Hours before the West Coast premiere, I was inundated with reports and comments about the Jenner interview via email and social media. Apparently 30 seconds after the show aired on the East Coast GLAAD hit the ‘send’ button on an email heralding Jenner for helping people understand what it means to be transgender, suggesting I visit a link to GLAAD’s Tips for Allies of Transgender People. I saw a tweet from Perez Hilton claiming that two of Jenner’s previous wives made supportive comments but that Kris Jenner reportedly refused to comment. His tweet was promptly rebutted by Kris in a tweet telling Perez to “Fuck off,” no one asked her for a comment and to “keep it real” because she was sitting with Bruce watching the show.
On Facebook my dear friend Elaine Lancaster, Miami’s reigning queen, shared a personal story about spending a long weekend with Bruce, Kris, Kendall ad Kylie in Mexico at the home of Girls Gone Wild mogul Joe Francis. Elaine said in her post, “At the time I had no idea the way he looked at me and the questions he asked were much more than just simple inquiries, but it all makes so much sense now. He seemed to be a sweet and kind man and I’m sure he’ll be an even kinder woman.”
By the time 9 p.m. rolled around my anticipation and curiosity had reached a boiling point and I’m happy to say that, in the words of Oprah, the interview was “STUNNING.”
The cameras were barely rolling before an emotional Jenner tearfully came out as a trans woman, a moment that I’m sure brought many viewers to tears as well — but not me. I didn’t cry until they showed the footage of 26-year-old Bruce Jenner during his triumphant victory at the 1976 Olympic Games. I remember those years, I remember that Jenner, and seeing it all again made me cry. But not because I was mourning the loss of an American hero (and teenage crush). I was crying because I was imagining the loneliness and shame that Jenner was feeling, struggling with gender identity and keeping those feelings secret for so many years. Even at a time of great victory, celebration and adoration, Jenner admits to “running away from who I was.”
I feel empathy for Jenner. Maybe it’s because I’m a big ‘mo and a drag queen. Maybe it’s because I sometimes feel like my brain is more female than male. Maybe it’s because I have several close personal friends who happen to be trans — but I think it’s more than that. Jenner is charismatic, likable. Even when telling America “I’ve always been very confused with my gender identity. For all intents and purposes, I am a woman.” You have to kinda like the guy.
Jenner’s story is relatable on many different levels. In the interview Jenner expressed the same concerns we all have.
“I don’t want to disappoint people.”
No one does. We want to live up to other’s expectations — we don’t want to let anyone down. We all want the people in our lives to be proud of us.
“I just can’t hold the curtain any longer. Bruce lives a lie. She is not a lie. I can’t do it anymore.”
While not all of us are struggling with gender, we all have aspects of our lives that we feel are inauthentic. We all find ourselves in situations or exhibiting behavior that are not true or real. Once you start hiding the truth and deceiving others it gets harder and harder to stop, and it’s exhausting.
“I was not fair [to my wives.]”
Many of us have been in relationships where we feel we treated our partners unfairly.
“I don’t socialize a lot, I’m not an outgoing person. I never fit in. When you deal with this issue, you don’t fit in. I like to play golf; 99 percent of the time I play by myself.”
Again, many of us feel isolated, lonely, and like we don’t fit in. And 99 percent of the time most of us play with ourselves too.
“[To] be able to have my nail polish on long enough that it actually chips off.”
So many of us are denied the little things that so many others take for granted.
We feel you Bruce… we feel you.
Of course not everything Jenner had to say sat exactly right with me. Honestly, I was shocked to learn that Jenner is REPUBLICAN. I realize that is one of my prejudices, and I’m working on it. Maybe in the next interview Jenner can help me understand Republicans.
I was also shocked that Kim wasn’t initially responsive to Jenner until Kanye turned her around. Could I have misjudged Kanye? Is he the moral compass and shining beacon of hope and acceptance in the family? Speaking of misjudged, what about Khloe? Apparently she’s not taking the news very well and that makes me sad. She was always my favorite.
Let’s face it — the interview was informative, passionate, brave, inspiring, and important. I’m so proud of Jenner who insisted “What I’m doing is going to do some good. We are going to change the world. We are going to make a difference in the world.”
To me, one of the most important moments of the interview came when Jenner confessed to thoughts of suicide. After more than a solid year of being harassed and ridiculed for his appearance, stalked by the paparazzi, and being the subject of much speculation and the butt of hateful jokes, he had had enough. One night he paced up and down the hall of his Malibu home and thought about the gun in the next room. He totally empathized with those who contemplate taking their own lives and wondered if it wouldn’t be easier to just end it, and move on to a better place. But he didn’t do it. Jenner sent a powerful message to trans people everywhere, and to everyone who struggles with thoughts of taking your own life: Don’t do it. Like a true Olympic champion Jenner asserts “If it is only this, I will be okay. I’ve got my health. I’ve got my children. I’ve got family, seven grandkids now. I’m actually really excited about the future.”
