I had the chance to read People Magazine’s full print edition article on Bruce Jenner’s transition, and while there weren’t any big revelations, it filled in some of the details for me. The article was also full of photos of Bruce and his family throughout his life. It was a nice, compassionate take on what he’s going through. People also interviewed transgender people and leaders in the trans movement to help explain Bruce’s change. The magazine never used the word “historical,” but that’s what it seems like to me. He’s a brave person to come forward with this to the world.
Many of you have asked whether Bruce has expressed a preferred pronoun or name. He has not, and People explains that they’re still using the male pronoun to refer to Bruce because he has not said otherwise, and did not specifically address that question. Here’s more, along with some relevant excerpts from the article. I’m only including the parts we didn’t cover yesterday:
Why People is still calling Bruce ‘he’
Since his family currently uses the pronoun “he” to refer to Jenner, People is doing the same. “It’s important not to get too ahead of the person transitioning,” says Mary Andrews, a clinical psychologist and associate professor of clinical education. “Let them take the lead and tell you when they’re ready to be called by a different name or pronoun.” Jenner did not respond to a request for comment on this story or for a preferred pronoun.How Kris took the news that Bruce is transitioning
Despite hints in Bruce’s behavior for years, multiple sources say that Kris was “shocked” by Bruce’s admission. “It’s really a hard adjustment for her,” says a source in Bruce’s inner circle. Adds the insider: “Kris had the most difficult time in the family. She’s looking back at their entire marriage, and a lot of things are suddenly making sense. She has had a lot to process.”Bruce has not revealed whether he plans to change his name
Sources say Jenner, who remains attracted to women, hasn’t yet shared whether he plans to change his name or have more surgery. “No one feels deceived by Bruce,” says the insider. “He was going through this change slowly. It’s not like he woke up one day and was like ‘Surprise!’ He moved through his own feelings and his own changes at his own pace.”“This is his story and [his family] wants him to tell the world the way he wants,” says the source close to the family. “He’s more and more confident,” notes the production source. “He’s doing what makes him happy.”
[From People Magazine, print edition, February 16, 2015]
Kris’ fingerprints are all over this story, but I guess I don’t blame her. Radar is claiming that Bruce is cutting Kris out of his docuseries and she’s pissed. People covered this with sensitivity and tact, similar to US’s coverage last week.
Some of you commented yesterday that Entertainment Tonight claimed that Bruce is going to change his name to Kaitlin with a K or a C. You can see their coverage of that here. They also had on Piers Morgan, who had some surprisingly thoughtful things to say about Bruce’s transition and how brave he was for doing it, especially in the public eye. Piers really pwned the trolls. He wrote an editorial for the Daily Mail about Bruce. “Bruce Jenner was one of the best decathletes in history. So to call him a coward is as pathetic as it’s so clearly inaccurate. So much commentary about his struggles has been vile, when what he’s going through is no doubt extraordinarily difficult. What’s truly cowardly is the way so many have raced to sneer, mock and humiliate the guy at probably the most difficult time of his entire life.” Oh damn! Awesome.
Speaking of not hearing from Bruce directly yet, the NY Times has an editorial on this story. The fact that Bruce has not spoken out yet is cited as a question of journalistic integrity. (That doesn’t apply to us of course, we’re a gossip blog.) Major outlets are now questioning whether and how to cover Bruce’s transition. It’s easier now that his mom has gone on the record.
Also, Bruce’s incredible mom, Esther, did an interview with The Associated Press too. She’d previously spoken to Radar Online. To the AP, she repeated some of the nice things she previous told Radar. Esther also added “I am at peace with what he is and what he’s doing.”
photo credit: People Magazine, General Mills and Getty Images
Lol blogs aren’t required to have journalistic integrity? anyways you have better journalists over here then the ones they get at the DM.
Man shorts in the 70’s were SHORT. What if all this stuff comes out and Bruce finally talks and says uh yeah I just wanted to grow my hair out and people jumped to conclusions?
Bruce’s mother already confirmed the transition.
