Caitlyn Jenner, FKA Bruce, Covers Vanity Fair

[Main Pop Girl]

Speaking publicly for the first time since completing gender transition, Caitlyn Jenner compares her emotional two-day photo shoot with Annie Leibovitz for the July cover of Vanity Fair to winning the gold medal for the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics. She tells Pulitzer Prize–winning V.F. contributing editor and author of Friday Night Lights Buzz Bissinger, “That was a good day, but the last couple of days were better. . . . This shoot was about my life and who I am as a person. It’s not about the fanfare, it’s not about people cheering in the stadium, it’s not about going down the street and everybody giving you ‘that a boy, Bruce,’ pat on the back, O.K. This is about your life.”

Jenner tells Bissinger about how she suffered a panic attack the day after undergoing 10-hour facial-feminization surgery on March 15—a procedure she believed would take 5 hours. (Bissinger reveals that Jenner has not had genital surgery.) She recalls thinking, “What did I just do? What did I just do to myself?” A counselor from the Los Angeles Gender Center came to the house so Jenner could talk to a professional, and assured her that such reactions were often induced by pain medication, and that second-guessing was human and temporary.

Jenner tells Bissinger the thought has since passed and not come back: “If I was lying on my deathbed and I had kept this secret and never ever did anything about it, I would be lying there saying, ‘You just blew your entire life. You never dealt with yourself,’ and I don’t want that to happen.”

Bissinger spent hundreds of hours with the man the world knew as Bruce Jenner over a period of three months, and then countless hours with Caitlyn, also attending the photo shoot with Leibovitz at Jenner’s Malibu home.

Bissinger apologizes to Jenner for repeated pronoun confusion and asks whether she is sensitive about it. “I don’t really get hung up,” she tells him. “A guy came in the other day and I was fully dressed—it’s just habit, I said, ‘Hi, Bruce here,’ and I went, Oh fuck, it ain’t Bruce, I was screwing up doing it.”

Bissinger speaks extensively with Jenner’s four children from his first two marriages—Burt, 36, and Cassandra, 34, with first wife Chrystie, and Brandon, 33, and Brody, 31, with second wife Linda—and describes an insensitive father who had been absent for years at a time. Jenner openly acknowledges mistakes made with them as Bruce, and expresses genuine regret. Says Burt, “I have high hopes that Caitlyn is a better person than Bruce. I’m very much looking forward to that.”

For the Jenner children, the issue of the transition has become a non-issue. They were already aware of their father’s identity as a woman when he told them individually about the transition—Burt and Cassandra had learned from their mother roughly 20 years earlier, when they were 13 and 11; Brandon had assumed it because of the obvious physical changes he had observed; and Brody was told by his mother when he was 29. They tell Bissinger they feel both happiness for their father and inspiration at his bravery, and they all still see their dad as their dad regardless of any gender label. Brandon said he was a little taken aback when he saw Caitlyn for the first time after surgery and she pulled her top up to reveal her new breasts. “Whoa, I’m still your son,” he reminded her.

As part of the transition, Jenner started hosting small gatherings called “girls’ nights” with wine and food where Jenner could dress as desired and feel natural in the presence of women, and it was there that her daughter Cassandra met Caitlyn for the first time. “I was just nervous that I wouldn’t make her feel comfortable,” Cassandra tells Bissinger. “I was worried I wouldn’t say the right things or act the right way or seem relaxed.” But almost all of it melted away when she got there. “We talked more than we ever have. We could just be girls together.”

Despite the renewed relationship with their father, the Jenner children have refused to participate in Caitlyn’s docu-series for the E! network, set to debut this summer, forgoing financial gain in favor of preserving their father’s legacy. Initially, Caitlyn was “terribly disappointed and terribly hurt,” but has come to accept their decision. For her part, Caitlyn is prepared for the criticism that it’s a publicity stunt: “‘Oh, she’s doing a stupid reality show. She’s doing it for the money. She’s doing this, she’s doing that.’ I’m not doing it for money. I’m doing it to help my soul and help other people. If I can make a dollar, I certainly am not stupid. [i have] house payments and all that kind of stuff. I will never make an excuse for something like that. Yeah, this is a business. You don’t go out and change your gender for a television show. O.K., it ain’t happening. I don’t care who you are.”

Jenner tells Bissinger that since the Diane Sawyer interview aired “it’s exciting to go to the mailbox, because I get letters every day from all of these people from all over the world.” One of them was addressed “Bruce Jenner, Malibu, California,” as if she had become her own country.

