By: Dialethia

In reply to K’idazq’eni.

I don’t think I’ve heard a single lGBTQ person claim that Caitlyn Jenner is an ideal spokeswomen for the trans community or a perfect ally to other marginalized groups. The fact that she apparently considers herself republican is very disapointing. That said, her recent actions suggest a genuine effort to use her platform for the greater good. She is helping bring the work of other trans women (many of them women of color like Laverne Cox) to an audience that would never seek it out on their own, and that’s a big deal.

I also think you’re downplaying the challenges Jenner has faced. Yes, she is white and wealthy and those priviledges have made aspects of her life far easier than they would otherwise have been. However, she’s also a woman, trans, and queer, and grew up in a world where having any of those identities made you subject to even harsher discrimination than people face today. Despite her financial success and racial priviledge, she still had to hide an huge part of herself for 65 years before she felt safe enough to show the world her true self. I can only imagine how horrible that must have been.

I don’t think anyone should get a free pass, no matter what they’ve been through. She should be called out whenever she says something problematic. I do, however, think it’s important to aknowledge people’s positive contributions as well as their mistakes. She’s doing some good work now, and I think that deserves to be recognized.