By Rachel Bahor
Contributing Writer
I think it’s safe to say just about everyone has encountered gossip surrounding Bruce Jenner’s journey to change gender, a story that is becoming a bit redundant and invasive to Jenner. While his transformation came as shock to many, the public seems to be forgetting that Bruce Jenner is a separate entity from the Kardashian family. Though he was married to Kris Jenner and maintained a role on the reality series “Keeping Up with the Kardashians,” he is famous for winning a gold medal as a decathlete in the 1976 Summer Olympics. This being said, while Jenner’s gender journey is creating a commotion, I think he has the potential, if addressed correctly, to make a great change in the world of sports.
Even in 2015 it is still extremely rare to encounter an openly gay professional athlete. And even fewer have identified as transgender or even spoken about the topic.
Kye Allums, a former basketball player for George Washington University uses his journey from female to male as encouragement for others, engaging in public speaking, artist and mentoring others in similar situations. Acting as an activist for not only the transgender community, but transgender athletes, Allums is using his platform to spread positive messages and understanding about a group that is often misunderstood.
Though Allums is taking positive steps, it takes more than one person to make serious changes. Bruce Jenner holds the name and has support from one of America’s most-known families, the Kardashians. The issue of transphobia needs to be addressed among athletes, both professional and college level. The International Olympic Committee bars transgender athletes who have not undergone sex reassignment surgery, received hormone treatments for at least two years, and received legal recognition of their gender. To a greater extent, Crossfit only allows individuals to compete as the gender they were born as. These regulations seem to be in place to almost deter transgender athletes from competing.
I think Bruce Jenner’s transition has the potential to be a milestone in the lives of transgender athletes as well as influence a positive outlook on the transgender community. For now, people should disregard the tabloids with Jenner’s face superimposed on women’s bodies and think of the positive effects his journey could have on those going through similar situations.
The Chronicle continues to use male pronouns because the person in question has not publically indicated that
they would prefer otherwise.
