Democrats "Do a Better Job" on LGBT Issues, Caitlyn Jenner Said at the RNC on Wednesday
"Hello my fellow Republicans!"
When Caitlyn Jenner took the stage Wednesday morning in Cleveland, the crowd erupted into cheers. She wasn't at the Quicken Loans Arena - the site of the Republican National Convention. Instead the Olympian-turned-reality TV star and trans activist was 10 blocks away at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, speaking at the American Unity Fund's brunch, an event focusing on how the GOP can be more inclusive of LGBT people.
"It's rare for Republicans to have so big a celebrity among us," said AUF President Margaret Hoover, introducing Caitlyn. "You are the most famous Republican in the world!"
"Thank you," Caitlyn responded, "but they already nominated Donald [Trump] last night."
Republicans have taken a decidedly anti-LGBT stance in their party's platform, which it writes every four years before the convention. It's against gay marriage and gay parenthood, as well as transgender people using the bathroom of their choice in public, among other topics.
Caitlyn explained why she identifies as a Republican, in spite of the party's resistance to LGBT rights. She teared up talking about her father, who was in the military and, she explained, inspires her political views. "If my dad knew what was going on with this country that he fought so hard for, if he saw what's happening with our country, he'd be very disappointed," she said. "Because of that, I feel like our best hope to get back to a Constitutional government is the Republican Party. I have to admit, I've been very disappointed over the last five, 10 years, but I won't give up hope on it. That's why I stand on the Republican side."
Hoover asked Caitlyn how people react when they hear she's trans - and a Republican. Caitlyn joked that it's harder to explain to people why she's a Republican saying, "It was easy to come out as trans!" "As far as social issues - I get it," she continued, noting that "the Democratic Party does a better job when it comes to the LGBT community, the trans community, all that kind of stuff."
She went on to talk about her faith - "Maybe that's why God put me on this earth, to tell this story" - and the issue of barring trans people from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity. "I haven't had any issues with bathrooms myself. I haven't used a men's room in a year and a half," she said to the cheering crowd. "And thank God because there are some great conversations going on in the ladies rooms!"
"But this issue is not about me; it's about the kids," she continued. "Bullying is the biggest problem. Not fitting in. They get bullied in school, with online bullying they're bullied internationally. Now you're telling me the state of North Carolina is going to come in and bully you too?"
Earlier this year, North Carolina became the first state to ban people from using government-owned bathrooms and locker rooms that don't match the gender on their birth certificates. The Obama administration later stepped in, ordering public schools to allow transgender students the right to use a bathroom and locker room of their choice. Since then, nearly half of all states have fought the administration's decision, all but assuring it will end up at the Supreme Court.
Despite Caitlyn's strong words Wednesday, she doesn't appear to be reconsidering her vote come November, or her political leanings. But Rachel Hoff, the first openly gay person to sit on the Republican Party's Platform Committee, thinks Caitlyn's talk is a good start for opening the lines of communication between Republicans and the LGBT community. Hoff, who was at the event Wednesday, has been outspoken about her disagreements with the party on LGBT issues.
"I think the transgender community is at the center of the fight for LGBT rights right now, and I think it's important for people, especially here at the RNC, to have the experience of interacting with people from the transgender community," she told Cosmopolitan.com. "This kind of conversation we had today is perhaps a little bit unexpected at the RNC."
