MODERATOR’S NOTE:
IMO, @TatinG was not arguing, but giving an opinion of how it sounded to her ears. But, while I have the opportunity, courteous behavior needs to prevail here, please.
Finding this to be a touching and informative interview - very well done.
Oh, hope I was not being discourteous! I thought TatinG’s suggestion was a good one at first, but then remembered hearing that term used in the other context, and also remembered that i don’t really have standing to make language suggestions in any event. Meant no discourtesy to TatinG or to DonnaL! Love hearing their input! Really hope that I didn’t offend!
Notelling, I understand that. Which is why I pointed out my objection to “biological man” as an fyi. It’s not that I was personally offended – I’ve heard a whole lot worse! But once I gave a term that is used by trans people, I was a little offended at someone immediately pronouncing that they didn’t like it, and I was being entirely honest in saying that their opinion didn’t matter to me.* I apologize if I didn’t say that as politely as I could have.
*(Any more than 40 years ago gay people cared when people used to complain about their supposedly hijacking a perfect good word, and gay men didn’t seem very happy to them, etc., etc.)
Donna, of course you’re free to not want to watch the interview, but so far the questions have not been embarrassing or intrusive or prurient or exploitative. It seems like a very respectful and educational interview. It’s very gentle and sympathetic in nature. I never had much opinion on Bruce Jenner one way or the other, but I’m favorably impressed by how he is completing himself and the evident support of his family. Note - Bruce indicated a desire to be referred to as he for the purposes of this interview.
Interview not on yet here. Did Sawyer ask about the car crash that killed the woman in Malibu.? As I understand it, charges could still be filed against Jenner.
Pizzagirl, I’m glad Sawyer was respectful and not overly intrusive. (But I still have no desire whatsoever to watch the interview – as I said, I lived through this myself already!) I understand that Jenner presented as male for the interview, so it makes sense that “for purposes of the interview,” Jenner said that “he” was OK. I fully expect that once Jenner is presenting full-time as a woman, and announces a new name (if zie does so), zie will expect female pronouns to be used. After all, from what I understand, Jenner said that zie identifies as a woman, not as non-binary or genderqueer.
I completely get your point, DonnaL. It is similar to the early days of contemporary feminism when some men thought that calling women “girls” or “ladies” was more respectful than the term “women.” I try to remember that when I have the urge to pipe in with, “Why not go with the term [whatever]? That’s the term I like!”
@tating - It was mentioned briefly away from the interview stating that Jenner could not legally comment on it.
Not the kind of thing I would like to watch…I have zero interest in that family or any of the members in it. Jenner is the only one who ever seemed to accomplish anything as an Olympian , but as a cast member to the show they are ( or were for all I know ) ho hum….I’d rather clean up the dog yard and cat box
Never have watched any of the Kardashians but did watch this interview. I thought Diane Sawyer handled the interview well and with a lot of compassion. It was much better than I expected it to be.
I was quite moved. And, begrudgingly, I will say that Sawyer did a good job.
This show was not about the Kardashians. It was about Bruce Jenner’s transition. He is a gold medal Olympiad well known before he married his third wife.
Yes he has become well known again as the husband in the reality show. But this interview was still about him, a symbol of masculinity winning the gold medal in the Olympic decathlon now transitioning to a woman.
I did not think I would watch this, but I did. I think it was done in “good taste,” me being the judge of what’s good or not obviously. 
I also think the show was trying to provide information and educate. It was not a show about the Kardashians.
Ha! @morrismm. Yup, we definitely know that the interview is not about the Kardashians but given that some of us avoid ANYTHING Kardashian, and given Jenner’s direct association with the family for several decades especially the past 8+ years of their tv infamy, watching tonight took a small leap of faith. Having a young friend going through a similar process, I was worried it would not help the transgender message. Glad I watched and glad the subject matter was handled in an honest and caring manner.
I didn’t watch the interview, but I wish Bruce Jenner all the best.
I dislike anything Kardashian too, but this was really about Bruce Jenner. The Kardashians only came in insofar as they talked about his family life (he had 2 kids with his first wife, 2 with second wife, then married Kris and had 2 kids there and became stepfather to her 4). Aside from a few mentions of the fact that they had a reality show, if you didn’t know better you wouldn’t have known that the third wife and some of those kids were famous. They were talked about simply in the context of how his family reacted. The first 4 kids (from the first 2 marriages) were interviewed and came across well, clearly supportive and loving him.
I was favorably impressed by how the interview was handled and I wound up really liking him. It just seemed such a tragedy that he had to live this lie for 65 years and even more so when he was such a public figure as an athlete. What other athletes today are as well known as Bruce was in his heyday? Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Michael Phelps? I don’t think any of them were as “big” as Bruce was at the timel. Trying to explain to my kids what a big star he was.
After reading this three, I’m sorry I didn’t tape the show.
I was very moved by the love and support his children expressed. I am very happy they showed that. I wish him nothing but the best.
Someone earlier posted why do certain groups have to express themselves as communities- I think when an individual is different than the societal norm it must be very difficult. I am glad they come together in communities to educate us, to fight for equal protection under the law and to attempt to remove any stigma that surrounds their difference.
“Why wouldn’t I want to watch, Pizzagirl? In part, because of fremdschämen (a very useful word the Germans invented). After all, I’ve seen it all before, over and over again – trans woman early in transition process volunteers to get interviewed on television because she thinks it will educate others; gets asked embarrassing and intrusive questions that no non-trans person would ever be asked; comes to regret the interview greatly in later years”
Hopefully you’ll be glad to hear none of that occurred. They didn’t ask anything about “state of the genitalia” and his sex life was barely touched on (and just at a very high level, not intimate detail).
Bruce Jenner’s second wife and mother of two of his sons has written an article about Bruce’s journey:
She had zero clue about Bruce’s gender identity issues until he told her. It’s actually a very kind article, even while one might disagree with the decision to write anything at all about it.