From what I remember Her actual wording never confirmed it though. We got im proud of him , he’s going through something but did she ever come out and directly say it?
For me, until I hear him say it I’m wary, mostly because of Kris Jenner.
http://www.newser.com/story/202249/bruce-jenners-mom-im-more-proud-than-in-1976.html
They ask her about his ‘transition’. She mentions ‘identity’. It’s difficult to see Bruce having a big interview with Diane Sawyer and a big discussion with his mom about growing his hair out, but that’s just me.
Altho…Kardashian
I’m thinking the same as you, Kiddo. I never realized until reading the summary above about the People article that their story wasn’t even something Bruce sat down for, but it’s all comprised of “insiders” and “sources close to the family”. While you’re right that it’s unlikely a Diane Sawyer interview would be set up if he indeed were not going through something major, just the stink that’s been cast over the entire K klan (Bruce included) makes it not very difficult to imagine some ridiculous, thirsty stunt or ploy for more headlines.
But how long could they drag out cross-dressing? And how much of an interview would that be, KWIM?
I don’t watch the show so I don’t know all the “story lines” they’ve had in the past, but maybe something akin to when Kris had her own talk show and she kept throwing out teasers about everyone finally getting a glimpse of North, only to trot out the baby of someone who worked on the show. Nothing would surprise me at this point, TBH. Maybe at first they’ll hint around that Bruce is transitioning, via interviews with these insiders, then next it’ll be a highlight reel of all the surgeries he’s had or all the times he’s been papped with his nails manicured, and on and on, all leading up to “oh, he just likes to dress like this now…end of story.”
@kiddo you made me chuckle with the altho….kardashian
Lol.
Its really nice to see how kind people have been about his transition. I always thought if it ended up being true he was transitioning that people would be cruel about it, but everything I’ve heard since it’s been more or less confirmed has been supportive and complimentary. I really hope this can be a turning point for public perception about transgender individuals
I hope the process avoids the KlusterF of the Ks. It will not help the transgendered community if the story is cheapened through their antics.
I think it has been more cruel about his bad surgery over the years. At least now it makes some sense. Bruce Jenner is still a beloved figure in America, I think. Though I guess we will see over the coming months…
I think his “beloved” nature has been whittled down over the past several years due to his association with the Trash family and seeing what he’s allowed his young daughters to do in the public sphere. What a shame that his great athleticism and legend in that arena has such a stain on it, and I think that’s why it’s been so easy to mock him over the years about his surgery and changing looks, because he chose to put himself out there on a reality show that many would argue represents the very lowest, most classless of the barrel.
I must add one very interesting fact. Being known back then as Bob Tur, was very well known broadcast jurnalist who designed famous helicopter that he used in the famous OJ Bronco chase, we all watched. Later on he became Zoey Tur and now she is giving Bruce Jenner advice on his transition. Very interesting!
That’s an interesting story Gea.
Never knew about that.
His family may be supportive, but unfortunately almost nobody else is. Have you read the comments on the People website? Positively stomach-turning.
I’ve followed this story with vague interest. I have to say that I do for once feel bad for the Kris Kardashian. Being married to someone who is that unhappy in his gender must be very hard. Especially if he wasn’t communicating the problem clearly while in the marriage. I would even think that one of the reasons she is so over involved in her kids is because her marriage was closed and emotionally distant. If someone is hiding something this fundamental to the marriage, the intimacy will suffer and the other party would have no idea why. I’m happy for him but I feel bad her.
I think she was so far up her own ass, and promoting, that she didn’t pay attention to what was going on. Anyone else I might have a modicum of sympathy for.
@lurker
I agree. That is a doozy of a marriage if Bruce was going through all those emotions and not sharing those with his family. He kept it hidden for decades. It must have been difficult for Kris.
@kiddo I don’t understand the Kris hatred. I’ watch the show and Kim had admitted on more than one occasion SHE wanted to become famous and her mom helped her. Kris worked to give Kim what she wanted (yes the means may be questionable, but Kim doesn’t care obv). Kris worked hard to give her kids financial stability. Plus when she married Bruce, he didn’t have a lot of money. He blew most of it. She helped him become financially stable too. So I do have sympathy for someone who worked hard to get her family on track and then had to discover this type of news.
