Jessica Lange Calls Caitlyn Jenner Comparisons "So Wonderful"

When Caitlyn Jenner's Vanity Fair cover story broke the Internet yesterday, Jessica Lange was promptly informed by The Daily Beast that she and Jenner's strong resemblance was a trending topic on Twitter. First, the actress had to be told what a "trending topic" was, because she's 66, has two Oscars, and no time for your "internet."

Then, once informed of what that meant, and when she heard that Caitlyn was serving face buffet and ringing the dinner bell on the cover, Lange responded, "Oh really? That's so wonderful. Well now I'm going to have to look for that picture."

Jenner's VF cover has elicited a number of overwhelming responses, many of them positive -- she broke President Obama's follow record after joining Twitter -- but nobody was as eloquent (and plain awesome) as Laverne Cox, who has her fair share of experience with groundbreaking magazine covers.

Related | The Trans Revolution

Cox wrote on her Tumblr:

Many have commented on how gorgeous Caitlyn looks in her photos, how she is "slaying for the Gods." I must echo these comments in the vernacular, "Yasss Gawd! Werk Caitlyn! Get it!" But this has made me reflect critically on my own desires to 'work a photo shoot', to serve up various forms of glamour, power, sexiness, body affirming, racially empowering images of the various sides of my black, trans womanhood. I love working a photo shoot and creating inspiring images for my fans, for the world and above all for myself. But I also hope that it is my talent, my intelligence, my heart and spirit that most captivate, inspire, move and encourage folks to think more critically about the world around them. Yes, Caitlyn looks amazing and is beautiful but what I think is most beautiful about her is her heart and soul, the ways she has allowed the world into her vulnerabilities. The love and devotion she has for her family and that they have for her. Her courage to move past denial into her truth so publicly. These things are beyond beautiful to me.

[....]

I hope, as I know Caitlyn does, that the love she is receiving can translate into changing hearts and minds about who all trans people are as well as shifting public policies to fully support the lives and well being of all of us. The struggle continues...

If you need something to give you life today, I highly suggest reading the entire post. Cox speaks to the importance of visibility and power she and Caitlyn Jenner, and other out and open trans people, have. Yes, Caitlyn Jenner is turning it more than Wonder Woman on a carousel, but judging from the not-so positive comments streaming through the web, a lot of people still need to learn what it means to be transgender, and the unique physical, mental, and environmental problems trans people face.

So while we should definitely celebrate Caitlyn Jenner's beauty, it's more important to focus on the person behind the looks, and what it took for her to get here. Only then can we urge others to understand and accept the bravery of the journey.

Les Fabian Brathwaite -- slaying for the Gods, historically.