Let’s Not Get Too Carried Away With Caitlyn Jenner

I think people are getting a little too breathless over Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner’s new female identity. On the one hand, there seem to be some who want to confer every accolade up to and including a Noble Peace Prize on the newly minted Ms. Jenner. On the other side of the spectrum you’ve got those who want to compare Trans-Jenner mania to the fall of Rome.

I don’t think Bruce/Caitlyn (Brutlyn?) is evil or perverted. I don’t think she’s morally less or greater than anyone else just because of her recent decisions.

But I also don’t think she’s deserving of all the fawning that’s going on including the Arthur Ashe Courage Award she’ll receive at this year’s Espys. Here are my reasons.

1.) It’s Clearly About Show-Biz, at Least Partly

I’m not suggesting that Caitlyn is “pretending” to want to be a woman just to generate publicity. But it’s very obvious that the entire presentation is being made to accomplish some specific goals. That is, to breathe new life into the Kardashian TV empire that is largely responsible for keeping the E! network as profitable and, of course, to lead up to Caitlyn’s own reality show which will be, surprise, surprise, also on E! Jenner’s desire to become a woman is undoubtedly sincere but before we confer sainthood let’s remember that it is still part of a truly horrible reality television show. It has a certain “Idiocracy” feel …turning anyone connected to the Kardashians into such an object of reverence.

2.) Some Experts Still Think Transgenderism is a Mental Disorder.

Like the former head of psychiatry at Johns Hopkins, Dr. Paul McHugh who said exactly that last year in a Wall Street Journal Report.

“Policy makers and the media are doing no favors either to the public or the transgendered by treating their confusions as a right in need of defending rather than as a mental disorder that deserves understanding, treatment and prevention,” said McHugh.

In a nutshell, there are various forms of Body Dysmorphic disorders in which the sufferer feels that there’s something “just not right” about their bodies even though no pathology is evident. It can take the form of anorexia, which is not all that uncommon, to something called Body Integrity Disorder.

People with B.I.D suffer from the overwhelming feeling that one or more of their healthy limbs does not belong on their body. These people are obsessed with the idea that they need their arms or legs amputated and will often seek out someone (not usually a trained, ethical surgeon) to remove the limb.

When someone goes into any sane doctor and says they would be happier without their perfectly healthy legs….NOBODY encourages them to embrace their disorder. That would be, not only nuts, but criminal in this country.

So I ask you, why should a penis be different than an arm or a leg? A person who wants to cut off a healthy limb doesn’t need surgery they need psychiatric care. But if you feel the same way about your privates or your boobs suddenly people want to give you medals? It doesn’t compute for me. When a young girl gets down to 65 pounds because she’s bulimic, you don’t see people lining up to pat her on the back for being such a pioneer.

Caitlyn hasn’t decided yet if she wants to lose the manitalia but says she might.

3.)    In No Real Way is Caitlyn a Woman

Cosmetically, you can have a surgeon remove, reshape or fabricate certain body parts. You can also take hormones that will change one’s outward appearance. But, if you were born genetically a man, a man you will stay for the rest of your life. Caitlyn can and probably will have extensive surgery. But nothing will change his…yes, his…karyotype. His chromosomes will be 23 pairs of X Y until the day he passes.

For this reason, I feel a little silly referring to Caitlyn as “she” or “her”. I will, but only because I don’t want to be perceived as a homophobic dickhead. It reminds me a little bit of the South Park episode where Mr. Garrison has gender reassignment surgery. Kyle’s dad decides HE want to have reassignment surgery…into a dolphin. So he finds a willing surgeon who gives him flippers and a blow-hole.

Matt and Trey make a good deal of fun of the idea of Kyle’s dad wanting to be addressed and treated like a dolphin.  I feel the same kind of silliness when I comply, out of political correctness, in referring to someone who is a man as a woman.  But I’ll do it because I have been sufficiently cowed by the threat of being perceived as a bigot if I don’t.

4.) There Are Plenty of Heroes Who Are Gay

You know who won the Arthur Ashe Courage Award last year? Michael Sam, the Missouri football player who came out of the closet while still in college. Here’s what someone said in an e-mail to me:

Michael Sams was courageous when he made the announcement about being gay. He did at a point in time when it could affect his career and it most likely did. On the other hand you have high profile people like Bruce Jenner and Robin Roberts that wait well into their careers to make announcements like being gay or transitioning.

Bingo. This isn’t to say that Caitlyn or Robin Roberts or any of those who chose to come out later in life are cowardly. They’re just not as brave as Michael Sam. By coming out now, as opposed to---say, 1976, at the height of his fame---Bruce didn’t risk hatred or career discrimination. This whole article is about how he’s being glorified not hated on. How inspirational is it to a confused 13 year old gay boy or girl that a 65 year old millionaire with plenty to gain is finally comfortable enough to say how he feels? He’s fine. She’s fine. I hope she’s nothing but happy. But all this idol-worship is a little over the top, ok?