What do you think about the relationship between GENDER IDENTITY (whether a person identifies psychologically as male or female) and SEXUAL ORIENTATION (whether a person is attracted romantically and sexually to same, opposite or both sex(es)? -

Find an article on the web about past Olympic decathalon champion, Caitlyn Jenner (formerly Bruce Jenner) who very recently changed gender identity from male to female. Please supply the “url” for the article in your response to this forum, and also write the name of the article, the source and the date. The article can be from any magazine or newspaper. Then answer these two questions:

What most surprised you about the issue of “transgender” in the article you read? What do you think about the relationship between GENDER IDENTITY (whether a person identifies psychologically as male or female) and SEXUAL ORIENTATION (whether a person is attracted romantically and sexually to same, opposite or both sex(es)?

As in the other forums you did, also respond to what two students in the class have posted.

You must have at least 3 SEPARATE POSTINGS: one posting in response to my questions, and 2 postings in response to two students replies in this forum.

STUDENT 1

I want to start off by saying that before I read this article, I thought Bruce Jenner was crazy for what he has done. However, after reading the article, I was very ignorant to say such a thing. What surprised me the most about this article in regards to transgender is the fact that Jenner grew up wanting to be a female. It did not make sense to me because of the male hormones his body was producing. But there is much more than that; there is a psychological component to that and behaviors that he acted out. He would sneak into his mothers room to put on a dress just to feel happy at the moment. He was not trying to draw more attention to himself, he did this because he finally wants to live. In the article it state “genitalia are not a determinant of gender: you can be born a woman with male genitalia, just as you can be born a man with female genitalia.” Jenner was born a girl but had the males’ genitalia. All of his secrets growing up support those facts and leads me to the conclusion that it is okay that he has transformed into a female. Now, he finally can be comfortable with himself, live the life he has always desired. Most importantly, he has increased his quality of life and that is important for every human being to have. His gender identity all along was a female although though he is a male because of his psychological aspect and his desires. Just because you are born a male does not mean it is set and stone that you have to live like a male. Sexual orientation all comes down to what the person truly wants. It seems that Jenner lived decades of his life covering up who he truly is and doing what the norm is in society, although he is still attracted to females, but not living his choice of gender identity. It does not matter who you love, especially what sex you are attracted to. What is important is that Jenner and all of the transgenders out in the world can live comfortably and live the life they want; just like a normal female and male would today.

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz

VF Hollywood Caitlyn Jenner: The Full Story July 2015

STUDENT 2

I might be repeating myself when I say this but I don’t think there has ever been a better time to take a class in Human Sexuality!

The first short article I chose doesn’t spend any time discussing trans issues or sexual orientation- which is why I found it interesting and enjoyed it. It is taken from Vogue’s website, and its primary purpose is to praise Caitlyn Jenner’s choice of attire at the ESPY awards earlier this week- she wore a figure-hugging long-sleeved white dress (the article informs us that she worked with Angelina Jolie’s stylist) and complementary accessories. Here, Jenner is being acknowledged as being a well-dressed woman by the world’s most famous fashion publication. They skip all the buzz about Jenner’s gender change because in this instance, it is irrelevant. It is a fashion piece. Caitlyn Jenner is a fashionable woman.

‘Caitlyn Jenner’s ESPY Awards Fashion Moment is Major’

http://www.vogue.com/13283864/caitlyn-jenner-espy-awards-2015-style/

To touch upon the psychological part of this discussion, I read excerpts from Jenner’s now-famous Vanity Fair interview. What surprised me and saddened me the most, as usual when it comes to the topic of gender dysphoria, is how there is often such a strong deep-rooted fear and need to cover up one’s true self. Caitlyn tells journalist Buzz Bissinger, “To be able to wake up in the morning, be yourself, get dressed, get ready to go out, and just be like a normal person. That’s a wonderful feeling to go through life.” This is a basic human right but for many of the trans population, they feel they are not afforded it. The grim reality is that those who are confident in their sexuality and the ways they choose to express themselves are frequently subject to abuse and danger of all sorts. The problem lies in the public’s reaction, not the transgender person, which should already be a non-issue by now, in my personal opinion.

‘Caitlyn Jenner Talks About Her Mother’s Reaction and Transgender Fans’

http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-photos-interview-buzz-bissinger

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