Rachel Dolezal...Keep Your Head Up Sister!

I'm must admit, I'm a little confused about all the uproar concerning Rachel Dolezal, the disgraced former president of the NAACP's Spokane, Washington chapter.  Dolezal is the white woman who says she's a black woman.  I've watched a lot of reports on television and read numerous stories (including comments) on the internet concerning this minor incident. The reactions that I've seen to the revelation of Ms. Dolezal's true ethnicity have run the gamut from anger to ridicule.  My own personal feelings would require another category--fine by me.

Bruce Jenner's Transformation A Cause For Celebration?

By now I'm sure you've seen the cover of Vanity Fair magazine which features the newly transformed Bruce Jenner.  After trickling out tidbits that he was in the process of having gender reassignment surgery, the process has been completed and he now declares himself to be a woman. He has taken the steps necessary to adequately present himself as such.  He says he's now happy, free and able to live life honestly.  I have my own thoughts about it, but since it's his life, and if he is no longer miserable, trapped and living a lie, then I can only hope that all goes well for him.

But what I find interesting about this very personal issue (yes, he's made it a very public issue) is the tenor of the numerous media reports.  I just finished watching a talk show and one of the hosts all but said that whoever is not celebrating Bruce's transition (actually she said Caitlyn's transition), is not the kind of person she wants to be around.  Huh? I thought her comments were particularly telling. It seems that many people are so preoccupied with championing the transgender issue, that they feel compelled to isolate and negate anyone that doesn't.  And when media personalities take this position, it carries a lot of weight.  Ironically, these are usually the people that say we need more diversity and inclusion.