Bissinger writes that Caitlyn seems happy and relaxed, with a sense of purpose and confidence. She can’t wait when she goes out now to tell the paparazzi to “make sure it’s a good shot,” instead of asking patrons to help shield her from them in the parking lot of the local Starbucks. She looks forward to more girls’ nights “where everybody is treating you the same way. You can talk about anything you want to talk about. You can talk about outfits. You can talk about hair and makeup, anything you want. It becomes not a big deal.” She says that on the E! series she will focus on ways of lowering the rates of suicide and attempted suicide in the transgender community, among other issues.

Jenner tells Bissinger that Bruce was “always telling lies.” (She even describes doing public appearances after winning the gold medal, where “underneath my suit I have a bra and panty hose and this and that and thinking to myself, They know nothing about me. . . . Little did they know I was totally empty inside.”) Caitlyn, she says, “doesn’t have any lies.”

“I’m not doing this to be interesting. I’m doing this to live,” Jenner tells Bissinger. She then jokes, “I’m not doing this so I can hit it off the women’s tee,” but she does tell Bissinger that on her E! show she plans to do a segment in which she sees if she can still hit a golf ball 300 yards off the tee, even with her very ample breasts.

Also in the story, Bissinger speaks at length with Jenner’s three ex-wives (including Kris about what she knew and when she knew it); with Jenner’s 89-year-old mother, Esther, about the possible motives behind her son’s transition; and with Jenner about how she was moved by Monica Lewinsky’s TED talk, and how she reacted to the Diane Sawyer interview.

Lana, is datchu girl? Just as many lip injections but an even more flawless body!

[Carcunt]

Honestly, I'm proud of him becoming who he feels he is and who he really felt he should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

[Kevinn Edu]

She reminds me so much of Jessica Lange.

But I'm so happy for Caitlyn, finally expressing who she really is. I hope everything goes good for her!

[Main Pop Girl]

Honestly, I'm proud of him becoming who he feels he is and who he really felt he should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

I believe we're officially being asked to use female pronouns now, but other than that I agree with this post!

She reminds me so much of Jessica Lange.

But I'm so happy for Caitlyn, finally expressing who she really is. I hope everything goes good for her!

She really does look like Jessica tbh. Now that bitch is out of the question for the new season of AHS, Caitlyn should take over as her long-lost cousin!

[trayertrash]

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn. 

[Carcunt]

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn.  

See, pronouns are the problem with me and trans people. I mean, I'd gladly call them what they want to be called but once I'm used to calling someone a guy or using the male pronouns, it's hard for me to be all like "Oh, she did this today," you know? I'll have to keep thinking to call him a her instead. But... that's just me and eventually once more people in the limelight start changing (because this has been a large step for famous people who want to, all the support), I'll get used to it eventually and I'll start using proper pronouns.

[Cypher]

She kinda resembles Idina Menzel.

[Kevinn Edu]

Honestly, I'm proud of him becoming who he feels he is and who he really felt he should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

I believe we're officially being asked to use female pronouns now, but other than that I agree with this post!

She reminds me so much of Jessica Lange.

But I'm so happy for Caitlyn, finally expressing who she really is. I hope everything goes good for her!

She really does look like Jessica tbh. Now that bitch is out of the question for the new season of AHS, Caitlyn should take over as her long-lost cousin!

Or throw both bitches in playing twins and have them have a huge family fued with everyone trying to kill each while looking classy as fuck  :hail:

[Degenerate]

Lana Del Rey + Jessica Lange

[trayertrash]

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn. 

See, pronouns are the problem with me and trans people. I mean, I'd gladly call them what they want to be called but once I'm used to calling someone a guy or using the male pronouns, it's hard for me to be all like "Oh, she did this today," you know? I'll have to keep thinking to call him a her instead. But... that's just me and eventually once more people in the limelight start changing (because this has been a large step for famous people who want to, all the support), I'll get used to it eventually and I'll start using proper pronouns.

Pronouns are still extremely important to trans people and what's comfortable to you doesn't really matter when it comes to what they find offensive. If you can remember their name, it's not too hard to remember he/him vs she/her. Thinking before speaking and checking pronouns before posting should be a top priority when it comes to trans issues. Not trying to sound bitchy, it's just something I take extremely seriously.

[Main Pop Girl]

Honestly, I'm proud of him becoming who he feels he is and who he really felt he should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

I believe we're officially being asked to use female pronouns now, but other than that I agree with this post!

