Recently, a mother of tweens shared a story with me: “I was driving the kids to school, focusing on a tricky traffic merge when one of them suddenly asked, ‘Who’s Bruce Jenner?’ I panicked and said, ‘an Olympic athlete,’ then quickly changed the subject.” Essentially, she avoided the question. Despite having co-authored a children’s book on transgender issues, I often encourage parents and educators to have open, age-appropriate discussions about the LGBT community.
Why Advocate for These Conversations?
Why do I advocate for these conversations? It’s not because I have a personal stake—none of my close family members identify as LGBT—but because I believe in nurturing compassionate and understanding children. With the ongoing changes in marriage equality and the visibility of transgender individuals in society, our children will encounter more openly LGBT people in their lives. Ignoring this reality does a disservice to them and places educators in a difficult position, as they already have LGBT students and families in their classrooms.
How to Respond to Questions About Bruce Jenner
So, how would I respond to the question about Bruce Jenner? I would say (and do say to my own kids), “Bruce Jenner is a well-known Olympic gold medalist. However, he’s now in the spotlight for a different reason. At 65, he’s openly sharing his truth: he identifies as a woman, despite his physical appearance being that of a man. Isn’t that fascinating?”
“When Bruce was younger, he didn’t realize that others experienced similar feelings and felt confused and ashamed about wanting a different body. It turns out, there are many people like him, and the term for it is transgender. Nowadays, doctors understand that being transgender is simply part of human diversity—it’s as if their brain and body received mixed signals during development. Fortunately, medical advancements can help align their bodies with their identities if they choose, but often, just changing their name and expressions is enough to bring them joy.”
“You may not meet many transgender individuals since it’s relatively uncommon, but if you do, treat them with kindness and respect. Understand that their journey hasn’t been easy, and avoid asking personal questions that you wouldn’t want directed towards yourself. Embrace them for who they are inside, just like we do with everyone else.”
Avoiding Complications
This approach avoids unnecessary complications about sex or sexual orientation, which are distinct from gender identity. Ultimately, dodging such questions only leads to misinformation from peers. It’s better to have these open, truthful discussions, just as Bruce Jenner has bravely done.
Additional Resources
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Conclusion
In summary, engaging in honest discussions about identities like Bruce Jenner’s helps demystify and normalize the conversation around transgender issues for children. It fosters understanding and creates compassionate individuals who respect diversity.