If I had to define Caitlyn Jenner with just one word in the English language, without hesitation, I’d choose the word “Irksome.” This is not a new summation; it started with her vapid, orchestrated coming-out debut on the cover of Vanity Fair, introducing herself as the former Bruce Jenner, to be known going forward as Caitlyn.
I get it, she’s high-profile, and of course, it was an important story that one of the greatest male Olympians of all time had transitioned to becoming a transgender female. So, yes, that arguably warranted the cover story in Vanity Fair. However, after that point, Caitlyn Jenner seems to have done nothing but misstep her way through her female identity –starting with her admission of being a Trump voter.
Now on the heels of a rather comical rollout of her campaign to challenge Gavin Newsom for the governorship of California, Caitlyn has stepped in it again—this time making transphobic comments about trans athletes in women’s sports.
Speaking to TMZ on Saturday the failed reality show star revealed she’s no fan of allowing trans female athletes to compete against biological girls in sports. It’s a hot-button issue right now in politics, and Caitlyn made it known once again she may have transitioned her body, but her mind remains that of a white, right-winged Republican male.
As TMZ reports, Caitlyn flatly stated she does not support trans girls born as boys participating in all-female school sports because it’s an issue of “fairness and protecting the integrity of girls’ sports.”
Caitlyn is not the first and will not be the last person to debate trans athletes in women’s sports. Still, this position is particularly troublesome for her though because it’s yet another example of her perspectives being entirely antithetical to the plight of the LGBTQ.
Just add this to her list of peculiar positions for a trans woman, like the time on her now-cancelled show, I Am Cait, when she proclaimed her support for both Ted Cruz and Donald Trump as her top picks for the 2020 presidential race. Then, in that same episode, she said that Donald Trump would be a terrific president for supporting women’s issues while calling Hillary Clinton a political hack. Caitlyn went on to say, “If Hillary becomes president, the country is over.” Girl, seriously?
Even reported ex-girlfriend, transgender actress and model Candis Cayne, gagged at Caitlyn’s pro-Trump comments in the episode. And LGBTQ activists all across America were quick to inform Caitlyn that while on the campaign trail Donald Trump had been threatening to implement discriminatory actions against the LGBTQ, including banning trans soldiers. As for Trump being supportive of women, Caitlyn was reminded that Trump had 26 rape allegations against him and he refused to submit a DNA sample to clear his name in the rape allegation made by E. Jean Carroll.
In what oblivious world is someone like Trump “good for women,” be they trans or cisgender? In Caitlyn’s world, I suppose, which still seems to be heavily shaped and guided by right-winged conservatism, one of the most unwelcoming demographics for anyone in a marginalized group.
Caitlyn’s own run for political office against Newsom in California appears to be DOA. Within 24 hours of the announcement of her running, trans rights leaders across the nation, once again responded far from favorably.
The campaign launch was pulseless with a barrage of cheap branded “Caitlyn For California” merchandise like keychains, mugs, and T-shirts, accompanied by a campaign photo of her driving around Southern California in a convertible with her dog in the passenger seat. In that photo Caitlyn’s pinched nose snarl looks like she’d just realized the dog farted. 
However, beyond the camp, an even bigger faux pas immediately drove a nail through the Caitlyn campaign’s coffin —members of her entire staff were hand-picked, former Trump campaign appointees. So, in essence, Caitlyn has proven herself to be no more than a reality TV star with no experience in political office, drenched in the ideology of Donald Trump. No thanks sis, we’ve already seen how that turns out.
According to NBC, the backlash against Caitlyn’s bid to become governor is significant and echoed by notable names in media. Even close friend Jennifer Finney Boylan, a transgender writer and professor at Barnard College, rejects Caitlyn’s politics, stating,
“I wish her well personally,” Boylan said via email. “But I can’t see how the conservative policies she is likely to embrace will help Californians.”
Wyatt Ronan of the national LGBTQ-rights organization – Human Rights Campaign (HRC), stated Jenner “is not the leader California needs.” Ronan makes it clear that it is immensely problematic for Caitlyn to align her campaign with Trump,
“Her support of Donald Trump, the most virulent and vocal anti-LGBTQ president in American history, and her decision to hire Trump’s inner circle for her campaign are just two examples of why,” he said.
And perhaps the shadiest but most accurate assessment of Caityln’s abysmal gubernatorial campaign comes from David Badash, editor of the LGBTQ-opinion site the New Civil Rights Movement.
In assessing Caitlyn’s campaign website, Badash simply points out there is no there, there. The site offers “no policy positions, and offered two options to those visiting the site: “Shop” and “Donate.”
Yes, I’m inclined to agree with Badash. I think the job of governing over the third largest state in the country will require a little more substance than “Shop & Donate” —especially when it’s unclear for what people would be actually donating.
I don’t even live in California but if I did, Caitlyn Jenner for governor — That’s a no for me.
Read more about this story at TMZ and NBC
This post is an opinion piece by one Contributing Writer for Instinct Magazine and may not reflect the opinion of the magazine or other Contributing Writers.
Being a gay male who thinks for myself and not in step with everything the gay community thinks I should, I find it laughable and hypocritical that because I am gay, I should be a democrat or accept and agree with everything the gay community thinks should be accepted, like biological boys playing girls sports. To think this is ok, is beyond ridiculous.
It is amazing how we can be so anti-conservative, and whorishly repeat the democrats speaking points for them. There is not “one” gay view, and the vehemence with which opposing views are trashed is surely a sign of something other than the love of free- speech, or the desire to allow all aspects of our little community to have their say. It’s almost as bad as how they say rich old white men control everything, apparently rich old liberal white men control everything.
Get back to your alternate universe, thanks.
It’s amazing how Conservatives are free to use terms like Whore, Bastard, Son of a Bitch, Garbage, Ugly, (in various permutations) and create Cancel Culture while if Liberals call into question the legality of a person’s policies and actions or just to use the Cancel Culture that the Conservatives created we are vilified called “sub-human” and far worse. It’s also amazing how many Conservatives in the LGBTQIA in the rainbow don’t realize they are pretty much despised by the foundation of the Conservative Leadership along with the rank and file on the right. Most of the “apparently rich old white men” in the LGBTQIA group belong to your ilk. You know, loathers in loafers.
Kinda like the liberals are free to use terms like racist,racist,racist to create cancel culture towards anyone who doesnt agree with them! And dems talk a good game towards our community too, yet seem to usually fail in accomplishing much for our movement.
This IGNORANT trump whore needs to shut up. She learned NOTHING
I will not deny Caitlin is transsexual. But I will deny her a part of my LGBTQ community. I respected Bruce man. But Caitlin woman is a B___h!
This piece of shit just needs to go away. It’s bad enough that the Kartrashians are allowed to be oxygen thieves but this guy has serious issues. He is one of Trump’s little nazi guards in a dress and an embarrassment to both men and women. Sorry, but my opinion and from what I am reading many others same opinions.