The world is changing every day and there is evidence of this everywhere in the world. People show progress in overcoming corrosive ideas that have done tremendous damage in the past and this shows true promise for a more united more tolerant world to come. As an example of such a progress, Smith College will welcome transgender students starting next fall.
Iconic women’s university, Smith, is pioneering the extension of the concept of “woman” by changing its policy that previously did not allow transgender students to attend their courses. This is proof that there is hope for this yet poorly understood part of the LGBT community.
Numerous campaigns have been conducted to raise awareness towards the gay and bisexual community. Gay characters in films and TV series are now far from being rarities, because people have gotten used to them and have come to consider them part of their own community. Transgenders however, are not at that point just yet.
While the same method is being employed towards getting people to worm up to the idea of transgenders being a part of normality, there is still a lot of work ahead of this cause before it reaches its goals. Films like 2005’s “Transamerica” and TV-series like 2014’s “Transparent” have showed great success among both critics and audiences alike, paving the way to better integrating these people in the community and putting an end to the discrimination that they face daily.
Recently, famous Olympian Bruce Jenner has made it public that he is a transgender and that he is on his way to becoming a she. Despite the fact that this came as a shock to the audience, people have proven to be supportive of his decision and moreover, they are following Jenner in every step of his transformation.
This is actually a very effective symbol for the transgender community, because, again, it gets people acquainted to the challenges that these people must overcome in order to be at peace with themselves.
And now, alongside Bruce Jenner’s journey, transgenders are gaining ground by being considered as true women by Smith College, an icon of women’s identity. “The board’s decision affirms Smith’s unwavering mission and identity as a women’s college, our commitment to representing the diversity of women’s lived experiences, and the college’s exceptional role in the advancement of women worldwide”, was included in a statement made by Smith College.
“In the years since Smith’s founding, concepts of female identity have evolved. Smith alumnae have been leaders in the movement to afford women greater freedoms of aspiration and self-expression.”, was also pointed out in the statement, thus making Smith an official hero of transgenders everywhere.
The fact that Smith College will welcome transgender students is a very important step for the LGBT community and an enormous strike against the worldwide discrimination of this minority. Hopefully, other women’s institutions will follow their example and contribute to the mission of making transgenders a common sight in the eyes of the world.
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