Caitlyn Jenner: The Advocate Interview

As the world’s best-known transgender person, Caitlyn Jenner committed herself to using her platform to educate. But, she’s new to this. It was inevitable that Jenner would face criticism for not getting her very public transition right. She came out without knowing any other trans people, and without having any point of reference for what it means to be publicly trans in the time of the transgender tipping point. For its February/March 2016 cover story, Jenner sat with The Advocate Editor in Chief Matthew Breen to discuss her decision to come out, using her platform to educate, and her own education on womanhood.

Select Quotes from Jenner’s Advocate cover story include:

On the fears and mixed-emotions she had just prior to coming out as trans:

“All those things certainly go through your mind. But it’s natural. You’re going from such a strong image – male, athletic, superstar, Wheaties-box iconic kind of stuff – and leaving that to go to, quote, ‘to the weaker sex’” – Jenner makes air quotes – “certainly, I don’t see it that way. And although I really felt like I was doing the right thing, and I’m so happy that the response has been good, I was afraid I would really lose something in my life. But my main concern was really only my kids. I don’t want to do anything to embarrass them.”

On the criticism that being a woman is all about exterior appearances:

“What does this whole thing mean to me? …There’s more to being a woman than hair and makeup. So recently, I’ve been trying to study up on it. My publicists’ assistant told me to read this book [How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran]. It’s actually very good and very funny. What I realized, when going through this book, is how my experience is so different than what a normal woman’s would be growing up – that’s obvious. The second chapter was about having your period. OK? I will never deal with that. So there is so much in life that I need to learn about who I am and be authentic with myself. But I never want to assume that this whole thing called womanhood, that I could ever experience all of that. I will be able to live authentically as female, but I’ve missed so much.”

On feeling the need to look good as a celebrity vs. what it means to be a woman:

“Kimberly [Kardashian West] says, ‘If you do go out, you’ve got to rock it, baby!’ You cannot let [the paparazzi] get that picture. They’ll take a picture of you with no makeup on, lousy outfit – and they’ll use it forever. You’ll never get rid of it. Kim’s very good at that stuff. It does take a little bit more work if you do go out. You’ve got to at least look good, at least the best you can. But there’s more to life and womanhood than just that. And those are things I’m learning; I’m trying to read up on it. I’m trying to understand it because it’s all new to me.”

On what was accomplished on season one of her show, I Am Cait:

“We’re sitting there and we go, ‘OK, what did we accomplish in season one?’ I personally feel that we opened up a conversation that for so long was swept under the rug. In so many ways like the gay issue, 20, 30, 40 years ago, people were sweeping that then. We’ve opened up the conversation. It’s OK to talk about trans issues.”

On learning about the issues face by the trans community:

“You cannot believe the people that I have met. It’s in every walk of life, some hiding in the shadows, some not. This is a human condition. It’s not just here in the U.S. It is everywhere. To see [the problems] it’s just – it’s gut-wrenching. Suicide rates, murder rates. We’re up to 20 murders this year. The hatred. There’s just so much work to be done. I am certainly the exception to the rule. I am not the rule.”

You can read the entire story HERE.