"I Am Cait"

[MWK89]

I'll admit, I was a little skeptical about this series (mainly due to the Kardashian connection), but I really enjoyed the premiere. Thought it hit a lot of points with Caitlyn's mother coming to terms. Also thought it was important that it showed Caitlyn really caring and reaching out to those effected by suicide

[Carolyn Marie]

It was about as I expected. It was nice. She said all the right things (that someone wrote for her). It was a bit surreal watching a super rich trans woman. Typical reality show.

Carolyn Marie

[Guest LesleyAnne]

I too was skeptical, but since seeing it last night I was also happy to see some key points brought forward, and no matter who wrote the lines I was pleased to see it brought to publics attention. Of course only those that give sh*p would have been tuned in, and probably a few curiosity seekers.

I also watched 'I Am Jazz' which both tore at my heart, and at the same time put me in awe of a young girl with tremendous strength and maturity beyond her years.

I now have both shows on record, you just never know, it may accomplish a little tolerance from those that are willing to have an open mind.

[JJ]

I was only able to catch a few minutes but what I saw seemed especially important .Trans people of color suffer by far the highest rates of violence and rejection so it is especially significant when Kanye West not only accepts but praises Caitlyn. It can have a very real impact where it's needed most.

I think there is a fascination with trans people right now and this will be watched by lots of people. It could have been a train wreck and made our lives harder or a real blessing. Sounds like it's tending toward the latter. Even those who are just tuning in to stare at a transwoman who has been such a famous athlete are getting an education in what we feel and face. For many that may never have happened in any other way .

Johnny

[Guest LesleyAnne]

Well put Johnny!

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I just finished watching the first episode of "I Am Cait" and it was really moving. I cried a few times. I think my mother needs to see this episode, especially the part with Caitlyn's mom because I think she'll be able to relate and it might be good for her to see another mother who is dealing with this and maybe have someone she can relate to. I don't know how the rest of the series will be, but I felt the very first episode was very powerful and moving.

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

I sat down with my mother to watch this episode and when we got to the part with her mom, she asked to watch it by herself, so I stepped away.

[Guest DesiB]

I've only seen clips of the show, since I don't have the E! Network in my satellite subscription. But I never liked the long drawn out public outing while still being known as "Bruce" and going by male pronouns.

Now where I hear about "I Am Cait" is on social media like Facebook where magazine pages I follow, such as "Women's Health" or "In Style" and others (which are not GLBT related), keep posting about it. Sadly, the responses from the general public have been 99.9% negative and downright hateful!

Jenner is still referred to as "Bruce" and by male pronouns. The earlier confession about hesitation to get "the surgery" has assured everyone that "he" is keeping his male sex organ and will never be anything but a "man in drag." People have hardened their views against the entire concept of transition even being possible, based on elementary level understanding of biology and genetics.

I have been able to watch the "I Am Jazz" series on TLC and I think that has been very well done! But I do not see any references to that outside of GLBT social media, unfortunately. I would much rather see that story getting the attention Jenner and the Kardashians are getting.

Even the 'help' Jenner is receiving from 'experts' in the community has already led her to misspeak at the ESPYs because she was so focused on 'trans women of color' that she misidentified Mercedes Williams as one.

People love to knock down the straw man (or woman). So I think they've found her. I know Jenner said she can take it. But I'm not sure she is aware of the damage being done to others in the mean time, despite her best intentions.

[Carolyn Marie]

I watched episode two today. At the risk of offending some folks, I'm getting more and more disappointed in the show and in Jenner. This seems like such a game to her, an excuse to have fun and have "girls nights" and party as only someone with unlimited money can party. The serious stuff seems like something she has to endure, rather than any kind of "calling." She does seem to have accepted the mantle of "spokesperson."

The community members she invited to her house all seem in awe.. They said some good things, but the most important and pointed comments they made were made to the camera, in asides, and not to Jenner. So there is no way of knowing how Jenner reacted to them, or if she reacted to them.

Watching her hit golf testicles from a rented balcony into a forest (yes, she can afford to waste golf testicles), it made her seem completely disconnected from reality. The show is going to have to have a different tone in the future for me to start caring much.

Carolyn Marie

[Cyndee]

I watched episode 2 yesterday afternoon.

"Priviledged class" is how it was described. With Jenny Boylan and other high profile activist types on the show, they called her out on it, which is good, I am glad they brought it up. How far will they take the "priviledged class" theme on the show and in later episodes ?

The "let's go in the hot tub" sequence was interesting, a bit of honesty about pre-op embarrassment, or simply over played after all this is "reality" TV ?

On the surface, It does illustrate however, that there are people that worked hard in life, there are people that suppressed their GD and worked hard in life and some even became very successful.

