Caitlyn Jenner Opens Up: I Isolated Myself From Transgender Community For Years

Caitlyn Jenner is opening up about her journey.

In a new article for WhoSay – the first in an original series by the former Olympian titled “The Real Me,” Caitlyn thanked supporters and admitted she has a lot of “catching up” to do when it comes to the transgender community.

“The response to my new journey has been overwhelmingly positive and I’m eternally grateful for all of your sweet messages, letters, and gifts,” she wrote. “Up until now, I have totally isolated myself from the transgender community so I have a lot of catching up to do. I feel such a responsibility to this courageous group to try to get it right and tell all sides of the story. To me, that’s always the biggest question: am I doing it right?”

The reality star, who made her public debut as Caitlyn at an NYC pride event in late June, said she has already learned “so much” about the community.

“It’s been an eye-opening experience for me—mainly realizing how fortunate I am,” she wrote. “I’ve heard every horror story there is in the book. You wouldn’t believe the types of ordeals these people have had, how they have had to literally fight for their own survival. Many trans teens are bullied and abused in high school. It’s just horrendous.

“Then there’s the other dark side of this issue: did you know that nearly 25% of the women in high-end sex business are reportedly trans women?” she continued.

Caitlyn is impressed by everything she’s learning and the strength of her new squad.

“Seeing how my new friends have overcome their adversities is such an inspiration. They are so well-adjusted and smart,” she wrote. “I’ll be sharing their stories here in the coming weeks and I can’t wait for you to get to know them. They are just like you and me.”

In addition to her article series, viewers will get an inside look at her transition in an eight-part E! docu-series titled “I Am Cait,” premiering on July 26.

— Erin O’Sullivan