If a member of one of the world’s biggest celebrity families is going to come out, a cover feature and seven Annie Lebitovitz photo spreads is the way to do it.
Laverne Cox, a star of Orange is the New Black and appeared on Time magazine’s cover “The Transgender Tipping Pont” in May 2014, said it best: “Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities,” on her personal Tumblr page June 1. But Jenner’s public transition from gold medalist and Kardashian stepdad Bruce to the elegant Caitlyn is much more than another celebrity profile in a glossy fashion magazine: It’s someone telling the world it’s OK to be yourself.
As university students, if you’re straight out of high school and attending orientation this summer, working toward a degree after years on the job market or any other circumstance, we’re all learning who we are as people: as scientists, writers, athletes and individuals.
Caitlyn Jenner came out as her preferred gender identity after decades of hiding her true self. As she told Buzz Bissinger in the Vanity Fair cover story, “you don’t go out and change your gender for a television show. OK, it ain’t happening. I don’t care who you are,” addressing skeptics that believe her gender transition is a moneymaking scheme.
The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision about legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide later this month and our own city of Laramie is the only town in the state to have a LGBT protection ordinance, but the July issue of Vanity Fair is much more than Jenner’s official coming out. It’s a woman showing whom she choses to be by laying her life story on the line.
A portion of the university’s mission statement is to “promote opportunities for personal growth… for all members of the university community.” Even though Jenner did not graduate from UW she is taking advantage of an opportunity for personal growth. As students we should aim to do the same.
If you’re curious about the story that will likely be one of the most socially significant cover stories of the decade, please read Bissinger’s piece and see the stunning photos of a woman showing the world who she wants to be in grand style, because one day you too may need to make the bold decision to show the world who and what you are.
