I told myself I wasn't going to get involved. I rarely do when it comes to the discourse people carry out on social media. It has become easy for the masses to sit behind screens and argue and lie and piss and moan. It has become too easy to fling your opinions carelessly about with no regard for consequences.
I have read many articles, blogs, and think pieces about Caitlyn Jenner and her journey. I have read and watched wonderful things about love and acceptance and bravery. I have also read the other side of the spectrum. I have read articles or posts where people refuse to call Caitlyn by her chosen name, instead repeatedly calling her Bruce. One particular post claimed Caitlyn was merely "playing dress up." Did that person stop to ask themselves why? Why did Caitlyn change how she dresses and her physical appearance? Caitlyn identifies as a woman. The labels of woman and man are social constructs. Every day we practice these constructs to demonstrate that we are a woman or man. Even if Caitlyn simply asked to be addressed as a woman without any other change, our strict society would not allow her to feel like a woman. Being trans is not simply about your sex organs, it is about being accepted and acknowledged by society as the gender you identify yourself as. Most times, changes must be made in order for this to happen.
Now let's just turn our attention back to this post. The author repeatedly implies that Caitlyn is not courageous, that Caitlyn is not a hero, that Caitlyn is a trending topic of no real importance. What about that young trans teen sitting behind their screen reading your Facebook post? Caitlyn is their hero. What about the middle aged business man ravaged by depression because they don't have the courage to be who they really are? Caitlyn is a hero to them, and many like them. Hell she is a hero to me.
Ahem *sips water* it was pointed out to me earlier today that this particular award, the Arthur Ashe Courage Award, was given to Michael Sam in 2014. He was the first openly gay football player drafted to the NFL, yet he was lauded and praised. AS HE SHOULD BE. He was a hero, courageous. JUST. LIKE. CAITLYN. Also Arthur Ashe's own daughter supports Caitlyn as the recipient.
Does this mean any of the other nominees are any less so? Absolutely not. Everyone is allowed to have their opinions and beliefs. People forget to be kind, decent humans while expressing their beliefs. No one needs to be blatantly disrespectful and hateful while expressing opinions.
I have final thoughts. Of course I do. And perhaps these last few words will upset people. They might even upset my family members or friends. I have seen a lot of backlash due to religious beliefs. I have read things about Caitlyn living in sin or having sin. There have been some particularly troubling posts saying, and I'm paraphrasing here, "I love those who are [insert any term describing someone outside the social norm] but I do not love their sin" EXCUSE ME? First of all being bisexual, gay, transgender, genderfluid, or purple does not equate sin, hell it doesn't mean anything about anyone's character. I know plenty of white heteros with the WORST personalities and moral compasses. I may not be Christian and I guess that means I do not know what it means to love as a Christian BUT I know what it means to love and be loved. Loving someone means loving every single piece of them, even the parts you might not understand or agree with.You don't get to ever say "I love you but..." no. No buts. You claim to love someone like Jesus, you claim to love someone at all in any way...there are no buts.
Finally I say to all the people out there struggling with identity or sexuality or what have you having to listen to the onslaught of negativity about gender, sexuality, and societal roles...those negative voices are so damn loud right now because that group is yelling as loud as they can. They are yelling because they are terrified. They are terrified because they are part of a dying breed. The social discourse is changing. People are changing. People are turning to love and acceptance and change. It's happening slowly but it's happening. Those naysayers are unable to adapt, so they are dying out and they freaking know it. They are becoming the minority.
Hang in there. Change is here.
