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Transgender Social Worker Weighs in on Caitlyn Jenner debut

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Caitlyn Jenner on the cover of Vanity Fair

The Olympic gold medal decathlon winner formerly known as Bruce Jenner on Monday unveiled her new identity as transgender woman Caitlyn Jenner in a Vanity Fair magazine cover shot and photo spread.

Jenner’s transition has been documented in the news and comes as the media is paying more attention to people who are transgender, including Orange is the New Black actress and activist Laverne Cox, activist Janet Mock, and Army Sgt. Shane Ortega.

Could the media’s attention change public perceptions toward people who are transgender, who continue to suffer from discrimination and violence and according to a National Association of Social Workers-backed study are more likely to live in poverty?

Social Workers Speak spoke with Eli Strong, MSW, who is transgender, to weigh in.

Eli Strong

Eli Strong

Eli Strong, MSW

Seeing representations of trans people in the media can be of some help to having the trans experience more visible, but it didn’t stop the murders of nine trans women this year (eight trans women of color) or the eight or more suicides of trans youth this year.

We are in the middle of an epidemic of trans violence and death and something more has to be done. I LOVE Janet Mock, Laverne Cox and other outspoken trans activists, but right now we need more than just those people.

We need legislation that guarantees employment protections, health insurance and hate crimes protection…but even that isn’t enough. Legislation alone can’t save us.

We need cis (cisgender or non-transgender people) people to stop killing trans people. We need cis people to stop bullying trans people into committing suicide. We need to join trans and cis people together, black, brown and white people together, men and women together, to break down the systems of oppression that serves and uplifts the status quo and further oppresses, marginalizes and murders those that don’t fit within it.


Eli Strong is a speaker, writer, activist, and host of The Strong Stance on the Back2Us Radio Network. He was featured in the 2012 National Geographic documentary American Transgender, which followed the daily lives of three trans people. Strong is the former facilitator for the DC Area Transmasculine Society and is a member of the Community Advisory Board for America In Transition.

The National Association of Social Workers is committed to equal treatment for all, including members of the LGBT community. To learn more, visit NASW’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion website.

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5 Comments

  1. Transgender- An offensive and inaccurate umbrella term synonymous with outdated transvestite thinking promoted by LGBT activist that supposedly includes all gender non-conforming people from crossdressers- transsexuals. Because of its grouping nature and exclusive association with the gay community its use and promotion should be viewed as being sex discriminatory and as of supporting illegal human experimentation.

  2. Thanks for your comment. Could you please suggest the terminology that should be used?

    Greg Wright
    NASW Public Relations Manager

  3. I’m grateful for the publicity given to Catlin Jenner, just very sorry for the many on the sexual continuum who cannot afford the wonderful doctors, make up artists and assistants that Vantiy Fair and Catlin have access to.

    It would be wonderful if Vanity Fair or another major fashion magazine chose the contiuum of sexual identities, gave their models a photo shoot, dressing them as they love to present themselves with sensitive costumers and photo makeup, This presentation to the public would be, as far as I am concerned, exiting and educational. Bios of the individuals would give an article credibility and personality. How educational would that be for the general public..

    So, let’s hope Catlin and Vantiy Fair are just the beginning.

  4. Greg Wright Unlike LGBT language the Americans With Disabilities Act uses Homosexual, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Transvestite without lumping them together into a singular acronym and clearly states none are handicapped. LGBT research undermines that because it has been tailored towards the most dysfunctional and LGBT activist. Transgender research is a joke its like saying every TV and TS and all other groups lumped under it are the same thing or face the same oppression. If anything “Transgender” represents its own form of conversion therapy and sex discrimination because of its “Umbrella term” status and association with the “gay community.” Its really shameful stuff that a professional organization would have ever adopted its usage especially how shoddy the research behind its use has been!!!!!

  5. Lisa, thanks so much for taking the time to explain your position. Greg Wright

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