Doubling
She has represented her alma mater for sporting events, she has played and won gold for her country at the Olympics, she has embraced biological and step-children and even laid her life bare on reality TV shows. Yet Caitlyn Marie Jenner has never been a popular choice for a “spokesperson” when it comes to the trans community. In fact, many from the community try to keep themselves at a distance from her.
In an interview with Dear Media’s The Skinny Confidential Him & Her podcast,Caitlyn Jenner opens up about her position as an outcast in the trans community. Looking back on her coming out experience, Caitlyn is convinced much of her acceptance into the community, or rather her rejection by it is because of who she was before, and what she believed in now.
Host Michael Bosstick brought up the issue by asking her why her coming out experience in 2015 was met with “double standards”. He was referencing the community’s reaction to Elliot Page coming out in comparison to what happened with Jenner. Jenner had a lot of support from her family and close friends but she had to bear with a lot of flak from people within the trans community itself. The very people who seemed to be in favor of providing support to several other celebrities in transitioning, were critical of Jenner’s choices. Michael hinted that perhaps “be if you don’t fit that agenda or that kind of typecast, they’re not as forgiving with someone like yourself.”
Caitlyn responded with a slight hesitation, “I gotta be very careful with that. The trans community is probably more critical than the general public.” She however admitted that she had lived a life of privilege as a man and that makes a lot of people in the trans community believe that she cannot be their representational voice. She goes on to add, “I’ve had every privilege there is in the world. I agree with them.”
However, it is not just about being disqualified as a spokesperson. Jenner often finds herself emotionally hurting because she is unceremoniously cast out altogether as “too controversial” for comfort. The reality star reveals that all too frequently her Republican political stand hits sore with others in the LGBTQ community. Often organizations are happy to use her financial help in getting events and charities organized but they end up asking her to not physically come and attend the same fro fear of bringing in too much controversy with her.
Such attitude and treatment disappoint Cait but it also makes the 71-year-old all the more certain that she will never be left-leaning.
Despite being at the receiving end of much hurt , Cait is determined to not let herself feel defeated in her ideals. She will continue doing what she believes in as that is the only way she can hope to make a difference. “I feel like my greatest contribution that I can make is just being out there,” she said, “without trying to change the world. Just be out there, do shows.”