Take one look at her younger daughters, though, Sally. And the family as a whole – their willingness to slap their name on anything and everything, to have zero shame about airing the very dirtiest details of their entire lives. Integrity is mind-bogglingly absent from her entire crew, as is class, decorum, and decency. Regardless of whatever money grabs she’s made to make her family financially stable, the means she’s used to do so are what make it hard to see her as anything other than vile.
@BaeOnBoard I get what you’re saying. Kendall is modeling nowadays and co designing clothing lines with Kylie at Top Shop and Pac Sun and wrote a few YA books with her. Kylie is promoting a hair extension line. I mean is any of that so bad?
Yes, they put their lives on display and share a lot of personal details. But that’s the point of their reality series. No one is forcing Bruce to shoot a docu series, or live in LA and get papped all the time or even discuss the issue on KUWTK, yet he is. And I highly doubt Kris has the type of power to make him do any of that.
Their willingness to share is what makes them approachable and interesting to many people–not everyone.
Yeah, maybe. It’s definitely not for me. I personally don’t get how showing one sister waxing the other sister’s crotch, or one sister sniffing handkerchiefs that the other sisters have wiped their privates on and judging the scent, or the mom stripping naked and spreading her legs for the camera, makes them seem approachable or interesting people. And while what the younger daughters are doing now may not be so bad, the fact that they’re uneducated (!) and already so hyper-sexualized (even years ago) and already so vapidly focused on the material and shallow, speaks a lot about the environment they’ve been raised in and what influences their parents have allowed.
I think Kris is a shrew ,but I feel bad for her too. It can’t be easy when the man you spent 20 years with decides to transition into a woman.
Bruce has been a known cross dresser for years. She had to have known about that so it’s not like this came completely out of the blue. If someone is cross dressing then there are issues or feelings in flux around identity. Kris just thinks it makes her look better to position herself this way. She sent out a Christmas card with Bruce locked in a tube. Of course she knew!!
Cross dressing and transitioning are two very different bags of beans. The vast majority of cross dressers do not have gender dysmorphic disorder.
I always thought that while she is very irritating, he was distant and disengaged in a very passive aggressive way. When one partner goes that direction, the other has no choice but to go the other way. You end up with one spouse running the home like a corporation and the other with a matyr complex.
This is a little off topic but weren’t some tabloids reporting that Bruce had hooked up with Kris’ best friend not too long ago?
Yes, I read that too. That doesn’t negate his transition- being transgender and being gay are two completely different things. From the article above, Bruce is still attracted to women.
As long as Bruce doesn’t come out looking or posing like Belinda (read he likes that name), I will stick with HE for the time being too.
I might be the lone wolf here but something just seems off. Not sure yet what it is yet but there is something.
I think ‘historic’ is proper in this case. Yes, we had Chaz/Chastity Bono, but arguably, Chaz had been out of the public eye since his parent’s show went off the air. Everyone of a certain age knew him, but I think most of us still pictured him as that cute little girl who came out on stage at the end of the Sonny and Cher Show. With Bruce – we first knew him as an adult. He’s been in and out of the public eye over the years, but certainly very public in recent years. The plastic surgery that he has had over the years has certainly been noticed and commented on – not too kindly in most cases. I have to admit at the time wondering why such a gorgeous hunk of a guy would get plastic surgery. Now, it makes sense. Like yesterday, I’m even cutting Kris a bit of slack because I’m sure she is reevaluating their marriage and trying to figure things out. I had a Bruce Jenner poster on my wall as a teenager and have been fond of him almost my whole life. I really hope he is happy and healthy. This is a huge thing he is doing – very public. Courageous.
The guy from US Weekly was on Wendy Williams and said he does have a female name that only a select few are calling him — I guess to get used to it. It sounds like Khloe may be one of them.
