Zoey Tur, Inside Edition’s First Transgender Reporter, Gives Bruce Jenner Advice On His Transition

Zoey Tur recently made headlines for becoming Inside Edition’s first transgender reporter. Now, she is giving Bruce Jenner, who has also been making headlines, advice on his transition to being a woman.

Zoey Tur, who previously went by the name of Bob Tur, is famous for tracking O.J. Simpson’s police chase from a helicopter in 1994. She recently came back into the spotlight when she decided to go public with her transition from being a man to a woman.

Tur explained that she knew she was the wrong gender from the young age of six, according to People Magazine.

“It all started around age 6,” Tur explained to the magazine. “But I didn’t understand it or see anyone that felt the way that I did, so I just buried it.”

Zoey continued living her life as a man, and married a woman named Marika Gerrard, who she later divorced in 2003. Every day, her gender dysphoria, which is defined as the feeling that “your body does not reflect your true gender” by WebMD, was getting worse. It got to the point that Zoey admits that she was contemplating taking her own life.

“I was planning on suicide and I realized I had to face my fears,” Zoey admitted. “I decided I was going to give hormone replacement therapy a shot.”

May 6, 2013 was the day that changed Zoey’s life forever. It was the day that she received her first dose of the female hormone Estradiol.

“The depression completely lifted and I haven’t looked back since,” Zoey explained.

Zoey’s transition has completely changed her outlook on life and she wants to help others who are going through what she endured for years.

Bruce Jenner, the patriarch of the Kardashian/Jenner clan and former Olympic gold medalist, has been confirmed to have started his transition. While Jenner’s publicist has not commented on the current speculation, Jenner’s mother opened up to the Associated Press about her son’s choice to change his gender and how she is completely supportive of his choice.

“He said, ‘I want to be honest about my identity and I know this is coming out in the press,'” Esther Jenner explained. “He started by saying, ‘We need to have a long, serious talk.’ I am at peace with what he is and what he’s doing.”

Many transgender people, especially famous transgender people, hide their true identity for fear of the repercussions. However, Tur says that it is important to be completely open and honest.

“My advice is to be totally honest and transparent,” Tur explained when she was asked if she had any advice for Jenner. “Consider this a teaching moment to tell your own narrative. You’ve got to come out and stand up and be brave.”

What do you think about Tur’s advice? Leave your comments below.

[Image via Wikimedia Commons]