Caitlyn Jenner Says Transgender Population Is Growing at 'Disturbing' Rate

[tenderfoot]

Caitlyn Jenner has said the number of people openly identifying as transgender is "skyrocketing" at a "disturbing" rate, blaming "indoctrination" and an "oversaturation of the topic."

Jenner, who ran in a 2021 race to replace California's Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, but gained just 1 percent of the vote, remains a committed Republican, despite the growing wave of anti-transgender sentiment in the party.

The 1976 Olympic gold medalist, who came out as transgender in 2015, has been an outspoken critic of transgender women competing in sports against other women. Her stance aligns with the views of some conservative commentators.

The Fox News contributor stepped up her efforts in April by announcing the launch of an initiative called Fairness First. The political action committee describes itself as "a big tent movement, non-partisan in nature, with the intention of protecting women and girls in sport—especially in light of recent events with radical gender ideology."

Link to tweet

[Initech]

1. Hey Caitlyn: YOU'RE TRANS!!!!

Sheesh, talk about someone who has been brainwashed into voting against their best interests.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. Wait, aren't we just supposed to accept her as a woman outright and not append 'trans'?

It's hard to keep up with the rules sometimes

[Mad_Machine76]

27. She *is* Trans

It's fine.

[newdayneeded]

33. You and me both,

I avoid these threads. every word gets analyzed on responses. the flurry of the identification labels changes so much, I don't know where to begin.

[obamanut2012]

41. Why do you think this post was a good idea?

You see it is the same as when a bigot says something like LHNGYSTSRSE+++

Come on. They are no "rules," there is just having empathy and not saying something like you said.

I am expecting this to get hidden, because literally all my hides are from sticking up for trans folks.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

46. There absolutely are 'rules' around here my friend ...

Some of us struggle to keep up with what the expected nomenclatures are, and I asked the question honestly.

So, wait, was I supposed to be empathetic to Caitlyn Jenner?

[newdayneeded]

53. like I said. lol

[EarlG]

61. Indeed there are rules

The rule on DU is that you go elsewhere to work through your confusion about trans issues, so that you can learn to post about them compassionately on DU and avoid hurting our trans members.

We have this rule because "just asking honest questions" about trans issues unfortunately tends to lead to the posting of bigoted or ignorant comments.

Here are a couple of links to get you started:

https://www.hrc.org/resources/understanding-the-transgender-community

https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/guide/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/

[Hugh_Lebowski]

68. Thanks I will look these over. I am absolutely an LGBTQ+ ally

But I get conflicting messages about how we're supposed to ... I don't know ... address? the subject in general. I'll look these over, thanks.

[obamanut2012]

63. I never said to be empathetic to Jenner

Calling MTG a bitch is calling all women a bitch. Same with Jenner re: trans issues.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

49. Let me give another example ...

If an XY person who identifies as trans-female exclusively has relationships with cis-XY persons ... is it proper to say that they are gay ... or straight?

I assume the rule is that we'd call them 'straight', but I'm not entirely positive.

[Ms. Toad]

59. The rule is that you use the term they use,

And if they don't care to share it with you, then it is safe to assume there is no reason for you to refer to their sexual orientation.

As a concrete example, I don't know how my high school sweetheart identifies. I am the second person she came out to as trans. She remains married to her wife (the first person she came out to). I have no idea how she, or her spouse, identify as to sexual orientation. It is none of my business how they identify, unless they choose to share that information.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

62. Great, so in the case I describe there's no accepted rule, in terms of making references

in the abstract, 30K foot level (i.e. you don't actually know the person).

Great! Jotting this down for future reference, thanks for your help

[obamanut2012]

64. JFC just stop and do what EarlG told you to

[Hugh_Lebowski]

66. Please check timestamps.

I am endeavoring to learn.

I am EXTREMELY trans-friendly. I just want consistent rules to follow.

Don't mean to offend.

[Happy Hoosier]

65. Nah...

All trans women are women, but not all women are trans women.

Not sure why this is confusing.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

67. I have seen (and even heard) it said that it is untoward to 'point it out'

That a trans-person prefers to be seen/called the sex that they identify with, without 'trans' being put in front of it.

I'm only trying to clarify accepted nomenclature, so as to not run afoul of what's socially acceptable.

[Happy Hoosier]

69. Your post came off a bit snarky.

If you did not intend that, then okay.