So are we Bruce. We’re all rooting for you!
let support him now Bruce Jenner wanted only to be free. Most of you didnt know how a gay man suffers if he was into closet still.And thanks to him now I kinda understand the trans people eventhough they wanted to change their physical appearances their sexual orientation are still like straight. Coz b4 i thought was the opposite
Not gonna lie – I agree with many of the sentiments expressed here regarding Jenner’s sexuality and Republican affiliation. Like anyone exploring and embracing their sexuality or gender, Jenner has a lot of soul searching and growing up to do. I’ve know many young gay boys who claim to be straight, then move to bisexual, until they eventually feel comfortable and secure enough to say “I’m gay.”
I’m going to give Jenner a pass for now. I only hope that as the transition moves forward so will Jenner’s self-acceptance and social consciousness.
I feel the good done by this interview and Jenner’s honesty far outweighs the bad.
A 65 year old, white privileged male/female who had own interview w/”Diane Sawyer” doesn’t get a pass!
Good interview that let him tell his story without a lot of interruptions….
On another note as I watched this interview when they showed his kids I looked forward to seeing Brody since he always got the press from being on the hills etc and they always showed his body etc but god damn Brandon Jenner…fuck he was hot!
So people who expect others to overcome their biases and accept transgendered individuals yet they cannot overcome their own biases and accept people whose political beliefs are inconsistent with their own.
Thanks to Bruce Jenner (and shows like Transparent), 2015 is shaping up to be a remarkable year for all transgendered. He’s actually getting people to stop and think. And that’s not easy.
Steve
His political beliefs being inconsistent with others is not the issue, the issue is that they’re inconsistent with his own lifestyle.
It is not a matter of not accepting ” people whose political beliefs are inconsistent with their own.” It is a fact that Republican party politicians and office holders on the State and Federal level have been fighting hard to keep LGBT people in a 2nd class state, at best. They don’t recognize us as EQUALS. It is not a matter of differing political beliefs, it is a matter of fundamental human equality and justice. Their views are inconsistent with Justice. People with their views are in fact the enemies of all fair minded people.
Well-said, Andrew!
Well, if it took him/her to do it, we are all in trouble! Use the brain “God” gave you.
My thoughts exactly Sister Roma. I also thought Chloe would have been the one most accepting but when Bruce talked about how she has been abandoned or had the men in her life leave too soon that kind of put it into perspective.
He’s probably a Republican because he wants to hang on to that money he made from Keeping up.. and we all know the GOP is for the rich give them tax cuts meanwhile lets cut food stamps, medicaid and every other program for the poor.
I’m well aware that trans people need more role models and advocates, but that doesn’t translate into making Bruce Jenner a hero. As was mentioned, he’s just a reality celebrity and all of this just seems like 80% publicity stunt to revitalize interest in him after splitting from the Kardashians proper. Then you factor in his politics and other failings, and it all just goes further downhill.
There’s no minority so desperate that you should make just any trash your new hero. And just because you happen to be a member of one minority doesn’t make you motherfucking Rosa Parks. We love you, trans people, but you deserve better!
Amen!!!!!!!
Monica Lewinsky got only 90 minutes with Barbara Walters in March 1999, and she was a lot more of a household name then than Jenner’s been in decades.
Glad you are keeping it in perspective.
“Open your mind, open your heart. I’m not a bad person.” That’s pretty heavy. I’ve never felt such empathy for a Republican and a Kardashian, dammit. Guess what? It really isn’t cool to make fun of trans people anymore. Let’s evolve together. I’ll bet Joan Rivers is clawing at her coffin lid right now.
Aside from basically agreeing with all the “problems of the rich and entitled” comments, I am confused by his (for now) statement that he has always been attracted to women. Changing his external genitalia doesn’t change anything in terms of his orientation. So will this make him a lesbian after his transformation is complete? This just doesn’t make a lot of sense to me. All the transgendered people I have known (admittedly 4 is not a huge sampling) had an orientation that matched their subjective sense of who they were. Now I am not denying this possibility but it almost seemed a way for him to make himself a bit more acceptable to the Republican part of the audience. “After all, I’m not gay” sort of thing. Strange.
Don’t let is chat confuse you!
The trans movement deserves better than a self serving Republican who thinks it’s ok to diss Obama and his efforts for the trans cause.
At least he’s not “gay” thanks to the Conservative, Republican God! No confusion there….
I don’t get why Bruce Jenner deserves any respect when he still wants to be addressed as “he” (for now), disses Obama and the Russian competitor of his, and after the interview was filmed killed an older lady in a traffic accident he caused (and days later was pictured of driving recklessly again).
