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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I think Bruce Jenner has had alot of publicity/hype because he(she?) is a celebrity and doesnt truly reflect the average transgender person transitioning .I havent seen any really femme pics of him and he doesnt act very femme !Personally I feel envious of those whom begin the transitioning very young as the male body is more easily transformed than when one gets older . its even more difficult for a male athlete with all those muscles .i wish him the best of luck and hope to see a fully fledged trans emerge !!
Hey Jenifer – Bruce’s journey is definitely not yours or mine. He will experience more scrutiny, but have other advantages in the quality of care he can receive. I hope that his journey is able to captivate the public mind a year from now, so we can see the wonderful woman he has become. When his true soul is shown on the outside I believe it’s radiance will melt away the fear and hate of many.
Because he is such a public figure and feels the burden of his effect on so many more people than the average person i am sure that his coming out has been incredibly painful to him for such a terribly long time. He is a hero, once again, to put a public face to the situation so many people face and garner public understanding and sympathy for all transgenders. What the public does not understand it fears or ridicules.
I think you touched on an aspect that makes me really excited Linda – that fear and ridicule comes from lack of understanding. The more celebrities out there sharing their transgender journeys, the more familiar the public will become with our experience. Not everyone has a friend or loved one who is transgender, but now all can say they know someone who is.
I read a comment by a woman who identified as a Lesbian on a Fox News program who attempted to make a point about those who are transgender and who said that as a child she might have identified as a cocker spaniel or as one who could fly, but that did not change the fact that it was simply a fantasy as there was nothing physically different about a transgender person that would make it so. I wondered at her ignorance, especially coming from someone who should know that differences from the sexual norm, not to mention the gender… Read more »
That is truly disappointing to hear Marcia. Thankfully those opinions are getting fewer and further between. Being out there, with love, living who we are – that courage and acceptance of self shine brightly. Many will see and be drawn to it.
It will be difficult. Conservatives will want to push us back into the dark ages as they lose the fight against gay marriage. Here in Texas they want to pass a law making it a felony sex offense for anyone with a Y chromosome to go into the women’s restroom. Right wing bloggers say in capital letters things like “stay out of my daughters bathroom you criminal perverts!" I have read blogs from natural-born women who have been harassed trying to enter a public restroom because they aren’t all pretty faced and were not wearing feminine clothing. I heard of… Read more »
Yikes Susan! I hadn’t heard about what was going on in Texas. Sheesh! I hope that the reaction is swift and impactful. I sometimes have to shake my head at the intolerance many display towards others.
You write “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?" I certainyl hope so but also want to ask the following question to our broader community:- How many of us, one we discovered our need to be female while at the same time keep it under wraps so to speak, became outwardly super masculine or macho. became “men’s men" all with the intent of hiding our true persona? It was certainly true in my case to the point where i became two… Read more »
Roxie hon I’m so happy you’re living as who you are! *hugs*
I’ve heard many women tell similar stories – trying to wrap their feminine soul in the cloak of extreme masculinity.
I think the public are less familiar with such drastic changes, and their image of a transgender women is someone who is more effeminate.
Bruce coming out may be a tipping point. But….true acceptance will have happened when GGs accept us in the public restrooms and dressing rooms. IMHO, we transgender/ crossdressers HAVE to make friends and allies with genetic girls if we want to be widely accepted in society. We want to join the sisterhood, we need the sisters to be on our side.
Great point Kathi – we cannot win hearts and minds alone. I think it starts with us finding support in our community, continues with us sharing with those we love and trust, and reaches full bloom as we step into social circles as friends among equals. There is a lot we can learn from the gay and lesbian community, and how they shifted the public perception and stood firm for their dignity.
I think we are on the brink of acceptance but there is a long way to go. When I watched the interview I could help but think that as much as I agreed with so many of the things being said I also knew that I am not a multimillionaire, at 57 I would lose everything if my secret came out.
Steffie, that’s a great reminder that this is another mile marker in the conversation, not the end of it. Too many lose their jobs, homes, friends, family and more for living as who they are. This will change, but it may take years, even decades before most can take this step with confidence.
Hang in there love, you are not alone! *hugs*
I think one needs to bear in mind that as a celebrity he had no choice but to stand up and make the announcement because it would be obvious what he as doing. I effect, he was just heading off the media. I wish him well as he moves along but his journey is no different from thousands and thousands of others apart from the cameras,the enormous money and those appalling women he hangs around with. Some very intelligent remarks here from others on the blog.
Abby, I agree that once he chose to go down the path he needed to come out. Maybe not as publicly, but it would’ve been obvious to many. He could also have chosen the darker choice of living in the shadow of who he could have been. Choosing to risk being laughed at, derided, losing friends – even for a celebrity this is a hard choice. I’m certain he spent many days and weeks in contemplation before taking this step.
Love watching the interview,and the intelligent and insightful way Bruce Jenner,portrayed his experiences.Thinking that with that interview,he has advanced the cause and understanding of transgender women tenfold,and for that I am profoundly grateful!
Maureen michelle
I agree Maureen, I was impressed with how composed he (it’s still odd to call him by male pronouns, but I’ll defer to his wishes) was, and how open he was in sharing.
That is what we all hope he EVENTUALLY accomplishes: The end of gender prejudice, so that you & I don’t HAVE to lose it all. Non-accepting people will one-day join the confederate flag waving dinosaurs of the deep south and looked upon as stupid, ignorant, backwards, stubborn, selfish & mean. Gender isn’t a choice. Choosing to STAY prejudiced once the light of truth casts it’s beam of revelation IS a choice.
Well said Josey! It is becoming clearer each day where the right side of history stands – love and acceptance.