I know quite a few trans people. The fact they are trans isn;t usually an issue, and so is not mentioned. When it IS an issue, none of them I know, at least, take any offense.

Jenner putting her MAGAt foot into the middle of this pile of sh*t makes the fact that she is a trans woman relevant.

So, in general, just ask.... does the fact that the person is trans have anything to do with the issue at hand. If so, then mentioning it is not untoward. If not, then there's no reason to mention it.

Will SOMEONE get offended? Probably. I don't worry about fringe cases, generally, though I try to respect an individual's preferences.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

70. I get it in retrospect, sorry about that. Sometimes I just blurt shit out I admit.

Then have to do cleanup afterwards. It's a character flaw. I'll try to do better.

In my defense, people talk like there's this obvious code of conduct around these matters ... usually I have an instinctive understanding, but the area of the nomenclature around trans-persons honestly kinda confuses me at times.

Thanks for your help

[Hortensis]

74. Nice. Fwiw, I read as intended.

In this era, intolerance, once either virtue or flaw, depending, has become such a great virtue that it is also a great flaw. And "tolerance," once also a good thing, is interpreted as participating in crimes against humanity. Everything can be overdone, and this era of extreme reactions almost anything is.

I suspect widespread, commonplace, generous acceptance of gender choices will occur about the same time that generous, routine acceptance of people's right to express themselves "imperfectly" without being jumped on returns. It all comes from the same well of decency.

We'll still think Caitlyn Jenner's an ass, though.

[Happy Hoosier]

75. Me too!

Thanks for being so honest about that. Much respect.

[Ray Bruns]

9. She is a Republican. She has the "I got mine, screw you!" attitude.

[Initech]

47. Yeah her interests are with the almighty dollar and that's about it.

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

17. She doesn't think she is anymore.....

[Layzeebeaver]

29. she's more republican than trans - based on her comments alone

[gay texan]

2. So it's OK for you to transition

And not anyone else.

Catlin Jenner, FUCK YOU!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

73. Right?

Not to mention, as much of a shitbird she is, she probably helped some kids come out!

[Wounded Bear]

3. Perhaps she's worried about her exalted status being diluted by too many trans folk...

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

19. EXACTLY....she thought she could be the American Trans Sweetheart.

She cannot take the competition.....she is not so great at that running afterall

[treestar]

42. that's the first thing I thought

why find it disturbing from her point of view?

[multigraincracker]

51. Micro-plastics in the water,

so some want to ban water.

[we can do it]

4. W T A F ??

[CrispyQ]

5. Isn't this kind of like pulling the ladder up behind you? -nt

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

20. Analogy BINGO!

[mopinko]

25. eggzactly. a sign of a narcissist.

[crickets]

77. Yes. It is, and it's ugly. nt

[oregonjen]

7. Typical Repug, Okay for me, but not for thee

[vercetti2021]

8. Shut you fucking hole Caitlyn

You're not the only one allowed to transition and then stab us in the back. YOU'RE NEVER GOING TO BE EXCEPTED! They see you as a useful fucking tool and then will throw your ass into the camps with us stupid. Fuck you Jenner. You backstabber.

[FalloutShelter]

10. Typical Rethug...

All for me and none for thee.

[bucolic_frolic]

11. Projection, projection, there's more to obsession than meets the eye. /nt

[Zambero]

12. ..said Caitlyn as she forgot to acknowledge her very own data dot on the skyrocket graph

[ProfessorGAC]

71. Very High Profile, As Well

Maybe someone transitioning in the public eye is a precipitating event in allowing others to explore what's right for them.
But, Jenner wouldn't consider that she may be part of the cause of her "concern".

[Biophilic]

13. I don't understand how someone can mentally hold these two very different concepts at the same time.

Yes, I know that women (republican) seem to be very good at being willing to discriminate against other woman and even eager to take their rights away, but some how this feels different to me. Yeah, I guess this is very much a pulling up the ladder after yourself. What a F'ing asshole. I just don't get the mental disconnect that's required to do this.

[roamer65]

14. Wow..what an astronomical level of hypocrisy.

She’s a typical MAGAt.

[brush]

15. "Growing at a disturbing rate..." WTF? Isn't she transgender?

