Transgender rights have become a hot topic due to Caitlyn Jenner’s public revelation of her transition on June 1, 2015.
“Being able to live your life by your own rules without being held back is empowering,” said 20-year-old nursing major Amy McDonald in regards to Caitlyn Jenner’s public transition.
Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, is a former Olympic decathlete and stepmother of the Kardashian media empire. Jenner revealed her complete physical transformation on the cover of the July 2015 edition of Vanity Fair.
“As soon as the Vanity Fair cover comes out, I’m free,” said Jenner in her interview with Vanity Fair.
According to Merriam Webster dictionary, a person who identifies as transgender is a person who identifies or expresses a gender identity that differs from the one which corresponds to the person’s sex at birth.
Jenner’s transition is controversial and widely covered by many media outlets. Since Jenner is a huge celebrity many people form different opinions of her new beginning.
“She looks great and I’m so proud of her,” said 19-year-old biology major, Audrey Lopez on June 2, 2015.
While some people support Jenner, others do not.
“I just don’t really understand it,” said 22-year-old biology major Brett Miller. “He was a huge athlete and I don’t understand why he decided to become a woman at such an old age.”
While Jenner, 65, struggled with gender identity for years, she hopes to be a trailblazer for members of the transgender community.
Although Jenner’s transition is widely covered, some people are yet to be exposed to the transgender lifestyle.
“I don’t know anyone who is transgender, but I know there are transgender people on this campus,” said 21-year-old criminal justice major Joshua Goll.
Jenner’s bravery of publicly transitioning gives transgender individuals the media representation needed in order to feel accepted.
With most of the interviewed sources at De Anza College agreeing that Jenner’s transition is a positive transformation, the transgender community is garnering more respect year by year.
Along with Caitlyn Jenner, many other transgender women are paving the way to nationwide acceptance. For example, Laverne Cox, an actress on the Netflix show “Orange is the New Black,” has released a documentary titled “The T Word,” about the struggles, the process and the outcome of being transgender.
Overall, Jenner continues to inspire people by staying true to who she is.
“She’s a role model to many,” said Ivy Nguyen, 20-year-old women studies major. “She’s going to save so many lives.”
The Dvorak Times 