I think he’s incredibly brave. I have some people close to me who have transitioned/are transitioning. One thing that’s very important to remember, as well, is that everyone’s journey is unique. He may not undergo much more of a physical transition, or he may opt to live fully as a female with all the surgery that entails. What I’ve gathered from the people in my life, is that once they reached a certain point (for some it was just hormones, for others, breast augmentation and for another, full genital reassignment), they just knew. They felt comfortable in their skin.
So I’m hoping if Bruce doesn’t change his name, or start wearing women’s clothing full time, that people still respect this journey he’s on.
I want to read more about how his family is REALLY taking the news. I’m hard pressed to believe that everyone is just so supportive and okay with this. Ya, it’s Bruce’s choice to make but he does have a family to consider.
If my husband transitioned shortly after my divorce, i would question everything related to the marriage. I would question my own self worth.my self esteem would definitely take a hit. If I were Kris, I would be devastated. We all have our sexual kinks. It’s one thing for your partner to sometimes wear a thong or putting on panty hose turns him on, but then to transition is a different beast.
For the kids, how are they handling it? Are they receiving therapy to deal with this huge life change?
p.s. my sympathy for Bruce’s reporting in the the tabloids is starting to diminish. I mean he is filming a docuseries, he’s addressing on it KUWTK, he happened to be papped with manicures in LA — like paps in LA are a surprise. ….may be he likes the cameras just as much as the rest of the family….
I hear you about the struggle to reconcile this to yourself, but I personally think it’s different that Bruce is apparently transitioning after his divorce since it doesn’t necessarily negate the fact that he did (at least once) genuinely love Kris and is still genuinely attracted to women, so it doesn’t diminish their relationship or make anything about it ring false. It would be one thing if he came out as gay because then Kris would be left questioning if he ever loved her or why he put up the false front of wanting to be with a woman in the first place. I agree with you about him liking the cameras, though. Every time I think about how difficult this must be in the public eye, I remember how many celebs out there do manage to avoid the paps, and how many celebs have children we’ve never even seen; it is possible to circumvent the media circus and the fact that not only is Bruce not doing that, but is also headlining TV spectacles says to me that he’s lapping all of this up.
Well, you learn something every day. I had no idea he was *that* Bruce Jenner. Clearly, I don’t pay nearly enough attention to all things reality. There was a comment on that Mail article, something like “how different this story would be if it were taking place outside the Kardashian bubble”. I guess that’s probably true. I hope it all works out for Bruce and, you know, it costs nothing to be kind, even if you don’t like the family or transitioning makes you uncomfortable.
Has the transition even been confirmed? He’s said nothing, and everyone around him is using such vague language. I think his transition series will be about him being newly divorced and revamping his career or something. Kardashian ploy for viewers and attention. Then when it’s all revealed they can say “we said he was going on a journey, no one ever said he was transgendered!”
He’s letting it slowly leak out to get people used to it. How do you think the Adam’s Apple surgery got leaked? He leaked it. It’s been planned, bit by bit, so his family gets used to seeing changes and the public gets used to seeing changes and the idea maybe he’s transitioning. His mother commenting was approved. The People Magazine is an approved story. The news therefore hasn’t been a huge shock, compared to out of the blue it’s announced when he completely transitions.
I think we have over-simplified the concept of “transgender” as an either/or proposition: as if a person physically, mentally, emotionally and sexually wants to change from one gender to another. I don’t think that’s always the case. We all possess male and female hormones and those levels change throughout life (in some people more radically than others) and notoriously when women go through menopause. Both men and women have a masculine and feminine side. Men’s normal hormone levels are such that they are more masculine and women more feminine – but it DOES fluctuate and change over time. Women have a distinct advantage is that we are better able to express our outward masculine side better. As women, if we are feeling particularly feminine, we can wear a frilly dress. If we are feeling more masculine one day, we can toss on jeans, boots and a moto jacket. We can outwardly EXPRESS our inner hormonal change. Men can’t – can they? They have pants a shirts. That’s it. A woman can cut her hair short and be considered chic. A man grows his hair long and he’s considered a hippy or a throwback from an 80’s hair band. I guess they can go to J-Crew and buy a pink shirt – but still, it’s pants and shirt. They don’t get to explore their feminine side in an outward way like women can. So what if Bruce wants to paint his nails pink? So what if he prefers a more feminine female look – like shaving his Adam’s apple? It may be that Bruce doesn’t want to become a woman or is attracted to men sexually. It may just be that he wants to express his feminine side in a more outwardly way.
