Bruce Jenner has been the subject of much recent criticism after confessing he sees himself more as a woman in an intimate interview with Diane Sawyer on Friday. The confession received much backlash in part due to what was said, but mainly because of how people believed this changed an American icon. The former Olympic gold medalist was a legend back in his racing days for young boys all over the world. He appeared in advertisement campaigns, posed on cereal boxes, and was just an all around American role model. After this new confession was released however, people expressed their worry Bruce now considering himself a woman contradicts everything he once said he was and represented to America.
The fact of the matter is people should have the right to express themselves in what every way they deem correct and feel on the inside. This public announcement of who Bruce really is created massive progress for the transgendered community, and in a way provided a voice and platform to discuss important matters like a person’s identity. Currently, there are more than 700,000 transgendered Americans who identify with this term. The interview pointed out that 85 percent of Americans say they know someone who identifies as gay, but only 8 percent of Americans say they know someone who identifies as transgendered.
It took tremendous amounts of courage and acceptance in Bruce’s own character to publically announce how he really views him/herself. In my opinion, this act rivaled the great accomplishments he made during the Olympic games by becoming a light in the virtually dark transgendered world, and using his celebrity to make change. Bruce’s act of expression is sure to help promote further change, and is destined to create great strides in the transgender community.