Bruce Jenner Interview — Page 9

Ugh, putting Jenner on the same level as someone like Ellen just honest to God makes my stomach turn.

Updated On: 6/3/15 at 02:28 PM

Jordan, I can see you disagree with my suggestion that it's a bit more complicated than that and while you're right about the tacky as hell capitalism, the other is also true. YES, trans people are quite limited in what gets the culture talking about their issues.

Now, was the RandBandRand asking that question about the financial motives of Jenner at ME? Right after I posted:

I agree with calling out what appear to be the entirely bass-ackwards priorities of the coverage and the whole management of the transition into an income stream by a person who is nothing but a media personality.

Because if so, wow.

Updated On: 6/3/15 at 02:40 PM

Look, there's just so much it's been pissing me off the past couple of days about this. According to the media, everyone is either trans phobic or if you talk about her appearance, you're a sexist and proving that all men care about is looks. If Miss Caitlyn (that's Caitlyn with a "C"!) didn't want the world to look at her body, she would have taken some iPhone pictures of herself on the couch watching tv instead of dressing like a damn playboy bunny and getting a world renowned photographer to shoot it.

And Tag, trust me I know all about who Jenner was. I grew up with him as a national hero and had many a funny feeling down there watching him. But that was a long time ago. People change (no pun intended). The Jenner of today's "Jenneration" (I just copywrote that BTW) is not to be held to the same standard and, like Paris Hilton, a media whore.

Well how else was she supposed to do this, when she already has such a public spotlight on her? Through TMZ and Perez Hilton paparazzi shots and gossip? She got ahead of the game. And that's smart. And those extremes that you mention (Playboy-like Leibovitz cover shoots) are exactly what is making the mainstream impact that this community needs.

Absolutely.

And I want to voice agreement with the statements Namo made earlier:

However, what I can't deny is the visibility this brings to an issue that gets no serious coverage at all in the American mainstream. A MAJOR ATHLETE has put the very notion of gender identity on the front burner of American pop culture. Almost in spite of herself.

This opens the door for all sorts of discussions in all sorts of communities that may never have considered the gender continuum.

Opening this door is vital.

Actually, it's clear that no one wants to engage you from your previous attempts to goad...which, as a casual observer, seems to be your main goal on this board.

But just because one opens a door to a national conversation, does that mean they are suddenly off-limits to possible scrutiny and criticism (if warranted)?

Not at all.

But, in my opinion, the fact that the door is open and the conversation can take place FAR outweighs any perceived negativity about the motivations, exploitation and intentions that some ascribe to this turn of events.

Updated On: 6/3/15 at 03:41 PM

Which I had personally posted twice.

Beautifully put.

"One can cheer and applaud and support the courage and bravery while also questioning the motivations, exploitation, and intentions behind such a move. "

One can, but one can also seem churlish rushing to do so while everyone else is marveling at the good being done. Naysaying can be a necessary corrective, but it can also be an easy, cynical attempt to seem smarter than everyone else by attempting to make everyone else seem stupid.

I wasn't breaking the news because you already knew all too well of his disgusting past behavior. I was just there to remind you of it, since you seem to put blinders on when it suits you best or when the issue surrounds an individual you happen to view in a favorable way. Letterman is a homophobic womanizer. His past actions (and bigotry and rhetoric and quietly-settled harassment lawsuits) speak much louder than any petty words he's offered "in support" of us and "in support" of women's rights on a few television episodes over the two freaking decades. Puhlease.