[Marina Kits]

Who saw it? What did you think? I only caught a couple minutes of it (I was distracting our daughter) but I liked what I saw. My wife watched the last half hour and was nearly crying when we reconvened. She said, "he said all the same things you've said to me. It sounded just like you". She added that she feels like there's hope for me now. That some day, not too far off, people will understand what I've been through and I'll be "normal" again. I think she just needed to know there are tens of thousands of people like me and that the world is finally taking notice and beginning to understand that we aren't freaks and perverts. It was reassuring for her. Comments? Thoughts?

[Sofia Bunny]

I unfortunately did not get a chance to view it, I only caught a snippet on a Facebook post, but it sounds like this interview will not only open up the eyes of many, it will help reassure those in similar situations that there is nothing wrong with them. I think overall it will be greatly beneficial. I hope it will help others come forward and help unite everyone and help offer peace of mind and reassurance.

We are who we are, and feel what we feel. We are a sum of our life experiences, we cannot change the past and even if we could I do not believe we would be the same because we have now deprived ourselves of the experiences that make us who we are.

I am curious as to what all was said in the full interview, so hopefully I can watch it later.

[GoneGirl]

I didn't watch the TV broadcast, but I found it on the web.

I'm sure Bruce's public revelation will help. Here just one message to me in response to my asking who among my FB cis friends watched it.

I did see it, Clara. I also thought this is Clara's story, I did appreciate the interview as it opened my eyes even more to some of the realities we have always taken for granted, but have not been real. Hope this makes sense helen


Being transgender itself is not the source of the our mental distress once hormonal balance is corrected. It's the overwhelming feelings of shame, guilt, and fear of being misunderstood and stigmatized by society that causes the internal conflict and pain.

I know that the image that some have of transgender people has been influenced by TV talk shows, movies, and the porn industry. I hope that the stories of people like Bruce Jenner, Kristen Beck, Janet Mock, and others will help bring about a less shallow and distorted view of this very natural variation in human fetal development.

Clara

[Marina Kits]

I wonder how many people already got hit with the "T" bomb by a loved one or soon will because Bruce's announcement was the final staw. I am so tempted to say something on Facebook like, "Hey everyone, ahhh ...me too" but I don't want to ride on Bruce's coattails. Besides, I came out last year and it's kind of awkward to do a mass announcement now to those who don't know yet.

If you want to watch the full interview like I do, I think it will be available at the link below, Next Friday or Saturday.

http://abc.go.com/shows/2020/listing/201...-interview

...just HAD to add this from Jennifer Finney Boylan on Twitter

Cis people: I'm starting to get it now.
Trans people: WE'VE BEEN TELLING YOU THIS FOR YEARS!

[Miranda-nata-est]

I too have managed to find and watch the interview - not that straightforward in the UK.

It was profoundly moving. My SO said time and time again 'That's exactly what you have been saying'.

On balance it has to be a really good thing to raise public awareness and to give hope to individuals that it is possible to completely change one's life without necessarily destroying family and friends.


I do have a couple of nagging disquiets. The main one is a fear that overtly public transitions by celebrities might result in an an attitude that 'it's cool to be trans' which could lead to some making 'BIG mistakes' and which might detract from the seriousness of the undertaking. However, if it saves some people who might otherwise have stepped out in front of a train or taken an overdose, then that is probably a price worth paying. As such, I rather hope that when she does 'emerge as a woman', it is not over-hyped. The other slight worry I have is that clearly 'celebs' have sufficient financial resources and backing to throw at the transition to ensure the best possible cosmetic outcomes. Not all of us are in this fortunate position and there is a danger that people may become dissatisfied with the outcome of their own journey which may have, of necessity, been less complete. I know it is true that the rich and famous have always had the opportunity to shine as 'The Beautiful People' but somehow it feels that we are sharing this journey with them and not being able to finance the same level of treatments could lead some of us to feel unhappy that we were unable to have such a passable outcome.

Don't know...just a couple of thoughts. On the whole, probably a good thing she spoke out.

Miranda

[GoneGirl]

Those are good points, Miranda.

I have a hard time believing, though, that a cis person would want to change genders because it's 'cool'. Gender fluid, maybe.

Financial costs are high if you don't catch it before puberty. If society was more accepting of transgender people, however, it might not be as necessary to 'pass' as one's true gender. Of course, there's that 'wrong body' dysphoria thing. I can't imagine a more desirable male body than was Bruce Jenner's. If it wasn't as important for people to see you as one gender or the other, would the outside really matter anymore?

Clara

[Lenneth]

have yet to find or watch this yet.

[LingerieJessica]

Who saw it? What did you think? I only caught a couple minutes of it (I was distracting our daughter) but I liked what I saw. My wife watched the last half hour and was nearly crying when we reconvened. She said, "he said all the same things you've said to me. It sounded just like you". She added that she feels like there's hope for me now. That some day, not too far off, people will understand what I've been through and I'll be "normal" again. I think she just needed to know there are tens of thousands of people like me and that the world is finally taking notice and beginning to understand that we aren't freaks and perverts. It was reassuring for her. Comments? Thoughts?

Did not see it at all, yes it is good.

What is better though, is the effect it had on your wife! I am sure it gave her a new understanding of your situation and feelings.

Good stuff.

[WantAPair]

I know that the image that some have of transgender people has been influenced by TV talk shows, movies, and the porn industry. I hope that the stories of people like Bruce Jenner, Kristen Beck, Janet Mock, and others will help bring about a less shallow and distorted view of this very natural variation in human fetal development.

Clara

Well, I don't exactly see any TS people, per se, in pornos. "Chicks with dicks", sure, but I don't see them as TS. Maybe they're working towards it and their present state being used in pornos is helping to finance that end, which I have no problem with, neither do I see anything wrong with those that want to present fem but want to keep their tackle. As some of you might recall (we talked about it here before), I just don't like them being presented as women with dicks. I would think that REAL women with dicks, hermaphrodites and the like, would frown greatly on that title being given to those people. Or, am I being a TAD too PC?
As for the talk shows, you got THAT right, especially when it's wack jobs like the guy who CLAIMS he's a TS, but still has a full beard and uses his "normal" male voice, but wears a dress and decided years ago that he just couldn't stand having legs, so he cut them off!!
I haven't yet seen the Jenner interview, but I just heard a very short snippet of it an hour ago and it sounded like the woman who was interviewing him didn't quite get it. I THINK she said something to the effect that he was throwing his life and achievements away to become a woman.
Kristen Beck???? What?? Did Glen Beck get a sex change???

[WantAPair]

Those are good points, Miranda.

I have a hard time believing, though, that a cis person would want to change genders because it's 'cool'. Gender fluid, maybe.

Financial costs are high if you don't catch it before puberty. If society was more accepting of transgender people, however, it might not be as necessary to 'pass' as one's true gender. Of course, there's that 'wrong body' dysphoria thing. I can't imagine a more desirable male body than was Bruce Jenner's. If it wasn't as important for people to see you as one gender or the other, would the outside really matter anymore?

Clara

The outside is JUST the shell! It's the car that YOU drive around in and, as it's YOURS, ONLY YOU should have the right to do what YOU want to do with it!!
I've probably said here before that I don't understand at all what all the interest is in having someone poke holes into your face and other body parts and replace the divots with tiny barbells and other bits of metal or wood, or having loads of ink shoved into your skin, and I don't think it's pretty at all, but I'll certainly defend their rights to do it!!