[RegulatedCapitalistD]

16. She is mad that she is not the American Trans Sweetheart.

She thought she could be "unique" and is mad she isn't

[Kennah]

31. This

[Johnny2X2X]

18. This harmful myth has got to stop

Kids aren't being pressured to become trans, there's still immense and crushing pressure for children to deny their true gender. People aren't coming out LGTBQ at a younger age because it's trendy, coming out is probably still traumartic for most people. To deny this is just plain wrong and is doing harm.

Are there a small percentage of people who are truly confused and not sure? Yes, but for the overwhelming majority of people, social and family pressure to conform to what they're expected to be (straight and cis) is still probably immense.

Growing up with a diverse set of friends, friends coming out to their parents was usually a life changing event, it was something that people built up years towards being able to do. It was something that came with risk, the risk of being throwing out of your home, risk of being shamed, or cut off, or even assaulted. While those same risks may not be as prevalent today, they're still there, and it's still not easy for young people to come out as gay, bi, trans, non binary, or anything in between in my opinion. There are still young people struggling with this out there, I know some of them, to have this huge movement telling them their feelings are being indoctrinated into them or they're being influenced into them is so invalidating and dangerous.

Nearly half of LGTBQ youth have seriously considered suicide in the last year. LGTBQ youth attempt suicide at 2-3 times the rate of heterosexual youth. These facts are important, denying LGTBQ people their rights to treatment as they see fit kills people. Telling LGTBQ children that they're being indoctrinated or tricked into who they are kills kids. IT NEEDS TO STOP NOW!

[Mad_Machine76]

39. +1000

[obamanut2012]

44. Terrific post

Please consider making it an OP.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

45. Well said!

but I think you mean hetero/cis-gender youth, just saying.

Of course the haters ... and I know a couple ... say they kill themselves because they're basically fucked up and/or crazy, and self-harm is just a side-effect of that.

I get in a lot of arguments with them, suffice to say.

[Johnny2X2X]

56. Gender affirming care for youth cuts the suicide rate by 90%

Last edited Thu May 18, 2023, 12:54 PM - Edit history (1)

I don't think it gets talked about enough, even here on DU, but puberty blockers are an extremely important component of care for young people who are transgender. The end result can be dramatically better if one doesn't have to go through puberty as the wrong sex.

So I've even heard here, "well, they should just wait until they are adults." That can be disastrous for some people. It can be the difference between just blending in as a man or a woman, and not having people be able to even tell that you transitioned, and being someone that will never look like their true sex without dramatic and expensive surgeries. This type of care prior to or during puberty is absolutely critical for young people and we cannot allow those decisions to be taken away from them, their families, and their doctors and be given to poltiicians.

And all people are beautiful, but I don't think it's over some line to talk about degrees of fitting in and how to best attain the result you want. For many transgender people, the results that they want are much harder to get without early treatment.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

57. 100% understand was just making this same argument with a RW friend, like, yesterday

Totally with you. It's once in a lifetime chance, once you miss it ... you missed it, and the effects can be devastating.

He of course was arguing but but they're just wee babes too young to decide, and if they go through their birth-sex puberty they're '80%' likely to change their minds

I took great pains to explain how it's not done willy-nilly purely on the child's whim. Parents, psychologists, and experienced medical doctors are integral to the decision, using protocols developed over many decades and many studies.

Also explained how puberty blockers are specifically used to 'buy time' so they're a more mature person before they undergo the more consequential treatment of undergoing the puberty of the opposite (birth) sex.

He of course wasn't having it, but I hope it sunk in at least a bit. It's all I can do ...

[Johnny2X2X]

58. Thank you

Last edited Thu May 18, 2023, 01:26 PM - Edit history (1)

My wife and I have a close friend (practically family) who is an amazing trans women, it took her until she was in her 50s to start living as her true self. She's amazing in every way, but right now she's not healthy while trying to get to what she considers a presentable version of herself looks wise. Taking hormones, barely eating to try to get smaller, going through a lot emotionally. We love her just the way she is, but she wants to be accepted as a woman and the truth is she will never look like a woman as most of society defines it, she's always going to look like a man dressed up as a woman. And it's causing her emotional pain, but it's also made her the target of some scary threats, she's been followed out doors, she's had people walk up to her in public and scream in her face, "YOU"RE NOT A REAL WOMAN!!!" She's brave and strong, and I wish there was something I could do to help, but there isn't.