She reminds me so much of Jessica Lange.

But I'm so happy for Caitlyn, finally expressing who she really is. I hope everything goes good for her!

She really does look like Jessica tbh. Now that bitch is out of the question for the new season of AHS, Caitlyn should take over as her long-lost cousin!

Or throw both bitches in playing twins and have them have a huge family fued with everyone trying to kill each while looking classy as fuck  :hail:

YAS. With Sarah Paulson starring as a thinly veiled fictional version of Kim Kardashian.

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn. 

See, pronouns are the problem with me and trans people. I mean, I'd gladly call them what they want to be called but once I'm used to calling someone a guy or using the male pronouns, it's hard for me to be all like "Oh, she did this today," you know? I'll have to keep thinking to call him a her instead. But... that's just me and eventually once more people in the limelight start changing (because this has been a large step for famous people who want to, all the support), I'll get used to it eventually and I'll start using proper pronouns.

Pronouns are still extremely important to trans people and what's comfortable to you doesn't really matter when it comes to what they find offensive. If you can remember their name, it's not too hard to remember he/him vs she/her. Thinking before speaking and checking pronouns before posting should be a top priority when it comes to trans issues. Not trying to sound bitchy, it's just something I take extremely seriously.

I highly doubt Caitlyn is gonna give two shits about one person on the Internet accidentally using the wrong pronouns while she's living the high life in Malibu tbh. It's more of an issue if it's said in a malicious or knowing way, I don't think any rational person would be hugely offended if you're just using those pronouns as a force of habit.

[Degenerate]

Honestly, I'm proud of him becoming who he feels he is and who he really felt he should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

I believe we're officially being asked to use female pronouns now, but other than that I agree with this post!

She reminds me so much of Jessica Lange.

But I'm so happy for Caitlyn, finally expressing who she really is. I hope everything goes good for her!

She really does look like Jessica tbh. Now that bitch is out of the question for the new season of AHS, Caitlyn should take over as her long-lost cousin!

Or throw both bitches in playing twins and have them have a huge family fued with everyone trying to kill each while looking classy as fuck   :hail:

YAS. With Sarah Paulson starring as a thinly veiled fictional version of Kim Kardashian.

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn.  

See, pronouns are the problem with me and trans people. I mean, I'd gladly call them what they want to be called but once I'm used to calling someone a guy or using the male pronouns, it's hard for me to be all like "Oh, she did this today," you know? I'll have to keep thinking to call him a her instead. But... that's just me and eventually once more people in the limelight start changing (because this has been a large step for famous people who want to, all the support), I'll get used to it eventually and I'll start using proper pronouns.

Pronouns are still extremely important to trans people and what's comfortable to you doesn't really matter when it comes to what they find offensive. If you can remember their name, it's not too hard to remember he/him vs she/her. Thinking before speaking and checking pronouns before posting should be a top priority when it comes to trans issues. Not trying to sound bitchy, it's just something I take extremely seriously.

I highly doubt Caitlyn is gonna give two shits about one person on the Internet accidentally using the wrong pronouns while she's living the high life in Malibu tbh. It's more of an issue if it's said in a malicious or knowing way, I don't think any rational person would be hugely offended if you're just using those pronouns as a force of habit.

She is now crying her eyes out in her luxury abode

[Degenerate]

Honestly, I'm proud of her becoming who she feels she is and who she really felt she should've been from the beginning. This is just the start of transexuality becoming accepted and people feeling okay with it. *applauds*

It's extremely important to use pronouns correctly. Using he/him is taking away from who Caitlyn feels she is, it's like saying her identity doesn't matter to you (although, I know you didn't mean it that way)  Bruce/he/him aren't terms to use anymore when talking about Caitlyn.  

See, pronouns are the problem with me and trans people. I mean, I'd gladly call them what they want to be called but once I'm used to calling someone a guy or using the male pronouns, it's hard for me to be all like "Oh, she did this today," you know? I'll have to keep thinking to call him a her instead. But... that's just me and eventually once more people in the limelight start changing (because this has been a large step for famous people who want to, all the support), I'll get used to it eventually and I'll start using proper pronouns.

Pronouns are still extremely important to trans people and what's comfortable to you doesn't really matter when it comes to what they find offensive. If you can remember their name, it's not too hard to remember he/him vs she/her. Thinking before speaking and checking pronouns before posting should be a top priority when it comes to trans issues. Not trying to sound bitchy, it's just something I take extremely seriously.