She came late to the transition party, that's all, her situation is unique. A "one of".

For the 20 or 30 something that is struggling to find work, facing discrimination, and all of the ills of society, is anything gonna change ? Will seeing such opulence on TV trigger yet more "class wars" and resentment toward older transitioners ?

[Cyndee]

I just finished watching the first episode of "I Am Cait" and it was really moving. I cried a few times.

I finally caught up to the 1st episode yesterday. I also cried during the Mom sequence.

[Guest]

My sister is a fan of reality tv (I loath the stuff) and had me finally sit and watch all the episodes. I'm loving the show so far. She's doing her best, she's reaching out, she's actively trying to understand everything. She can't help it that she's rich and famous. I commend her all the most same. Must be stressful in it's own way. Everyone has their eye on her. Watching, JUDGING, seemingly waiting for her to mess up in the slightest just so they can tear her apart, and just kinda.... writing her off because she's rich and famous. I hate seeing people question her motives so heavily. Her intentions constantly in question by people who should be on her side- people who I'm sure can relate to her some if they only stopped judging so harshly. I know I related to a number of things she said. She's a part of a high profile family who was ALREADY a reality show for many years now. Of course it's natural that Caitlin would be given magazine covers and tv shows. Cut her some slack. She understands she's being shoved into that "spokesperson" slot and is ACTIVELY trying to live up to EVERYONE'S standards while still starting her new life. Talk about pressure, right? I can tell she's really trying. And I love that. Also, it's just amazing to see positive trans* stuff on tv. ^^

PS: Um, she had me laughing out loud a few times. Definitely worth watching, if just for that!

[MWK89]

Granted its reality tv (and some things are edited to look a certain way), but last week Jen Richards was live-tweeting, and her consensus seemed to be that for the most part it was depicted fairly accurately

[Guest DesiB]

Finally I was able to find and watch the first three complete episodes of "I Am Cait" online, and I have to say it was better than expected.

I'm still sad about the public responses I've seen on social media and I can see how this is really only going to be of interest to a niche audience and the rest will become further annoyed if they keep seeing it pop up out of context in places where they don't care to see it. But I'm glad it's available for those who choose to watch.

I still think it was a terrible mistake to have done the Diane Sawyer interview as Bruce and declaring 'himself' a woman while still going by male pronouns. But the damage is already done and that is all most of the public will ever see.

For those of us who do care to actually watch the rest, all the familiar issues are there, regardless of how differently each may be handled. And it is interesting if you're a people watcher. I see Cait trying to temper the alpha instincts to be in charge even when she doesn't really know exactly what she's doing. Then there's a bit of a clash with Jenny Boylin who also seems to have a lot of alpha nature too and can be a bit condescending at times.

I did not like the way Cait treated her friend who was supposed to have just been going along on the trip for a vacation, then got treated as if she were a traveling servant. Jenny Boylan, being the only one of the group who remained married to her hetero wife (making hers one of the least disruptive transitions of the bunch), was good about trying to reassure Cait's friend about what was going on.

I really think Cait learned a lot more from all the others in the group and those she met on their road trip as well. We also need to remember that this was all filmed just weeks after her transition and even before she spoke at the ESPYs.

Overall, watching it reminds me of the discomforts of transition itself. But I still prefer watching "I Am Jazz" and think that show is better for general public education.

[Cyndee]

Also caught episode 3 last night with some friends.

I see her show at least attempting a "social conscience", which is "feel good". She wants to reach out.

My friends and I agreed after last night that this show's audience will shrink, and asked ourselves how will they (producers) sustain interest.

Her new friends have all left now to go back to live their own lives, pretty soon all the hoopla dies down, and her real life sets in, anything but routine at this point, then what ?

She touches on such topics as "dating men" and even leaving the door open for SRS after joining her friends in the pool.

C -

[Guest Lizzie McTrucker]

My mom made a comment to me about how in one of the episodes they talk about Cait being a "Transzilla". Mom said I went through the same phase when I first transitioned. Did anyone happen to catch that? Apparently it's a phase many of us go through where we are so focused on ourselves and our transition that we forget about the people around us.

[Guest DesiB]

Yes, that was when Cait was not so nice to her friend of the past two years--the one who had taken her to all her surgeries and helped her with shopping for clothes, makeup, etc. and then went on the road trip for a vacation and ended up doing all the work and getting ignored. They said it was just like a 'bridezilla' being so obsessed with her wedding that she was not nice to her friends and family, only Cait was so obsessed with her transition that she became a 'transzilla.' The upside is that it ought to be a passing phase. And by the end of the episode she did decide to go to a movie with only her one friend just like they used to do.