[Caitlyn Jenner, a trans activist and Fox News regular, did attend the 2016 Republican National Convention, speaking at a “Big Tent Brunch” sponsored by the American Unity Fund.]
I ended up really chatting with a gentleman who was the previous chair of a Southern state’s Republican Occasion. We simply began speaking about points — financial, army, destroying ISIS, the Second Modification — normal Republican stuff, and we’re on the identical web page, we’re on the identical web page. I mentioned, “I simply need to let you know, your governor, Nikki Haley, mentioned one thing actually nice, which is she didn’t assume that South Carolina wanted any legal guidelines banning transgender folks for utilizing loos like in North Carolina,” as a result of we simply went via H.B. 2.
[North Carolina’s Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act, also known as House Bill 2 or H.B. 2, was signed into law in 2016. It required schools and government offices to only permit individuals to use the bathrooms that matched the sex listed on their birth certificate. The portion of the law regarding bathroom use was repealed in 2017.]
I might see in his face one thing began shifting. He goes: “Actually? You assume that?” I mentioned: “Yeah, as a result of they really damage folks like me as a result of I’m transgender myself. They actually damage us as a result of we now have extra to worry by going right into a public restroom and being assaulted than anybody else does.” You possibly can simply see for a second, about 10 seconds, his processing of his mind was like: “This doesn’t compute. I simply talked about ISIS.” You realize what? I don’t know that I modified that man proper off the bat, however I do know this: He needed to spend the subsequent 4 days on the Republican Nationwide Conference and past saying he met this very nice transgender lady who was cheap, didn’t yell at him, and he agreed with on a variety of points. To me, that must be price one thing.
I’ve by no means claimed that I can change the get together or change the management, notably in a variety of these states who’re having laws, however what I attempt to do is have them faucet the brakes. I believe people like me across the nation who’re doing this — you see in numerous states, there are Republicans voting towards this laws. A few of these states down south and out west usually are not sufficient, sadly, as a result of it’s good enterprise to be anti-trans proper now. It’s simple as a result of folks assume it pushes up ballot numbers, it would assist an election. I’ve a sense that as a lot as trans people shall be a giant problem subsequent yr, it’s not going to work in addition to a few of these consultants are promoting it for.