The whole interview had “entitled rich people’s problems” written all over it. How can anyone really identify with this Republican jerk who believes that all the trans movement needs is Bruce fucking Jenner to go the Republican Party and telling them to be supportive of trans rights (and ONLY trans rights, I’m sure) from now on?
Are trans people really THAT desperate that they need this entitled prick to speak for/to them?
Oh, and regarding Kris Jenner. Please, the reason she didn’t comment is that she saves that for Keeping Up with the Kardashian where it suits her (and her show’s ratings) best.
Yeah there’s no one more supportive of those of us who are marginalized in society than McConnell and Boehner. What an idiot
Good for him.
Always to exciting to see someone finally being able to step up and say out loud….this is the real me that I have kept submissive all because of others….no more.
Republican’t? I was a little surprised but not shocked. More often than not that’s the cult rich selfish people subscribe to even if that party works against their own personal interest.
Interesting reaction from the rest of that cardasheeeeeennnnan family. They sure enjoy shoving their personal lives down the worlds throat but when it comes to someone they say they love and admire the ‘girls’ somehow just can’t cope.
I’m sure all their GLBTQ fans will still keep drinking the cool aid.
What was the reaction from the males in that cardasheeeeeennnnnan group? Did those males make a comment? Did I just miss it?
And, of course, Bruce is exposing his transition for a ‘reality’ show this summer….$$$$$$$$.
Can’t we all just admit this family has gotten rich whoring themselves for the more ignorant and simple minded among us?
Finally, I know understand why his son Brodie character is as dumb as a bag of hair. He’s truly his daddy’s boy. Neither seem to have won the bonus round of brains.
The singer son and daughter look to be the winners in that gene pool thanks to their mom’s contribution.
Yes, Bruce has cast off a huge burden with a bumpy but positive road ahead but as to the rest of his world including that family, well, let’s just say I don’t think I could spend a week with them in Mexico or anywhere else.
Go Bruce, go.
Didn’t watch it, don’t intend to watch it. While I commend him for making this transition, I don’t enjoy the Kardashian-like PR stunt this pretty much came out to be.
And wow, a transgendered AND republican??? There’s got to be some level of self-loathing if he feels he’s more closely connected to a party who mostly rejects the LGBTQ community. Never understood, and never want to understand, how one can be part of a political party that will not hesitate to deny them the basic rights the rest of Americans have.
Too bad he wasn’t interviewed by a real journalist.
One question Diane could have followed up with regarding his comment about being republican’t when he asks, “Is that a bad thing?”
The responding question should have gone something such as this…..How can you participate in a political party that reviles you so much while trying to remove any protections or civil rights for all GLBTQ??????
Another golden opportunity missed. Should have been Rachel Maddow. Bet she would have asked him that a a ton more good questions.
Or Anderson Cooper. He definitely would have asked that.
People, we believe what we believe–don’t project your biases onto him. If he wants to be a Republican, that is his business. Sure, the GOP has SIGNIFICANT problems, but the Democrats are no great prize, either. The GOP party platform in general has a problem with gays because of its religious base, and have done some really stupid things in that area, but the Democratic party platform is just as repellant because it technically allows for sex selective abortions under its abortion plank…and if medical science is able to determine a child will be born homosexual while still in the womb, under Democratic party policy of unrestricted access, you could abort that if you do not want a gay kid. Neither of these groups are great to vote for, but that whole political discussion is really not the point. The point is that Bruce Jenner is making the greatest of all life changes, and needs positive vibes sent his way…he does not need a bunch of queens on the internet bitching about his voting record.
Spin it however you want Jeff. The hard truth is that the Republican Party, as now constituted, is the ENEMY of all LGBT people At every turn on every governmental level they block or attempt to slow down the movement toward total EQUALITY for all LGBT people. The Democratic party, for all it’s shortcomings, has taken the lead in the movement for LGBT EQUALITY. The LGBT person who votes Republican is a FOOL.
You are about as intelligent as “Sister Roma!” At least you are not alone….
Diane did ask Jennifer, specifically about her political views, and she eloquently stated: That either party doesn’t “own” compassion or empathy.
So clearly you two didn’t watch this closely.
If Jennifer doesn’t realize that the Republican politicians on the State and Federal level been blocking the national movement toward LGBT equality at every turn, she should get her head out of the sand and pay attention to what is going on in the world, outside her rich little privileged enclave.
I’m thinking these were the same thoughts so many of us were having!!
I was crying because I was imagining the loneliness and shame that Jenner was feeling, struggling with gender identity and keeping those feelings secret for so many years. Even at a time of great victory, celebration and adoration, Jenner admits to “running away from who I was.”