Quick heads up: In his interview with Diane Sawyer, Bruce Jenner allowed the use of masculine pronouns for himself (he, him, his). Because of this, I will also be using those same pronouns when referring to Jenner in this article.
On April 24, famous Olympic athlete and Kardashian stepfather Bruce Jenner made an incredible public statement to Diane Sawyer on national television. Jenner revealed that he identifies as female and is transgender. While there has been much speculation on this topic, Jenner had never officially revealed this information himself until the two-hour special with Sawyer on ABC. While many believe that the news itself was the most important aspect of Jenner’s revelation, the response received afterward is just as noteworthy.
By allowing this part of his life to become public, Jenner has become a hero for transgender people everywhere. Jenner’s courage itself is heroic as he reveals his decades long struggle to accept his identity. By allowing his story to be made available to anyone with a television, Jenner has proven how satisfying the act of coming out can be. By sharing his true identity and discussing his joy at being free from hiding, Jenner shows firsthand how liberating it can be to tell others who your true self is.
Aside from his own bravery, the support given to Jenner is just as inspirational for trans people. The public support and encouragement Jenner has received shows that there is support for everyone, and no one is ever alone.
After the airing of the interview between Jenner and Sawyer, the internet was filled with nothing but support for Jenner. Celebrities and normal folk alike were tweeting and instagramming their love and encouragement toward Jenner and his journey to becoming “Her” — what Jenner refers to himself because he has not yet shared a new name. A hashtag was even created for Jenner, #PaintYourNailsForBruce, after he mentioned in his interview that he hopes to one day be able to have his nails painted for a long enough time that they begin to chip. Apart from his family, Lady Gaga, Sam Smith, Rob Lowe, Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres and many other celebrities tweeted in support of Jenner.
While not every trans person has the same celebrity status that Jenner may have, they should know that there is an abundance of people who are there to support them for who they truly are. Just as Jenner was accepted with love and praise, so will every trans person who is open about themselves. While not everyone in the world is as loving, there are enough supporters out there to make up for the ones who are not as accepting. No one should be afraid to share their identity with the world.
Anyone struggling with coming out as trans should look to Bruce Jenner for motivation. While Jenner’s athletic abilities may have earned him medals and fame, it is his self-acceptance and openness that makes him a true hero. It is a difficult thing to admit not only to others, but to yourself as well, and Jenner has handled it with so much strength.
As Laverne Cox — another famous trans person — said: “It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist.” Bruce Jenner is revolutionary and anyone who follows in his footsteps is as well. While Jenner may not know what his next step shall be in life, this step is the most important one he could ever take. And while Jenner may not yet have chosen a name, he knows for certain it will not begin with the letter “K.”