Bruce Jenner’s story all too familiar

By Gina Duncan

Sun Sentinel

I held my breath and felt my pulse race as “the World’s Greatest Athlete” announced “he” was really a woman. As Bruce’s story unfolded from his youth, I started to cry as the hurt and conflicts of living a lifetime of gender confusion came rushing back.

And, although certainly on a much larger, international stage, his story was all-too familiar. I too sneaked clothes from my mom and sisters. I too threw myself into sports and excelled as a “macho” guy. And, I too reached a time in my life where I could no longer live a lie. Everything I held dear was at risk — family, friends, job, social standing, reputation, even my life itself.

I too took the step to transition.

People of my generation grew up knowing Bruce Jenner as “The World’s Greatest Athlete.” He won the 1976 Olympic decathlon in record-breaking fashion. This All-American kid with boyish good looks and hometown humility was the hero America needed.

The build-up to the interview captivated the next generation as well. The “Keeping up With the Kardashians” reality series was popular, even though Bruce was known as the odd looking, somewhat secretive, diminutive “Dad” that infrequently appeared among the drama, glitter and excess. Then came the rumors. Bruce seen in nail polish. Bruce having trachea surgery. Bruce on hormones. Bruce’s face altered.

Important moment

By the time the interview aired, many knew what was coming but few expected the size of the audience and the importance of the moment. Early in the interview, I received a text from my mother, saying, “He is telling your story!” I cried freely as Bruce unwound his childhood confusion, his adolescent experimentation and his painful adult obsession yearning to be his true self. Having been a “hometown hero” who transitioned into a woman at 50 years old, I lived through what Bruce was about to embark.

I was fortunate, like Bruce, to excel at being male; Mr. Merritt Island High School, Class President, Homecoming King, All-State middle linebacker of an undefeated state championship team, and the recipient of a football scholarship to East Carolina University. Many who know me well recognized the parallels in our stories, and my Facebook page lit up with heartwarming comments. But I also experienced the profound pain of reliving my tormented, yet magical life journey.

During the early stages of my “full time” presenting as a female, I was having dinner with my daughter at our favorite Italian restaurant. She was quiet for a while before saying, “I am so envious of you. At this point in your life you are like a blank canvas. You can paint whatever life you want for yourself from this moment on.”

I really had not thought of my life in those terms until that moment but realized how insightful my amazing daughter was. My blank canvas was there to be painted in bright hopeful colors, untainted by the past, untarnished by the old pain.

Perfect storm

The fascination of the Bruce Jenner interview was evident in the ratings, social media activity and post-interview reaction from the world. It was, perhaps, the perfect storm at the right time in transgender emergence and acceptance. Two generations who thought they knew this person would now have to come to terms with our American hero and international celebrity expressing his desire to be a woman. The interview spurred an awareness — and a dialogue that cannot be overstated in the progress of transgender equality.

And perhaps, the world would think twice about the hate directed at a community that simply wants to live an authentic life, and to be able to paint their blank canvas in colorful authentic shades of truth. A community that now includes “The World’s Greatest Athlete.” Who simply wants to “be OK.”

Gina Duncan is the transgender inclusion director for Equality Florida. Duncan wrote this for the Sun Sentinel.