Bruce Jenner embodies courage, hope for the future
Editor’s note: Bruce Jenner told ABC’s 20/20 that he preferred the pronouns “he” and “him” until he officially finishes his transition.
Winning the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics was a manly accomplishment, one that exemplified the strength and endurance of a masculine person.
Amber Emeryr
As everyone found out last week during Bruce Jenner’s interview with Diane Sawyer, it was, in part, an effort for Jenner to convince himself that he is a man.
In the two-hour special that aired on national television last week, Jenner admitted that no matter how fast he could run, how high he could jump, how far he could pole vault, nothing but looking deep inside oneself could show who a person truly is.
For Jenner, that person is a woman, or “her.”
Jenner was brave to share his transition with the world, despite so many individuals thinking it’s a “choice” or that it’s “inhuman.”
Do you know what’s inhuman? Pressuring someone to be anyone but his or herself.
Acceptance isn’t a LGBT issue, it’s a human one.
It’s time to grow up and accept others for who they are, whether they are struggling with issues in your comfort zone or not.
There is an estimated 700,000 transgender people in the U.S., according to the Williams Institute, and the community faces a higher suicide rate than their cisgender counterparts. Not to mention that in 32 states, there is no legal protection from discrimination for transgender citizens.
Jenner shared with the world that he’s been struggling with his gender identity since he was a child — not knowing why he enjoyed trying on his mom and sisters’ dresses other than knowing it “just felt good.”
Visibly choking up, Jenner let his hair down and said he is ready to let “her” emerge. Everyone — young, old, male, female, cisgender or not — should support him in his journey. No one should have to hide behind hooded sweatshirts and dimmed windows to live in peace.
Not only should people support Jenner, but they should admire ABC for developing a program that was fair, personal, sensitive and easy to understand.
While other news programs struggle with reporting on transgender issues, including Katie Couric’s disastrous interview with transgender model Carmen Carrera and “Orange is the New Black” star Laverne Cox where she reduced transgender lives to genitalia and transitional surgery, ABC did it right.
The network told the whole story — from the years of confusion to the difficulties Jenner faced through telling each of his children about his transition.
While younger generations may not have as hard of a time understanding the concept of transgender people, older generations might need a little assistance.
Jenner opening up about his gender identity will likely have a noticeable effect on society.
By speaking out, Jenner has put a recognizable face to the transgender community — a face parents and grandparents will remember as the Olympic hero and a face younger people will know as the kind, off-beat dad from Keeping up with Kardashians.
While there is still a long road to equality for the transgender community, Jenner’s interview was a critical first step in educating people and shifting public opinion about a community that has long been pushed to the fringes of society.
Regardless of when or how Jenner completes his transition to “her,” Americans need to support him and give love to a community that has lived without it for far too long.
Amber Emery can be reached at [email protected]