Jenner backlash for Cruz support
Will Caitlyn Jenner become a trans ambassador to the White House?
That’s what she’s pitching, should Ted Cruz become president.
“I like Ted Cruz,” Jenner, a lifelong Republican, told The Advocate last week.
Here’s why: “I think he’s very conservative, and a great constitutionalist, and a very articulate man,” she said. “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.”
Jenner’s comments began making headlines soon after the article was published.
Mr Cruz has staunchly protested against trans-friendly gender-open bathrooms (calling them “lunacy”), called marriage equality “fundamentally illegitimate, lawless and unconstitutional” and opposes the military’s moves to include transgender soldiers.
“We shouldn’t view the military as a cauldron for social experiments,” the presidential candidate said in October.
The 66-year-old Olympic gold medallist turned television personality, who met Mr Cruz before her transition, seemed aware her political beliefs would stir the pot.
“I get it. The Democrats are better when it comes to these types of social issues. I understand that,” she said, but countered, “Number one, 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. With $19 trillion [670 trillion baht] in debt and it keeps going up, we’re spending money we don’t have. Eventually, it’s going to end. And I don’t want to see that. Socialism did not build this country. Capitalism did. Free enterprise. The people built it. And they need to be given the opportunity to build it back up.”
Should Mr Cruz win, Jenner, who recently tweeted a photo of her updated country club locker with a new nameplate (adding the hashtag #acceptance) suggested she become “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’s comments found pushback online. ThinkProgress.org called the reality star’s remarks tone-deaf. “The economy isn’t what’s keeping transgender people from finding employment — it’s anti-transgender discrimination,” wrote LGBT editor Zack Ford.
The muted reaction to Jenner’s support for Mr Cruz appeared to show the high level of esteem she enjoys in the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. But that did not stop some of its members speaking out.
“Doing my best to not send tweets to a woman I respect for her courage, but dang it, @Caitlyn_Jenner you’re killing me with Cruz support!” Chely Wright, the first country music star to come out as gay, wrote in a post on Twitter.
Some in the LGBT community took a more pointed stand, citing Mr Cruz’s opposition to same-sex marriage and his criticism of government efforts to allow students to use a bathroom that conforms to their gender identity.
On Twitter, a message to Jenner from Eunic Ortiz read, “Please stop. You’re hurting us. Sincerely, LGBT people everywhere.”
In January, at a campaign stop in Iowa, Mr Cruz said “inflicting” transgender students on teachers by allowing them to use a faculty rest room in line with their gender identity was better than having them share a bathroom with other students, according to video from NBC News.
Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Centre for Transgender Equality, said Jenner’s comments highlight the fact a significant share of transgender people are Republicans.
“One would hope that transgender people would support philosophies that are helpful and not harmful to trans people,” she said, adding that Jenner might have taken that into consideration before offering her support to Mr Cruz.
A representative for the gay rights group Glaad declined to comment and a spokeswoman for Mr Cruz could not be reached.