Caitlyn Jenner publicity could begin shift on transgender issues, KU expert says

LAWRENCE — Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Olympic gold medalist Bruce Jenner, revealed her new identity Monday on the cover of Vanity Fair.

A University of Kansas expert who studies politics and policy surrounding transgender rights said Jenner's public transformation could be significant for the transgender movement because members of the public are already familiar with Jenner's life as an athlete and reality television star.

Don Haider-Markel, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science, is available to discuss how Jenner's new identity could influence the transgender movement in the United States. Haider-Markel is co-editor of the book "Transgender Rights and Politics: Groups, Issue Framing & Policy Adoption," which was featured on C-SPAN's BOOK-TV last month.

"This makes people feel like they know a transgender person — a feeling typically associated with more positive attitudes towards the group. I don't expect a change in attitudes overnight, or a related change in policy in the short term, but this is how the big shift started in the 1990s on gay and lesbian issues — with positive representations of gay people in the media," Haider-Markel said. "Another similar moment was when Magic Johnson revealed that he contracted HIV; it was the start of a shift in attitudes on HIV/AIDS."

To schedule an interview with Haider-Markel, contact George Diepenbrock at gdiepenbrock@ku.edu or 785-864-8853.