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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... $60K grant aids oak restoration, bird habitat ... Stouts fire at 15,100 acres, 5 percent contained ... Signups for fall OLLI classes accepted through Friday ... COMMENTARY Jeffrey Gillespie: Transitioning to better days Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Jun 8, 2015 at 9:43 AM Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Jun 8, 2015 at 9:43 AM » Social News Two articles a year apart suggest one of the greatest civil rights events in the history of the United States is taking place. Caitlyn Jenner, who, prior to her transition to female, was a male Olympic athlete, just appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine. A year ago this month, the cover story of Time magazine featured Laverne Cox, a transgender woman and prominent television star. These two women gave voice to the one and a half million Americans who identify as transgender, and to the many more who do not yet have a voice because of the dangers and prejudices inherent in their speaking out. In the same week that President Obama was throwing his support behind Jenner, Tweeting that it "takes courage to share your story," a transgender woman was pushed onto the train tracks in Manhattan, the victim of an apparent hate crime. While GLAAD and similar organizations are heralding the cover story as a huge step forward for transgender rights, other mainstream media outlets were dealing with the news by evaluating Jenner based on her looks, presentation and poise; in effect, working out their own prejudices by trivializing and objectifying her. In a correlating story, presidential candidate Mike Huckabee cracked a joke about "wishing he could have pretended he was transgender in high school" so that he could have showered with the girls. Admittedly, this crack was made some time before the Jenner feature was released, and gained traction only after the fact — but it did throw into sharp relief the difference in mindset between those who "get it" and those who don't. The conservative right has gone into its usual craven froth. The left is vocally, even hysterically, supportive. On a very basic level, both groups are missing the deeper point. If Jenner can stand up and speak out, then we have a responsibility, and it's not to rush toward traditional divisions along party or religious lines. In fact, to suggest that there is anything controversial going on is to miss the point. This moment is not about titillation or projection, it's about evolution. I'm not naive enough to think that Ms. Jenner won't be marginalized, spun, commoditized, threatened, propositioned, used and abused in every possible way. But the people who will be doing that kind of exploitation are living in an old paradigm — one where aspects such as gender, race, religion and cultural background still matter. I believe in a better world. If people could escape their old habits and presumptions, there is only one word that matters when relating to one another in 2015 America: personhood. The ability of one person to approach another person as a fellow human being, without an initial assumption based upon old ideas that have been spoon-fed to us by parents, the media or societal structures long rendered obsolete. At this point in history, there is a chance that if we all take a moment to look at what Jenner really represents, we will see that she is simply a strong, transparent, dynamic person — not "the sports star formerly known as Bruce," not another pretty face to be used, not a novelty to be either championed or explained away depending on your worldview. Just a person, with the same rights, freedoms, flaws and abilities as any one of our 320 million fellow citizens. The greatest thing we can do for ourselves as a species these days is to simply engage one another without prejudice. With race and gender issues perennially front and center, the burning down of this most recent closeted issue provides us with an opportunity for a simple, human moment wherein there is no "big story". From there, and with a little luck, we may reach a day when the only thing that is viewed as abhorrent or unnatural in our culture is a continuing capacity for prejudice. The words and actions taken by Caitlyn Jenner this past week have brought us closer to that possible reality. Jeffrey Gillespie's writing has appeared in the Santa Fean and Art Collector magazines, the Portland Mercury and Willamette Week. He lives in Ashland. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Jun. 5, 2015 at 2:00 AM Updated Jun 8, 2015 at 9:43 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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