Should Caitlyn Jenner Speak for the Trans Community?

http://www.metroweekly.com/2015/10/should-caitlyn-jenner-speak-for-the-trans-community/

MetroWeekly/By John Riley on October 1, 2015

"Caitlyn Jenner has probably experienced the most public transition in recent memory. Yet despite only recently embracing her new identity, the former Olympian and reality star of I Am Cait has had many expectations placed on her. The demand that she act as a spokeswoman for the transgender community — and, by extension, its LGB allies — is perhaps the most daunting."

I don't think she needs to be a spokesperson for our community, however, I do think she is putting a lot of pressure on herself thinking she has to be the community's savior. She didn't get to transition until she was 65.

I think Caitlyn should just speak for Caitlyn.

I don't think people are listening to her anymore. She's had her 15 mins.

I wish we had some spokespeople in America who weren't trying to sell something, just trying to make our life better. Australia has Cindy Macardle, we're still waiting for ours.

Absolutely not. She's a conservative Republican, whom are historically not the most LGBT friendly. Here's her talking about gay marriage:


Even as a trans woman she's still on the fence about it. Here's Ellen talking about it on Howard Stern afterwords:

So no, I don't think she should take on that role. Probably not the best representative for the LGBT community.

Her being a conservative republican has zero to do with it. I personally align with conservative republicans in nearly everything except LGBT issues. Besides I don't think it's smart to box us all into one party or political leaning. I'm an individual and I enjoy not being part of so-called societal expectations.

Rather, it's because she seems to be disconnected from what it means to be Trans. Way too much focus on dresses and makeup and not enough about how she feels about herself.

No one transperson really can or should be expected to speak for the whole community... just like you wouldn't expect one cisperson to speak for all?

Maybe Caitlyn represents wealthy white trans conservatives of a certain age, now we need to encourage representation for everyone else, instead of focusing on one brand.

I am not very new to this entire dealing with being Trans head on like I am now and I am new to calling myself Trans but I think the ladies in this room have more of my respect than Jenner ever have. I don't think we are all worth $100 million dollars and have our own TV shows and what not, I don't think any of us are that lucky.

I think we really don't need a leader or anyone to speak for us other than ladies and men that are trans in the community all over the globe. I think we have to speak for ourselves and I am gradually gaining the confidence and the attitude to do that for myself and you ladies have really helped me to get to that point. I may not dress FT and I may not be close to transition but I am closer and closer than I was say a year ago.

If I even had a million dollars like Jenner I would start to make the transition in becoming a woman today but I am not that lucky and unfortunately money is an issue for me because I do not have it. I can't see a millionaire and reality personality being a role model for me and most likely I never will, yet that is just me so I think we all have our own paths and people that we look up to.

I don't look up to her at all, I look up to all of you in this forum more than I do her! Just being honest and not trying to get brownie points either.

We should respect every trans person. Even people who do not "pass," people who have a deep voice, MTF, FTM, non-binary, rich people, poor people, drag queens, stealth, out, Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, young and old alike. I may not view Cait as a leader but I definitely respect her for being herself.

Caitlyn grew up during a time when being trans was extremely taboo. Lynn Conway transitioned sometime in the 60s, I believe. She was fired from IBM for doing so. Imagine the scandal if then Bruce Jenner had transitioned back then, after he had won gold in the olympics. So yes, she is a bit elderly and thus she has a lot of years of testosterone poisoning to recover from. 

Like many others, Caitlyn tried to fit the normal mold of being a family man. She let her kids grow up first before transitioning. I don't think she should be ridiculed by anyone for that or be accused of abandoning her family, as some have insinuated.

So while Caitlyn doesn't speak for me, she has an experience that some, if not many of us relate to. She is also doing a lot of good things in the community and I am happy that she is using some of her fame and wealth in a positive manner.

Quote from: Peep on October 04, 2015, 06:15:40 PM
Maybe Caitlyn represents wealthy white trans conservatives of a certain age, now we need to encourage representation for everyone else, instead of focusing on one brand.

I think Caitlyn wants to be part of the community and wants to learn to do so. She has some good tutors - Jenny Boylan and Kandis Kayne for example.

She does work with ordinary trans people and trans youth as well.

Ultimately though I think it is up to everyone to find their identity and not depend on celebrities.

Quote from: iKate on October 05, 2015, 11:38:50 AM
I think Caitlyn wants to be part of the community and wants to learn to do so. She has some good tutors - Jenny Boylan and Kandis Kayne for example.

She does work with ordinary trans people and trans youth as well.

Ultimately though I think it is up to everyone to find their identity and not depend on celebrities.

That's true, and i don't not support Caitlyn, i just think that she's kind of who the cis majority would want to be a role model or spokesperson, partly because she's white-conservative, partly because she's conforming to traditional standards of passing - so she's not going to rock any boats on any more than that one front. It's just a shame for her that the media surrounding her might alienate a lot of people in the community.

Every little bit helps. It's good she's out there and trying . She can be a very positive influence . There is a Grande Canyon between her problems and mine in daily life , but just being out there from where she came from helps.

Hey, I don't care what she says. This should not be a political issue. Just having her face on the tube is a good thing for us. And community? Sheesh, as soon as we complete transition, there is no more community for many of us. We split. We become as invisible as we possibly can. The best Trans community I've found is right here. And even with that, most of us are in the transition stage.

Okay, beat me up.

Cindi

Quote from: Cindi Jones on October 05, 2015, 03:56:42 PM

Okay, beat me up.

Cindi

where do you want us to start?

I don't see how it can not be a political issue... transmysogyny and class/race are a part of feminism too

For example the way that as soon as Caitlyn did her 'reveal' she was immediately evaluated by media in terms of her dress sense and sexual/ aesthetic appeal as a female shouldn't be ignored

No way. No. Absolutely not. She lives in a bubble. I do sympathize with her having waited so long to transition, but she is way out of touch with the reality of struggling for the resources to transition. She will never understand what it's like begging for work, getting fired for attempting to transition, being kicked out or becoming homeless for being trans, or getting beaten up on the streets for being trans and living in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't think she can speak for the whole trans community anymore than I believe anyone from the Kardashians or the Jersey shore could speak for all of humanity.