Standards

There has been a lot of Caitlyn bashing of late. 

When she appeared at the Chicago House Speaker Series luncheon for the Chicago House, she was met by a group of angry protesters. The husband of slain police office returned her posthumous ‘Woman of the Year Award’ from Glamor magazine, because they awarded this year to Caitlyn. Rose McGowan has written and angry letter to her, saying she does not know what it’s like to be a woman.

First an Olympic hero, next the brow beaten husband of a reality show, then brave and courageous human, coming out as trans on national TV. Then she was the vivacious pinup cover of Vanity Fare, and star of her own reality show. Nowshe is the subject of public backlash.

Let’s look at this new turn of events. 

What were the protesters angry about? Caitlyn was not representative of Transgender people, she has too much money and her life is too easy. How about the Husband? He did not think Caitlyn was woman enough and tainted the award. And Rose McGowan, again Caitlyn is not woman enough for her definition.

So, according to the angry public at large, Caitlyn is both not trans enough and not woman enough. I have to ask what they want, for her to transition back and apologize for the whole thing?

Let’s start with the protesting trans. I’m sorry ladies, but your economic status is not a prerequisite to being transgender. I have trans friends that are poor, and have suffered. This is certainly a bad thing. I lead a comfortable life, does that preclude me from my feelings? Do I make too much money to be trans? Does my lack of suffering negate my lifelong desires? You are imposing an impossible set of standards and to be honest, just sound jealous. Get over it! Transgender is a non-discriminating condition. Anyone of any economic, religious or ethnic background can be trans. Stop the reverse discrimination, all of your lives would be worse without Caitlyn. She has dragged the public kicking and screaming into realization that we exist. And I am grateful.

James Smith, really? Glamor giving this award to Caitlyn has somehow changed the heroism of your wife? Did it change what she did on 9/11? Are you to judge the value of her honor on your opinion of every recipient in perpetuity? If next year it is awarded to someone you approve of, will you ask for it back? Your wife was a hero, you seem to be the kid that takes his ball home when things don’t go his way.

Finally Rose. Oh Rose, how I used to admire you. You were always my favorite in anything you appeared. But Really, Caitlyn does not know what it is like to be a woman? Of course not, but you have no idea what it’s like to be trans. To always look at women and wonder what the hell went wrong that stuck you on the wrong side of the gender fence. Watching others wear the things you longed to wear, doing the things you wanted to do. I would venture a guess that Caitlyn has spend far more time in her life contemplating what it means to be a woman than you ever have. She dreamed about all the things that you take for granted. 

Does Caitlyn have her flaws? Absolutely. 

'Let they without sin, be the first to cast stones. '

15 minutes of fame

Yesterday was spent with my wonderful daughters, shopping and getting our nails done. The sales person at the jewelry store was pleasant and helpful. A team of smiling attendants cared for us at the spa. It was a wonderful experience and my toes have never looked better. We were joined by a friend for dinner and drinks and went to a restaurant where we are well known and always treated like royalty.

 I have come to expect excellent treatment when shopping or dining and  have yet to be disappointed. These are businesses, they are there to sell, and being nice to the customer is good for sales. 

After dinner one daughter and the friend decided to hit some night spots, they invited me to join. A fifty-something trans and two beautiful girls in their twenties out on the town. Quite a juxtaposition from my perspective.

We went to a couple of their favorite bars, which were not in an LGBT friendly neighborhood. The patrons of these bars were not used to seeing someone like me.

The mood of the crowd was positive, and I assumed the attention was due to the very pretty girls accompanying me. But people were taking an interest in me, directly, and in a good way.

These were not people wanting to sell us anything, nor was it the LGBT crowd. They were the average general public, and I had caught their eye.

Current media attention is focusing on the transgendered, stimulated by Bruce Jenner's very public announcement. I keep seeing the word 'trendy' appear when describing transgenders.

That was the difference last night, I was trendy. People have been reading about transgender and here was one in person. Like a designer purse, or expensive shoes, I was the trendy accessory of these two lovely young women. It was quite nice.

These things never last long, the public has a short attention span, so go out and enjoy your fame while it lasts.