on transgender rights, which is a major step