A thoughtful response.
Before Caitlyn Jenner, there was another ground-breaking magazine cover.
Laverne Cox, the transgender actress who plays Sophia Burset on Orange Is the New Black, became the first trans person to appear on the cover of Time one year ago.
Today, the pioneering star took to her Tumblr account to share some thoughts about Jenner’s Vanity Fair cover.
She praised Caitlyn for her bravery, but reminded the world that most trans people don’t have the resources of someone like Jenner to achieve such a convincing transition.
“A year ago when my Time magazine cover came out I saw posts from many trans folks saying that I am ‘drop dead gorgeous’ and that that doesn’t represent most trans people. (It was news to me that I am drop dead gorgeous but I’ll certainly take it). But what I think they meant is that in certain lighting, at certain angles I am able to embody certain cisnormative beauty standards… 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. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me.
“Now, there are many trans folks because of genetics and/or lack of material access who will never be able to embody these standards. More importantly many trans folks don’t want to embody them and we shouldn’t have to to be seen as ourselves and respected as ourselves . It is important to note that these standards are also informed by race, class and ability among other intersections. I have always been aware that I can never represent all trans people. No one or two or three trans people can.
I.e, most trans people don’t have access to Kim Kardashian’s wardrobe, Annie Leibovitz, plastic surgeons and professional make-up artists and stylists. And many don’t want to epitomise the current ideal of womanly (or masculine) beauty, anyway.
It doesn’t make them any less a trans woman or man than someone who is deemed to be able to “pass” as a woman or man.
“It is those trans folks we must continue to lift up, get them access to healthcare, jobs, housing, safe streets, safe schools and homes for our young people,” Cox added.
“We must lift up the stories of those most at risk, statistically trans people of color who are poor and working class. I have hoped over the past few years that the incredible love I have received from the public can translate to the lives of all trans folks.”
Jenner told Vanity Fair that Cox and other trans women like her had helped blaze a trail for her to become Caitlyn.
“There are lot of very intelligent women,” Jenner said. “You look at the pioneers in trying to get the message out: Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, Geena Rocero, Carmen Carrera. Back in the ’80s, I was alone. And I’m kind of following in their footsteps. They made it easier for me. I hope, with my honesty, I can make it easier for someone else down the line.”
Want to know more about the trans world?
Meet Caitlyn Jenner. Vanity Fair reveals the woman formerly known as Bruce Jenner.
Top Comments
This has given me something to think about that had never entered my thoughts before. Thank you Laverne for educating me, and challenging my preconceived beliefs of what the aim of a trans person may be.
What I find interesting about a man who becomes a women is what his idea of being a women looks like. It's being sexy in a corset bursting with cleavage, it's sitting provocatively in a sports car wearing a red evening gown, it's wearing a long black slinky dress casually falling off the shoulder of course. Basically being a women means looking like a sex goddess. Being a woman is being a Kardashian woman.
Cate McGregor on the other is someone who looks like she's been a women her whole life, not a stereotypical woman but a real one.
We don't know whether Caitlyn herself was behind the styling of that photoshoot, or whether it was the magazine, the photographer and/or stylists. It will be interesting to see how she presents herself going forward.
I get your point (and agree about Cate McGregor) - maybe if you've been hiding for years and only secretly wearing dresses, shoes, makeup etc it's such a relief to finally do so in public, why not go all out? Like lizzie says, lets see how she presents herself on a daily basis rather than in a glamorous photo shoot.
I don't think she will ever get to choose. She will have a stylist and glam team hired for her and will never be able to walk down the street in sweats again.
Any woman would want to feel sexy at some point. If you were going for a photo shoot at Vanity would you want to feel sexy, beautiful and utterly gorgeous or would you want to dress up as the average woman? Does Caitlin wear this attire all the time? Did she state that this is what a woman has to wear?
No.
She has expressed herself in a completely normal manner. She did a glamour shoot that is utterly amazing and she looks stunning. It's almost like a butterfly breaking free of the chrysalis. She's emerged in her beautiful glory with everything she has to offer - beauty, femininity, sex appeal, honesty and self esteem. It's utterly beautiful to see.