(Caitlyn Jenner)
Caitlyn Jenner compares herself to a teenage girl in a new blog post reflecting on her journey since coming out as transgender earlier this year.
As Gossip Cop has reported, Jenner revealed her gender identity issues in April, and then officially transitioned from Bruce to Caitlyn in June. Her E! docu-series premiered in late July, and the season finale just aired on Sunday night. On Monday, Jenner posted a lengthy entry on her website called “What I’ve Learned.”
“Reflecting on my journey so far and just how rewarding it has been,” Jenner writes, “My experience over the last four months has been incredible.” She begins by celebrating the “open dialogue” her transition has sparked, which she calls “amazing progress in and of itself.” “Many people have come up to me and told me their stories. It turns out lots of you have friends or family members who are transgender. Who knew? I never would have had these conversations if I had not come out publicly and finally lived my truth. For so long, people – myself included – were embarrassed to talk about transgender issues,” says Jenner.
Next she notes, “I’ve never experienced acceptance quite like that I’ve received from the transgender community. Even though my experience is far from the norm, this group of people has welcomed me with open arms – and I am eternally grateful to them.” She goes on to acknowledge, however, that “one of the many lessons that these fabulous women have taught me is that – despite all being transgender – they each feel differently about particular issues.”
“It’s important to have an open dialogue with the trans people in your life about their unique viewpoints and not lump us all together. Just because I think something is funny or appropriate, doesn’t mean that all trans people feel the same way and vice versa,” says Jenner, who was seen butting heads at times with some of the trans women on her show. “I can only speak from my own personal experience and in no way can I represent the entire trans community. My opinion is just that, my own opinion. There’s no one way to be trans!”
Jenner further admits, “Perhaps the most surprising and shocking thing for me has been to learn about the number of problems the transgender community faces. Up until my transition, I had never met another openly trans person. Job discrimination, sex work, ostracism from families, horrific violence… I had no idea what so many people go through to live as their true selves. It is staggering.”
“While I’m far from perfect and will make some mistakes along the way, I’ve made it my life goal to help the wonderful people in this community. Trans rights are about 30 years behind gay rights (and look at the incredible progress we’ve made there!). We’ve got a lot more work to do in the trans community, but we’re getting closer,” says Jenner.
The former Olympian goes on to write, “I want to help each of you understand something that I only recently embraced: Being different is okay – in fact, it’s great! But I also understand it takes some getting used to.” As an example, Jenner notes, “Like many people, there was a time when I didn’t realize how important it is for gay couples to have the right to get married. But after hearing from my gay friends and learning more about the hardships they faced because of discrimination, it became clear to me that everyone should be able to marry the person they love. I can only hope that by sharing my story, there’s someone out there whose mind has been changed about trans people.”
She continues, “Because regardless of whether you are transgender or not, we all have stuff to deal with in our lives. To have the courage to overcome obstacles and be your authentic self is an amazing process to go through. I want you to believe in yourself and know that you can deal with it. You can be okay.”
And what’s next, now that “I Am Cait” has finished airing? “I’m going to take breather for a minute,” says Jenner. She adds, “I want to continue to grow as a person. In so many ways I feel like I’m a teenage girl discovering herself! I’m still trying to figure out what it means to be a woman and I will continue that process. Because you know what? It’s a lot of fun!” TELL US: What do you think of Jenner’s very public transgender journey so far?
