Local transgender community looks ahead to Jenner interview
By Matt Blanchette
@mattblanchette
Rumors about former Olympian and current reality tv star Bruce’s Jenner’s gender have dominated the tabloids for years.
On Friday ABC’s 20/20 will air a two hour special in which Jenner will address those rumors in his own words.
“I want to know how this story ends. How does my story end?” Jenner says in a promotional clip released Thursday.
Jenner will tell his personal story to Diane Sawyer on Friday. Members of the local transgender community say that’s exactly what it is… a very personal story.
“Aperson’s identity is really private and individual and so it is important for folks to come out on their own terms and a time that’s appropriate for them,” Jaye Watts, who works for TGI, a local transgender advocacy group, said. He and Gwendolyn Howard have both been through the coming out process.
Friday’s interview is expected to give Jenner his first opportunity to address reports he may be undergoing a gender transition journey of his own.
“The process of coming out is very scary. even that aside, coming out means people will look at your differently, they will think of you differently, you may be risking employment, or safety,” Howard said.
While Watts and Howard agree it’s always good to bring trans – issues into the public eye, it’s what happens after the interview that’s most important.
“It comes with a certain amount of responsibility on the media to make sure it’s being done in an appropriate respectful responsible way,” Watts said.
For more information you can head to tginetwork.org
You can watch Diane Sawyer’s exclusive interview with Bruce Jenner on 20/20 on ABC 6 Friday night at 9 o’clock.
