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Transgender issue awareness requires a new understanding of gender and the binary norm

Bruce Jenner’s extraordinary interview with Diane Sawyer is a victory for the trans community, but the struggle for equality is not over yet.

Though the Jenner-Sawyer interview brought light to the transgender topic, it did not do it justice.

Alejandro Muro, program coordinator at the LGBT Resource Center at California State University, Long Beach said the interview focused on the wrong things.

“There is always that emphasis on the [physical] process, rather than the person,” Muro said.

Transgender individuals face stifling conflict with a public that doesn’t always understand who they are.

There are more than two genders, contrary to socialized ideals of binary gender.

CSULB’s LGBT Resource Center provides a helpful illustration called “The Gender Unicorn.” It demonstrates that gender identity is how individuals identify, and it leaves space for the “other.” It also differentiates gender expression as something separate from identity and sex assigned at birth.

With a greater understanding of gender complexities, the administration could tackle issues that affect the transgender community more effectively.

Gender-neutral restrooms, for instance, are not as accessible as they should be.

“We have some on campus,” Muro said. “They’re [gender-neutral restrooms] kind of in random places on campus and might be a far walk for someone to find.”

This can also be a problem if students or staff members are not aware that California State University, Long Beach has these restrooms on campus.

While it is true that the university has taken initiative in recognizing the transgender community, installing gender-neutral restrooms and allowing preferred names is only a small step.

Transgender issues are complex and sensitive, but there is a silver lining when leaders in the media show the rest of us that things are starting to get better. Andreja Pejic, the first transgender woman to be featured in Vogue, is one of these leaders.

“There are just more categories now,” Pejic said in Vogue. “It’s good. We’re finally figuring out that gender and sexuality are more complicated.”

Another person paving the way for change is Aydian Dowling, a transgender man leading the race in the Men’s Health annual “Ultimate Guy” cover star contest.

All three people — Jenner, Dowling and Pejic — are catalysts causing society to change the way it sees gender and sex and question what those terms really mean.

“I think it’s creating that space for people to talk about it,” Muro said. “People are now starting to think or at least engage with [the topic].”

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