Exactly 9 years ago, show business was shaken by a cover that had become iconic: that of Caitlyn Jenner, revealing her trans identity in “Vanity Fair”. Since then, many trans personalities have also been able to benefit from the media spotlight.
Go back in time with this celebrity archive, dated June 1, 2015, so already 9 years ago. At the time, the magazine Vanity Fair reveals on the front page a photoshoot of Caitlyn Jenner, who then presents herself to the world as a transgender woman. Previously, the sports world knew her for her exploits in the decathlon under her previous identity, the one assigned to her at birth, that of Bruce Jenner. His approach notably made it possible to highlight a social subject still unknown to the general public, that of transidentity.
A gender transition revealed to the world
Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world in Vanity Fair by treating yourself to the luxury of being photographed by the legendary Annie Leibovitz. The one whose former daughter-in-law is the reality TV star, Kim Kardashian, then told the magazine in an interview from her home in Malibu, California: “I didn’t do this to be interesting. I do this for a living. Call me Caitlyn.”
The former sports star, Olympic medalist in 1976 in Montreal, immediately took to social networks to comment on her gender transition: “I am very happy to live for myself after this long period of struggle. Welcome to the world, Caitlyn. I can’t wait for you to get to know her/me.”
For the Kardashian/Jenner clan, this gender transition was not necessarily easy to accept but, overall, everyone was kind towards Caitlyn. “Be happy, be proud, live your life your way“, Kim Kardashian reacted. “Be free now, pretty bird“, had outbid Kendall Jenner.
A few months later, after having completed administrative procedures and having been registered in the American civil registry as a woman, she then turned herself in to out. “That’s it, we’re there. And honestly, I didn’t think this day would come (….) Bruce was a good guy, he did a lot of good things, he raised a great family and wonderful children. But I couldn’t continue playing the game. (…) I cried a little. I was on the golf course, alone. It was wonderful, but also confusing“, she said then.
Show business is getting up to date: these trans stars in the spotlight
Since coming out Caitlyn Jenner’s trans, many other show business personalities have spoken out to publicly define themselves as transgender. This was, for example, the case of Elliot Page (X-Men, Umbrella Academy…) in 2020 or Tommy Dorfman (13 Reasons why) in 2021.
Transgender people are more and more in the light. During the last edition of the Cannes Film Festival, the Best Actress Prize was awarded to several actresses, including Karla Sofía Gascon. This award marks a turning point: she is the first trans actress to have won an award at this event. Like his character in the movie Emilia PerezKarla Sofía Gascon knew she was a woman from childhood.
But the actress only made her transition at the age of 46. She also had a daughter before her transformation, who is now 13 years old. When presenting her prize, she dedicates it to “all trans people who suffer so much”. “We all have the opportunity to change for the better, to become better people. If you’ve made us suffer, it’s time for you to change too.” However, some politicians like Marion Maréchal Le Pen (Reconquête), did not fail to comment on this award on social networks: “It is therefore a man who receives the prize for… female interpretation at Cannes.” Since then, the actress has filed a complaint against the far-right politician!
