The reality TV star Caitlyn Jenner has offered to serve as America’s “trans ambassador” if Ted Cruz wins the presidency – leading many in the LGBT community to express horror at the prospect.
“I like Ted Cruz,” Jenner said, in an interview with the Advocate.
“I think he’s very conservative and a great constitutionalist and a very articulate man. I haven’t endorsed him or anything like that. But I also think: he’s an evangelical Christian, and probably one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues.”
Last year, the Texas senator called the federal government’s support for gender-neutral bathrooms for trans students “lunacy”.
Jenner, of Keeping Up With the Kardashians fame and one of the most visible transgender women in the world, has often been criticized for her own lack of understanding of trans issues.
Thanks to her money, fame and years of privilege as a successful white male athlete, her experience does not mirror that of most trans people.
However, Jenner offered to be a “trans ambassador” for Cruz, with all the girls from her show I Am Cait – the second season of which begins on Sunday – sitting on a trans issues advisory board.
“Yes, trans ambassador to the president of the United States, so we can say: ‘Ted, love what you’re doing, but here’s what’s going on,’” Jenner said.
Jenner acknowledged that most trans people are Democrats, but said she was a proud Republican.
Caitlyn Jenner can't be a Trans ambassador to anyone...as she doesn't represent the Trans community very well at all.
— Uncle Zac (@unclezacbrewer) March 4, 2016
“Number one,” she said, “if we don’t have a country, we don’t have trans issues. We need jobs. We need a vibrant economy. I want every trans person to have a job,” she said.
Trans activist Cherno Biko told the Guardian Jenner’s political comments were “dangerous”, after last year saw the highest rates of murder of trans and non-gender conforming people on record.
“We simply cannot afford to have Caitlyn Jenner supporting people who hate us,” said Biko, 24, co-chair of the Young Women’s Advisory Council for the city of New York. “And if she continues down this road, she will have blood on her hands.
“Her being a Republican. Her not supporting marriage equality. Being negative about people needing income support. You can’t do all of that and them claim to be an ambassador for a community that you can’t represent.”
Biko suggested how Jenner’s help was in fact most needed.
“We don’t need your help in the way that you’re doing it now,” she said. “We need your money.”
