This week was exceptional for the Transgender Community as Model Andreja Pejic made history as the first trans woman to be profiled in Vogue, Laverne Cox joined several women in the Allure’s annual “Nudes” issue as the first trans actress to do so, and of course, Bruce Jenner!
After the airing of recent interview Olympic medalist and reality TV star Bruce Jenner had with Diane Sawyer, he officially started a conversation amongst Americans that may change perceptions across the nation. Like with any other societal issue, viewers have mixed emotions toward his coming out as a Transgender person. Some have referred to Jenner as courageous and a hero, others have called him slanderous names and are even assuming this is all a publicity stunt. Despite the ridicule he’s been receiving from the media, Bruce expresses that using his platform as a celebrity to speak for the transgender community and trans rights movement may be his true calling.
“Maybe this is why God put me on this earth,” Jenner said. “To deal with this issue.”
Regardless of some of the reactions towards the 65-year-old’s particular story, there are hundreds of thousands of people that face a gender identity struggle every day. The numbers of suicide rates and homicide rates in the Transgender community are incredibly high and extremely scary to say the least. According to surveys, 4.6 percent of the overall U.S. population has self-reported a suicide attempt, with that number climbing to between 10 and 20 percent for lesbian, gay or bisexual respondents. By comparison, 41 percent of trans or gender non-conforming people surveyed have attempted suicide.
The visibility of trans people has increased substantially, especially in popular culture and television over the past decade. It’s important for America to become more accepting of this reality. Celebrities that face the gender identity battle are louder voices, reaching a broader audience and can make a change for the entire community. Bruce Jenner had America’s attention with his interview and millions watched as he revealed his truth, but here are a few celebrities that took that step before him.
