Bruce Jenner

[mrsrek10]

Who else will be watching the Bruce Jenner interview tonight? I am fascinated by how our brains can work and make a person feel a different sex than the anatomical sex they were born with. I can't imagine how scary it has been for someone so famous to go through this so publicly and with everyone feeling the need to stalk him/give him their opinions.

ETA: I hope I am clear in that I think it is a physiological brain aspect, not an emotional one. Don't want to say it wrong and be misunderstood. I believe people who are transgender truly are transgender. It isn't a "choice" to feel that way.

[paddyb]

If we didn't have plans tonight I would be watching (or if we get back in time). I also don't think it is a choice (I know someone IRL who as transitioned -it wasn't a choice).

[mrsrek10]

Apr 24, 2015 15:12:35 GMT -5 paddyb said:

If we didn't have plans tonight I would be watching (or if we get back in time). I also don't think it is a choice (I know someone IRL who as transitioned -it wasn't a choice).

I don't understand when people think it is a choice for others to feel this way. Who would choose to be judged, ridiculed, have their life threatened, etc. ? No one. It takes so much courage for Bruce to do this interview. I hope it is done well and doesn't open the door for people who are transgender to be put back instead of being more understood. I would love to see more brain research on things like this so that people going through it would be validated in science and receive more support.

[junkytrunk]

I will be DVRing it because I don't think we will be home when it's on.

[pinkluna]

I didn't know about the interview but maybe I'll DVR it. I find it fascinating too, especially when it's been brought to light by young children.

[mrsrek10]

pinkluna, it is at 9 ET/8 CT on 20/20.

[sarahandeddie]

I have it set to DVR. I'm very curious. There are so many questions. I really hope his family is being supportive. Although I can imagine how it would be difficult to view your dad or ex husband as a woman. Not that it changes who Bruce is as a person, just that it would be a huge adjustment.

Does anyone think the divorce from stemmed from Bruce's desire to transition?

[paddyb]

Apr 24, 2015 18:32:17 GMT -5 sarahandeddie said:

I have it set to DVR. I'm very curious. There are so many questions. I really hope his family is being supportive. Although I can imagine how it would be difficult to view your dad or ex husband as a woman. Not that it changes who Bruce is as a person, just that it would be a huge adjustment.

Does anyone think the divorce from stemmed from Bruce's desire to transition?

I'm pretty sure it did.  

[mrsrek10]

I am 16 minutes into this and I already feel so sad for him and all he has struggled with in feeling this way since he was 8 or 9.

[bantyrooster]

I am not checking this thread until after I watch it. My kids are angry at life so it maybe 3 am before I am done watching.

[aylafsu1881]

Apr 24, 2015 18:32:17 GMT -5 sarahandeddie said:

I have it set to DVR. I'm very curious. There are so many questions. I really hope his family is being supportive. Although I can imagine how it would be difficult to view your dad or ex husband as a woman. Not that it changes who Bruce is as a person, just that it would be a huge adjustment.

Does anyone think the divorce from stemmed from Bruce's desire to transition?

I thought about this. I think since his kids (Kylie and Kendel, Brody and Brandon) are older it may not be as big of an issue. I can imagine they are mature enough to handle such a change. I also wonder if the kids swayed his decision to wait so long. I can imagine that something like this can be extremely hard to handle if you are a young kid. Maybe he waited so his kids would be older and better able to adjust to such a drastic change.

I will catch pieces of it and watch the full thing this weekend.

[somethingcleverer]

We just tuned in. He is very brave to come out so publicly. I feel like he is giving so many people someone to admire.

[cbear]

Agh I missed the first hour- starting now

[paddyb]

One of the most surprising things to me from the show was that it made me think Kanye isn't as huge of an asshole as I normally think

[sarahandeddie]

I just finished watching. I hope everything goes well for him. I can't imagine living with an internal struggle like that. I just hope society starts being more accepting of others' choices.

[starfishy]

Apr 25, 2015 17:17:58 GMT -5 paddyb said:

One of the most surprising things to me from the show was that it made me think Kanye isn't as huge of an asshole as I normally think

I was just going to come and comment that I didn't know that Kanye was capable with such deep and meaningful thinking.

[junkytrunk]

I was surprised to hear that Khloe has had the hardest time with it. And even that Kim had an issue to begin with. I would have thought his male sons would have had more of an issue.

[britbratjf]

So I have a question about this - Bruce says he's transgender but also says he's attracted to women so he's not gay. But if he is a woman and is attracted to women isn't he gay? I'm not very familiar with how this all works and was super confused by that.

[mrsrek10]

Apr 26, 2015 7:01:53 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

So I have a question about this - Bruce says he's transgender but also says he's attracted to women so he's not gay. But if he is a woman and is attracted to women isn't he gay? I'm not very familiar with how this all works and was super confused by that.

I took it to mean he wasn't a gay man. That he isn't attracted to men and once he transitions that he won't date men. Diane asked him if that made him a lesbian and he laughed. I don't think he thought of it in terms of being gay with the body he is transitioning to. If that makes sense...

[britbratjf]

Apr 26, 2015 8:51:08 GMT -5 mrsrek10 said:

Apr 26, 2015 7:01:53 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

So I have a question about this - Bruce says he's transgender but also says he's attracted to women so he's not gay. But if he is a woman and is attracted to women isn't he gay? I'm not very familiar with how this all works and was super confused by that.

I took it to mean he wasn't a gay man. That he isn't attracted to men and once he transitions that he won't date men. Diane asked him if that made him a lesbian and he laughed. I don't think he thought of it in terms of being gay with the body he is transitioning to. If that makes sense...

Ok. Yes it makes sense. I didn't watch just read some articles about it & that portion just confused me a bit!

[sarasansh]

Apr 26, 2015 7:01:53 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

So I have a question about this - Bruce says he's transgender but also says he's attracted to women so he's not gay. But if he is a woman and is attracted to women isn't he gay? I'm not very familiar with how this all works and was super confused by that.

What mrsrek10 said, and also I think it maybe depends on how he connects his gender identity to his sexual identity. I think some people connect the two very strongly (I identify a woman and I like women, therefore I am a lesbian) whereas other people--transgender or not--really feel that their gender does not influence their sexual preferences and vice versa. So they may identify as a woman, and be attracted to women, but not consider themselves gay/lesbian. Or, I knew several people in college who dated both men and women, but did not identify as bisexual--they just dated who they were attracted to, and left it at that.

[britbratjf]

Apr 27, 2015 13:03:15 GMT -5 sarasansh said:

Apr 26, 2015 7:01:53 GMT -5 britbratjf said:

So I have a question about this - Bruce says he's transgender but also says he's attracted to women so he's not gay. But if he is a woman and is attracted to women isn't he gay? I'm not very familiar with how this all works and was super confused by that.

What mrsrek10 said, and also I think it maybe depends on how he connects his gender identity to his sexual identity. I think some people connect the two very strongly (I identify a woman and I like women, therefore I am a lesbian) whereas other people--transgender or not--really feel that their gender does not influence their sexual preferences and vice versa. So they may identify as a woman, and be attracted to women, but not consider themselves gay/lesbian. Or, I knew several people in college who dated both men and women, but did not identify as bisexual--they just dated who they were attracted to, and left it at that.

Very interesting. Thanks for posting this! I really don't know anyone IRL who isn't straight so I don't have much knowledge on gender/sexual identity stuff (took a psychology course in college that explored it but really don't remember much).