'I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn,' Ms. Jenner tweeted this week. Readers, print and digital, react to how 'true' that new self is
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I'd be more impressed with Caitlyn Jenner's courage if she donated the money Vanity Fair paid for her cover to help other trans people with their daily struggles, which for far too many include social isolation, self-harm, unemployment, relocation and never being able to afford trans-related surgeries (What Caitlyn Jenner's Reveal Says About Our Culture – Life & Arts, June 4).
Courage to live as oneself is undoubtedly more difficult without a photographer of the calibre of an Annie Leibovitz and a team of makeup artists to portray what's in the mind's eye and in the soul.
Michelle Christopher, Calgary
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Weighing in on the debate on Bruce Jenner's transition from male to female is murky territory indeed for this heterosexual. When Orange is the New Black and Transparent have become mainstream, it's hard to know where I fit in these days.
The point isn't whether the normalization of the formerly marginalized is right or wrong (though I applaud our acceptance of all human beings as long as they are loving to each other.)
The point is how the now-Caitlyn Jenner revealed herself. Being true to yourself is worthy and noble, but when it becomes as public and as heavily funded (see Ms. Jenner's upcoming docu-series chronicling her transformation), the truth becomes a little murkier in its narcissistic commercialization. Would she be as fulfilled without an audience?
The vast circus of modern consumerism allows us to hoard the detritus of life, now filmed before our very eyes, as if it were worthy of our attention. How much more would we accomplish if we spent less time watching what Duck Dynasty or the Snookis of the world were up to? Our collective lost productivity isn't nearly as frightening as the realization that this kind of viewing seems to satiate many television viewers.
What strikes me most about Caitlyn's revelation is that she doesn't even appear to be aware enough to realize that she is co-dependent upon the almighty buck celebrity brings: "I'm doing it for my soul and to help other people. If I can make a dollar, I certainly am not stupid. … Yeah, this is a business."
And that's where she lost me.
So much is based upon appearance, not soul. I wonder how much more difficult it will be for other transgender people who cannot afford the kind of surgeries to look like the gender they wish to inhabit?
Will they feel comfortable in their own skin?
Or will they wait for a scalpel to carve them as our celebrity world demands, all "perfect" hair and face, while beneath the surface their soul cries out for something more substantial?
Catherine Brennan, Toronto
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Living with fake women turned him into a fake woman. It's going to be a Kardashian apocalypse if this thing is contagious.
Nathan Novak, Calgary
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Gendered pronouns shouldn't exist. Gender is a social construct which dictates how a person should behave in relation to their biological sex. Stupid.
Sheryl Doiron, Fredericton
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Media obsession with gender confusion is great to watch – they don't even know what to say about it but that it is to be "celebrated." And the photo looks as fake as can be.
Brian Rushfeldt, Calgary
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I don't envy Caitlyn Jenner. It cannot be easy to go through something like this in such a public spectacle.
Jason Easton, Belleville, Ont.
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This mutilation never cures the profound psychological issues of vulnerable people.
Kate Bopp, Loughrea, Ireland
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Some 40 per cent of transgender people attempt suicide. I'd say the scope of this celebrity's story will help those people in their struggles. And don't worry, we'll be back to other useless news in a few days.
Ty Semaka, Calgary
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A new standard for women everywhere? Get real.
He is trans, end of story. The only standard he's setting is how much plastic surgery you can buy! If I had any respect for him, I would use the word "she." However, I will not celebrate this Kardashian circus.
Veronica Penfold, Harrow, Ont.
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This is ridiculous. While I'm happy she can finally live how she wants to, this article speaks of the new standards women have to meet – putting us in competition with a man's body?
Natasha Vaz, Ottawa
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Well, it's certainly one way of Keeping Up With the Kardashians.
Brent Nichols, Winnipeg
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I'd love to see the "real" Caitlyn, the one she sees when she looks in the mirror in the morning. How sad that this has become a Photoshop debate about a cover image, instead of what matters: what's going on inside.
Kathryn Nichols, Halifax
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ON REFLECTION Letters to the editor
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Two-state realism?
Re Obama Holds Scant Hope For Progress On Peace Deal In Final Term (June 5): U.S. President Barack Obama has finally joined most of the rest of the world in thinking that it's impossible to deal with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The only hope is for change in the Knesset, which is possible because Mr. Netanyahu leads a bare majority. Yitzhak Herzog's Labour Party seems willing at least to talk with the Palestinians.
Jim McMaster, Burlington, Ont.
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Double-double discontent
Re Oil And Coffee: Tim Hortons Caught Up In Energy PR War (Report on Business, June 5): Tim Hortons ordered up double trouble. Showing Enbridge ads in its locations created action online and on the ground against the franchise, given the widespread opposition to Northern Gateway.
Stephen Harper has repeatedly paired himself with Tims, a cultural icon. By the time the election arrives, he won't have his West Coast pipeline built, or the now foreign-owned Tims as his backdrop. Maybe the ad in October will be that E=Change.
Nikki Skuce, Smithers, B.C.
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Senate shambles
Re Senate Leaders Flagged In Expense Audit (June 5): After the U.S. Justice Department is through with FIFA, I'd like it to take a look at Canada's Senate.
Norman Rosencwaig, Toronto
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It's time Canadians said enough and got rid of the Senate. We can abolish it if we have the will.
David Enns, Cornwall, Ont.
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Live from Edmonton
Re Opening The World Cup Anywhere But Toronto Is A National Embarrassment (Sports, June 5): Cathal Kelly's juvenile rebuke of Edmonton as the venue for the opening match of the Women's World Cup carries the intensely naive notion that fans around the world could actually find Canada on a map. And he thinks they'll note the difference between Edmonton and T.O.?
I'm sorry T.O. got suckered in-to hosting the Pan Am Games. Wake me when they're over. I'm celebrating the Cup, live from Edmonton. Go, Canada!
Ian McKay, Vancouver