As the mom of a transgender person, it excites me that Caitlyn Jenner is getting so much exposure for the transgender community. What I fear is the negative response to it all. The truth is that as much as the media is latching onto the transgender movement, we still have a long way to go before we become an accepting society.
Caitlyn Jenner receiving an award for being courageous has brought about an awful lot of hateful comments and also comparisons about what it truly means to be courageous. Comparisons are being made to soldiers and although I feel that anyone who offers up themselves voluntarily to fight for their country is worthy of being called courageous, the Arthur Ashe award is for ATHLETES not soldiers. There is a time and a place to recognize war heroes.
There just seems to be far too much hate from people who cannot understand or even imagine that being transgender is a REAL issue. Some even compare it to being gay and believe that there is a "cure" for that.
A transgender person is someone who believes that they were born into the wrong body. I cannot even imagine the pain that Caitlyn Jenner endured even as Bruce Jenner becoming an Olympic hero all the time suppressing/not understanding why she felt the way she did. Hiding that from the world must have been an enormous burden and certainly no way to live a life.
The people who call Caitlyn selfish for how she finally decided that she was going to live an authentic life after being married 3 times and fathering 6 children don't seem to understand that for 65 years she tried to live the lie but couldn't. It is tragic for her children and ex-wives and I do feel for them. I do believe that living an honest, authentic life benefits all who are a part of it. It is never too late to begin.
The world knew Caitlyn as the Olympic hero and Kardashian step-dad/father/husband and as viewers of the reality show will agree, there was always something "off" with Bruce. Maybe the viewer blamed Kris for being overbearing but the truth was that this was a person who was suffering from depression from trying to live a life that was not authentic. Did Caitlyn deserve an award for finally breaking free and becoming who she is?
No, definitely not. But unlike others who feel there were better candidates for this award I still feel happy for the exposure it brings to transgender people.
Those with open minds and hearts will listen to Caitlyn's message and be inspired by it. Those whose minds and hearts remain closed will feel the need to be offended by it. I do believe the media is just jumping on the latest bandwagon. Hopefully this opportunity will last long enough to change some minds and open some hearts. I hope this only because I fear for my child living in a world with so much hate towards people who are "different" from the accepted normal.
We all have challenges in this world. Caitlyn Jenner sharing her journey is an opportunity for transgender people and I hope it does a lot of good. I applaud her courage and thank her for it.
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