Fleeters, while you are reading this I hope that you don’t roll your eyes or close your mind off to the way that someone wishes to be known as. No matter what sexuality, gender, or what-have-you that someone goes by, it doesn’t matter because they are human, just like you. Being gay or transgender doesn’t degrade someone to being less than human, it just means that they are brave enough to stand up for what they believe in and change so that they can be a happier person.

Today, I watched the Bruce Jenner interview with Diane Sawyer. I stumbled upon it going to get some food and sat through the whole thing. I actually hadn’t intended on watching this interview because, for me, I accept that who he is as a person is not for me to judge and that I support him. I am glad that I sat and watched because I gained more respect for Bruce Jenner and appreciated that Diane Sawyer didn’t make the interview into a bashing session or bombard him with questions that were degrading or aggressive. I learned more about the definition of being transgender and the process that Bruce will be undertaking. Yes, I support his decision. I live on the east coast, in case any of my west coast Fleeters are watching the interview. I can say with certainty that this is an amazing thing that Bruce Jenner is doing by telling the world, incredibly brave.

“I don’t support the transgender community.” There are those who are negative towards the transgender community and I think that, from the clips of the news, saying it is difficult and wrong to have to explain to their children what a transgender person and they are sorely mistaken. Children grow up with nothing but love for people, as adults we are grown and we subconsciously push our opinions onto children. Children are like a sponge, as often compared, and they really do take in what they are shown. If you explain, properly, to children a transgender person, I am almost sure that they would understand and if they don’t, let someone who can really go in depth and explain. I think that if the schools taught more than just a heterosexual kind of curriculum when it comes to sex-ed and education about genders that they would understand. By teaching an in-depth look into gender, it can open a conversation. There are children out there who are more outspoken about how a relationship “should” be and maybe by informing them of everything, they can learn and understand. The world is changing and I think that Bruce Jenner telling the world is so that people can understand.

Anyone who isn’t in his, or the transgender community’s, position should just try to understand. If you are against it, fine, but you should understand and at least respect the decision of a person. If you are having a hard time coping and understanding, think about it as if you were in their position. To prevent any rash decisions in how you think right now, think about them as if you were them. You cannot imagine the difficulty but you can at least try and I am sure you can find a way to support them.

E! News has released an article with celebrities who in support of Bruce Jenner. Read here.

I just wanted to spread this out to all of you Fleeters because, to me, all I can hope for is that people will just love. I just want to say that if you are transgender, gay, bi, straight, etc. that you are not alone because there are those who are fighting for the same thing you are and that you can always find a safe place on this shore.

-The Mermaid Network