I often think about how it would be if more REALLY famous people came out Transgender or gender non-conforming. I think most of us would agree that the more awareness we can spread the more visibility we create to educate the public. Whether you like and respect her or not (I have mixed feelings about her) Caitlyn Jenner has definitely spread awareness. When I came out to several members of my family many of them referenced Jenner. "Oh so kinda like Caitlyn Jenner right?" For me personally I much prefer Laverne Cox as my go-to point of reference. Regardless of what LGBTQ celebrity we admire, respect or support the fact remains that anyone famous can help to accelerate awareness to the public. Whether that is positive or negative depends on who's spreading it. So what are your thoughts? Would it be a good thing if more mega famous actors/actresses, singers, politicians or athletes came out?

I think it would raise awareness. Okay, I'll come out to the world, you convinced me. Just kidding, I'm only famous on the eastern seaboard.

This does make me think about the 'transgender paradox.' It would be great for trans people to be out, representing us with pride, winning people over, but the goal of most people is to blend in and just be considered to be like any other man/woman. In a sense, to get what we want (acceptance) we give up part of our goal (being regarded as exactly what our true gender is.) Oh, this makes my head hurt.

I guess after all of the stuff I just spewed above, I would say the best representative for trans people is each and every one of us holding our heads up, acting with class, and showing that trans folk are no better or worse than cis folk.

Yes, I do but I would prefer they be famous for good reasons. I also think the more the better to show that we are not uncommon and make strong contributions. Unfortunately, social expectations also play on how much this would shift things. For example, imagine the reactions to Steve Buscemi versus Matt Damon coming out (hypothetical cases). The image and characters they play get superimposed on to our perceptions of them as people.  I think it is safe to say one would make a bigger impact from an immediate public view than the other. It gets better if one of the people are American icons that come across as gender stereotypical so imagine Clint Eastwood...

I really liked the above scenario, then I thought....Hmmmm.... I wonder though.... Maybe it is more important we are all out? The more the better. If I am not mistaken perceptions of trans people improves when we know a trans person and have had positive interactions with a trans person.

We are siblings, co-workers, friends, name any number of careers, and do all sorts of amazing things. I have my plan in place with HR to come out at work and I was asked if I want to remain sitting in such a high traffic area. I am an introvert so I never liked the spot in the first place but I said no. I think I need to stay where I am. It is important that the organization sees me contributing. Other non-out people also will see it is ok. Am I scared? Darn right. But I will do it anyway.

Now, I have been asked to help build tools and ideas to make the process easier for trans people. We have the policy at work but what is our toolkit to make navigating action plans, id change, our benefits for ourselves and our partners easier to understand. I also remind them our community varies and doesn't end at the literal point of transition to our names and gender expression. Basically, we don't need to be famous. Although everyone needs to be safe too!

The public need to see transgender people being normal in order for them to accept that it is normal.  In an ideal world, no one would need to be stealth.  In that world, no one would have cause to fear if someone asked you if you were trans.  Obviously we are not there yet, but if we want to get to that world, we have to make being trans normal.

For many of us, it is too dangerous.  Many of our community live in circumstances where fear and hiding are justified.  I think that those of us who are in circumstances where being out is viable can help the others by influencing the public perception of us as normal.

I try to do this where I can.  If the circumstances are suitable, I will sometimes out myself just to raise awareness.  But my reach is limited.

That is where celebrities can play a role.  Their reach is broad.  While I despise the cult of celebrity, I do appreciate the effect that out trans celebrities have had on the public's perception (and, not incidentally, on my own).  The more the general public perceive transgender people as being just another part of the varied world we live in, the better.

Celebrities usually know thing or two about protecting themselves, they can afford that (at least some of them). It would be nice if they will start to be everywhere just like cis, it'll definitely will raise awareness and let people get used to the fact that we're somewhere around.
As for me, even if I'd be famous (and I don't haha) I don't feel law protecting me as human, not even as transgender, so I will probably keep low profile

It's difficult for a famous person to ever take the stealth option. Conversely, it's difficult for people on the everyday level to see the benefits of their employer having an LGBTIQ+ inclusion program if they don't see any transgender people at work.

Each of us makes our own decision whether to be out or stealth. Undeniably, the work of educating the public falls on the out people. I'm one of those out people, I gladly take on the role of teaching the masses that yes, transgender people are here. Yes, we hold down jobs and pay our taxes. Yes, we're firefighters, teachers, and lawyers. Yes, we're normal people.

I respect the people who just want to blend in. I acknowledge the people who are out, and work with them to increase awareness and acceptance for all of us.

Hugs, Devlyn