Back in April, when Caitlyn Jenner was still speaking to Diane Sawyer as Bruce, the trans trailblazer took a minute to address the impact she set out to make: “What I’m doing is going to do some good. And we’re going to change the world. I really firmly believe that.” Today, she’s taken another step to keep that promise.
Although you can keep up with Caitlyn’s personal journey in the forthcoming E! docu-series I Am Cait, she’s using her high profile platform to explore wider issues in the LGBT community through a new blogging partnership. In her first post for a recurring column called The Real Me, published today on WhoSay.com, Caitlyn wrote frankly about her motivations for the editorial endeavor: “Up until now, I have totally isolated myself from the transgender community so I have a lot of catching up to do. I feel such a responsibility to this courageous group to try to get it right and tell all sides of the story,” she explained.
While the Olympic champion turned reality television star has inspired historic and positive change, she’s also faced her fair share of criticism among some trans people. Many contend her financial privilege has shielded her from the bleak reality that the community’s most at-risk members face. Perhaps Caitlyn is hoping to take a page out of fellow trans icon Laverne Cox‘s book (is she still writing it? God, we hope so.)
Last month, the Orange is the New Black Star penned a moving personal essay on Tumblr addressing this very issue: “Most trans folks don’t have the privileges Caitlyn and I have now have. 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 wrote. In her inaugural post, Caitlyn nods to these social issues, earnestly sharing her newfound knowledge about bullying and trans sex workers.
“Seeing how my new friends have overcome their adversities is such an inspiration. They are so well-adjusted and smart,” Caitlyn concluded. “I’ll be sharing their stories here in the coming weeks and I can’t wait for you to get to know them. They are just like you and me.”
Credits
Text Emily Manning
Image via Twitter