I think you make some really great points about how difficult it can be for men to express themselves. And you’re right, they might just want to explore a certain part of themselves without it really meaning anything more than face value. This is also part of a bigger discussion of what defines masculinity and how men are taught now to cry or show emotion from a young age and how that, in turn, really stunts them in many ways.
This is why feminism should be embraced by men aswell; they could really benefit from it.
Diana – that is so true. We concentrate so much of feminism: i.e. women being free to explore both their feminine and masculine sides (on a day to day basis if need be) but there is no such thing as “masculinism” – which I think is also a valid movement. In my life, the only thing that even vaguely touched on it was Alan Alda. Men are either straight (Marlboro Man) or gay. Or Alan Alda – which has become synonymous with “liberal”. Lots of conservative men have sensitive sides too. We came up with the term “metrosexual” – which, if you think about it, is not fair. If a man uses Clinique or Kiehls, he is called “metrosexual” which is – let’s be honest – a PC term for “girly man” or – even worse – he is accused of being a “closet gay”. For men, there is no in between of self-expression. And I don’t blame that entirely on historical, patriarchal pressure from men. Women are equally to blame, because we “expect” our men to be a certain way, while given ourselves all sorts of latitude to be who and what we want. I think – and I’m outside the box right now – that the easiest way to advance “feminism” is to incorporate men into it and make it more a matter of “hormonalism”. Take the damn gender out of it and let both men and women express their hormonal influences and changes as they will.
I beg to differ. The reason that men aren’t accepted as feminine is because of the overwhelming disregard toward anything that veers feminine or genetically female from a patriarchal standpoint. Women were second class citizens, anything feminine is viewed as second rate. Women didn’t design that construct. They may have gone along with it through conditioning and sometimes through might or force. To stand up for ALL things feminine is to allow for variations from the pedestal-ed male/ masculine superiority ideal.
And not all expression through dress relates to some hormonal imperative.
@Kiddo just wanted to cosign the statements you made about gender and feminism.
Kiddo – I respectfully disagree. You make it sound as if women are just helpless victims and that there’s some sort of bogeyman on testosterone overload keeping men from showing their sensitive sides. The problem is – in my estimation of half a century on this planet – is that both men and women are confused because they get mixed signals from each other as to what they want and expect. People seem entirely too concerned with being who they think other people want them to be – because human beings crave social acceptance more than anything else. If men don’t act more sensitive, it’s because they get the feeling women want them to be strong. If women don’t act more independent and forceful, it’s because they get the feeling men want them to be meek and submissive. Yes – men create ideals about women, but women create ideals about men. My point is that we should stop creating ideals (because they are so subjective anyway) and just let people express their own human experience.
People should be who they want to be, but feminism or variations of other female collectives move forward the idea that women and feminine characteristics should be equally valued. Look at pay disparity, do you think women said, “Pay me less I have a vagina”? Do you think women drove the platform to have viagra covered and yet birth control is a questionable? Are the genders equal across the globe in leadership in government and corporations? Do you think sexual assaults happen equally to men and women? Do you think women want to have their sexual history questioned after an attack because sluts don’t get raped?
When we get to the point of equality then you can tell me that a patriarchal system isn’t still the driving force behind the more negative assumption that femininity belongs below the ruling class.
Hey, I can only wish B.J. good luck on this. I’m glad Bruce can get some peace and happiness from the change. I hope that people can respect and honor B.J.’s wishes, and allow them peace while the transition occurs.