I hope that trans young people don't ever have to go through what our friend is going through, I hope they get to have the freedom to pursue the heatlh care choices they, their families, and their doctors think is best for them. I am horrified that so many in this country seem to think that politicans know what's best for individuals when it comes to important personal decisions like this. Even some here on DU think the government should be in charge of young trans people's bodies and personal decisions, it's all so sad, and it's doinig immense damage to children, young adults, and adults.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

60. Healing vibes going out your friends way :)

I also know pretty well someone who transitioned in their 30's, they were my office mate for years, basically I watched the whole thing 8 hours a day in a 2 person office situation and we'd been working together for like 5 years before the transition.. I know damn well how much dedication and work it takes, at least 2nd hand. Transitioning is no joke. You gotta REALLY want it.

[Spazito]

48. Well said!

I hope you do make this an OP as suggested. This needs to read and said repeatedly.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

21. So what?! Let people be!

[Baitball Blogger]

22. The f??k!

Welp, I guess Jenner is an example of gender confusion.

[Johonny]

23. What is the proper rate of growth

I mean, I assume the growth rate is exactly zero, and any apparent growth is just the fact people can now more openly express who they are.

[Maeve]

24. There was a similar fear of gays when it became acceptable to leave the closet

Seriously--people seemed astonished that there were "suddenly" so many gays because they were no longer invisible. But I don't remember many gay people saying that...

So...who "indoctrinated" you, Caitlyn?

[sarcasmo]

26. Lunatic

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. REPORTING on it certainly has.

It's the latest shiny object in the Weekly World Newsing of America.

And when some rich crackpot becomes incensed about the emergence of spousal cannibalism in lieu of divorce, and some crackpot republican hears it and enlists his crackpot followers to also become incensed, and some crackpot Internet "influencer" posts a video about some other crackpot marrying a rutabaga and then eating it for dinner... that'll be the next shiny object.

[leftstreet]

35. Best description ever

[Buns_of_Fire]

37. Thank you. I miss the days when all we had to worry about was Batboy.

[Cracklin Charlie]

30. Insane!!!

Yeah, a buncha people seem to have lost their mind. Caitlyn may be one of them.

[hippywife]

32. Just talking for the buck$$$. nt

[LostOne4Ever]

34. If she feels that way

She can detransition herself.

Everyone else who feels they needs to transition deserves support and should get those services!

[Freethinker65]

36. I think this is about Caitlyn's ego needing media attention.

Gotta do/say something outrageous to keep up with ....

[Mad_Machine76]

38. No matter what

we won't ever be the majority (or even close), so they can just chill TFO

[Blue Owl]

40. Just go away

We've all had enough Caitlyn Jenner for one lifetime....

[inthewind21]

43. Huh

skyrocketing at levels we have never seen before!" Now where have we heard those over the top claims bfore? LIKE NEVER SEEN BEOFRE!!!

[dembotoz]

50. would she still have a forum if she was still bruce

it increased her fame over being just a has been jock who married money

[Bleacher Creature]

52. This may be the perfect example of what it means to be a Republican.

She transitioned and was accepted, so now screw anyone else who is in the same position.

[Autumn]

54. Well bless her heart.

[karynnj]

55. I hope some reporter asks her if her own decision was based on indoctrination

If the answer is "of course not", they should follow up with asking what about her makes her decision more real and based on who she is than the decisions made by these young people.

I would also like a reporter to ask if her VERY PUBLIC decision, including a cover story in a prominent magazine MIGHT have allowed some young people, uncomfortable with their biological defined gender, to consider that they could follow her example and declaring they are who they were born to be. It is pretty hypocritical of her to question that more young people are now more comfortable in taking the still very difficult decision to define themselves as something other than CIS male or female.

[Oneironaut]

72. Caitlyn is in on the Fox News grift, and, is selling the rest of us out.

She’s just joining this culture war because it’s trendy atm, and, it will make her money to be a useful idiot for Republicans. She’s the token trans woman spouting what the echo chamber wants to hear. She knows she has to play the game if she wants to remain as a Fox News stooge.

[jmowreader]

76. It's obvious she's a Republican

The trait common to all Republicans is they don’t want anyone else to enjoy the same things they enjoyed themselves.

Now that Caitlyn has completely transitioned, she doesn’t want anyone else to be able to. And it’s SO well known that she’s not who she used to be…us old people watched Bruce Jenner win the decathlon, and the young people watched Bruce Jenner in the Kardashian reality show.

But now that she’s living large as Caitlyn, she wants the door closed to everyone else.