A 1976 gold-medal-winner olympian, a former “world’s greatest athlete,” and the father of one of the most famous families…is a woman. This revelation, on national television, marks a change in the way gender issues are perceived, both nationally and locally, here in BHS. Bruce Jenner is plastered on every magazine, tabloid, and twitter timeline since he shared his lifelong secret with the world.

“For all intents and purposes, I’m a woman,” Jenner shared with Diane Sawyer of ABC news. “People look at me differently. They see you as this macho male, but my heart and my soul and everything that I do in life—it is part of me. That female side is part of me. That’s who I am.”

BHS students were quick to react. “I think it’s amazing that he’s finally becoming who he is. I just don’t understand why he waited so long,” BHS senior Katlyn Mahomar said. “I don’t know if he was just scared to admit he may have lived his life as a lie or maybe was just too scared of judgement due to his overwhelming fame…but I’m happy for him. He’s now a role model for many struggling with the same issue he had his whole life.”

Since the age of about eight or nine, Bruce felt like he wanted to try something new. He admitted to going into his mother’s closet when no one was around and trying on her dresses. Young Bruce was precise about this, and would mark the spot that everything was taken from, so he could put it back exactly the way it was, to avoid speculation. His only explanation for doing this was that it, “made [him] feel good.”

“Good for him,” BHS Student Katie Meaney proclaimed. “Good for him to be able to finally be himself after 65 years of being uncomfortable with himself, his lifestyle, and his heart. I may not be a big Kardashian fan, but I support happiness and I’m overjoyed to see that Bruce finally is.”

Ever since Jenner came to international attention when he won the gold medal in the decathlon at the 1976 Summer Olympics, people have thought of him as some “macho male,” but he sees himself as the exact opposite. For 65 years, he has been living as someone he’s not, and now is better than ever to come out of his shell.

Click here to see some of The Bruce Jenner Interview with ABC and Diane Sawyer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaqLG3myKUk

DID YOU KNOW:

Bruce was born in NEW YORK! ( 1949 in Mt. Kisco, NY )