Bruce is a ‘he.’ When he says that he’s changing and wants to go by ‘she’ is when we start. We don’t even know if it’s actually true. His mom talked to Radar on Line and never said anything about a sex change. She just said how proud she was of him for what he was doing. We’ll find out. I hope he’s happy with his life
Thank you! Also, he may always want to go by ‘he’ and Bruce. There’s no gender box and even if he decides to be ‘gender noncomforming’ or transgender, he can still go by ‘he’ if he wants.
I was wondering if he was going to change his gender as Chaz Bono did. Will he get operated or just dress as a woman? In that case isn’t that a travesti , as we call it in Latin America. Or transgender means only feeling like the other sex? Did Lana Wachowski reassign her sex too? So confusing!! Anyway hope it makes him/her happy.
Have y’all ever been to the blog Raising My Rainbow? It is about a son who doesn’t consider himself female (he and his mom recently discussed this), but he prefers girl toys, clothing, hair, etc.
It’s very eye opening regarding the fluidity of gender.
Favorite blog ever!
On another note: Eddie Izzard is one of my favorite comedians ever. LOVE HIM.
Well, he has always been “pretty” but I’m interested in understanding why he decided to transition at such a late age? Why marry Kris under false pretenses?
Maybe he changed since marrying her? Maybe he couldn’t or didn’t put his finger on some sense of disconnection. Maybe the world has advanced since then. Maybe he identifies as female but has same sex attraction from that viewpoint…and on and on.
I worked with a lady who was married with 5 girls for over 25 years. On their 26th anniversary, he informed her he was gay, and had to be free to finally be himself. It turned my friend’s life upside down and devastated her and their girls. She has since met others in her situation, and her life has improved greatly after those 2 bleak years.
there’s no such thing as ‘transitioning too late’
But being in love with, or marrying, a woman doesn’t necessarily negate his wanting to be a woman (if that is indeed what’s about to happen). It’s not like he’s coming out as gay, in which case it could be argued that his entire relationship with her was under false pretenses; it is possible to transition to a woman and still want to be with one as well.
Isn’t he dating Kris Jenner’s friend?
Don’t know. Don’t really know anything about this family other than what I read here.
I love those old photos! He was a bona fide Olympic champion. I was 6 when he won the gold medal in the decathlon. He was a real athletic hero to a lot of us kids in the 70’s. We thought he was Superman!
I remember seeing the pictures as a little kid long before KUWTK. I was born in 78 but knew about him. He earned his fame. He was very good looking, it’s too bad he had his plastic surgery back in the 80’s.
I won’t believe this until he comes out and says I’m a woman now.
Bruce has been a motivational speaker for years. He went around America speaking about being “the best you”. It’s insane knowing that all this time, he was never being “the best him” and was living with such a huge secret. I’m still shocked. To transition at any age is tough, but at his age and in the public eye must be brutal. I still won’t believe this story until Bruce comes out and confirms it.
He’s still the prettiest of them all.
I watch KUWTK and I ike Bruce. I think it’s great if he can bring more awareness to this issue. I’m not trying to be ignorant but my question is, how common is it to be trandgender? What are the chances of this happening to somebody who is alreay on TV?
There are several factors involved in gender-genetics and the outward biological manifestation of gender. No one who undergoes transgender transition can change their genetics; they are changing their outward appearance to whatever extent that surgery and pharmacology are capable.
I am concerned if Bruce’s statement about continuing to be attracted to women is true. I hope that he has had many years of intensive therapy to sort out this transition. I have read stories of those who have regreted making this change.
I thought that part of the process was intense psychological counseling. I could be wrong. Also thought party of the process was living as the sex you were transgendering to be. Again I could be wrong. Good luck to Bruce no matter what.
The information being released in the media doesn’t seem to indicate that there has been significant psychotherapy. I have worked with children born with craniofacial anomalies and psychological assessment & therapy is required for them. Anyone who is struggling with any of these issues needs time to sort things out.
He is the worst father. If Kris says she was shocked, she lied. Everything that comes out of her mouth is a lie. Bruce is probably trolling everyone for attention and higher ratings. I simply do not believe anything out of the Trash Family Mouth. Nope. Hey Bruce, be a good father; you chump
A rare moment of respect for Piers Morgan/the Daily Mail.