Caitlyn Jenner says she won’t ‘give up’ on Republicans despite anti-LGBT platform
Caitlyn Jenner has refused to “give up” on the Republican Party after the party adopted a new platform that is actively hostile to LGBT people.
Jenner has been an outspoken Republican since before her transition to female, and still supports the party despite GOP lawmakers pushing anti-trans laws in dozens of states,
Donald Trump recently reversed his stance to back North Carolina’s anti-trans law, while the Republican National Convention has this week adopted its most extreme party platform yet on LGBT rights.
The platform rejects attempts to ban ‘gay cure’ therapy for minors. claiming “parents should be free to make medical decisions about their children without interference” – while also insisting: “Natural marriage between a man and a woman is most likely to result in offspring who do not become drug-addicted or otherwise damaged.”
It calls for the Supreme Court ruling on equal marriage to be reversed, opposes transgender rights legislation, and calls for ‘religious freedom’ laws to permit anti-LGBT discrimination.
Gay Republican groups have hit out at the decisions, but in a panel at the Convention, Jenner said she wouldn’t “give up” on the party.
Speaking at the LGBT-focused American Unity Fund event at the Cleveland event, she said: “I want to help the Republican Party in so many ways.
“I think our best move to get back to a constitutional government is in the Republican party.
“I have to admit I’ve been very disappointed… but I won’t give up hope on it.
“I get it – the Democratic Party does a better job when it comes to the LGBT community and trans community, and Obama actually has been very good from that standpoint.
“But I think the Republican Party needs to understand, they need to know people who are trans.
“There are trans people out in this audience right now, but you have no idea that they are trans. That’s why I’m here.”
The former Olympian did criticise the party for its “bathroom ban” stance.
She accused lawmakers of “bullying” trans people by pushing bathroom laws, joking that people are statistically more in danger of being sexually assaulted by GOP lawmakers in bathrooms than trans women.
She said: “Maybe we should ban Republican representatives at the state level from being in bathrooms.”
“You’re creating laws for a non-issue! We don’t have a problem here, there’s not one single case [of a trans bathroom assault].”
The reality star continued: “It was easy to come out as trans… it was harder to come out as a Republican! But I have my beliefs and I want to share them.”
“Maybe this is the reason God put me on this earth, to tell my story. At this point in my life and in society – to live my life authentically and make a difference in the world.”
