Caitlyn Jenner, 71, says “biological boys” who are trans competing on “girls’ sports” teams isn’t “fair.” The reality star, who was born Bruce Jenner before transitioning in 2015, made the comments while grabbing a Starbucks coffee on Saturday, May 1. “This is a question of fairness. That’s why I oppose biological boys who are trans competing in girls’ sports in school,” she explained to TMZ‘s cameras on Saturday, May 1. “It just isn’t fair. And we have to protect girls’ sports in our schools,” she added, putting her dog in the car. Caitlyn is a renowned athlete herself, winning a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada in decathlon.
Caitlyn, who is seeking to become governor of California as a Republican against current democratic Governor Gavin Newsom in a recall election, was then asked if this “delegitimizes” the “identity” of trans children. Caitlyn declined to answer the question, quipping “have a good day” as she got into her SUV. Later that day, she backed up her earlier statement with a tweet. “I didn’t expect to get asked this on my Saturday morning coffee run, but I’m clear about where I stand. It’s an issue of fairness and we need to protect girls’ sports in our schools,” the father of Kendall and Kylie Jenner wrote.
Twitter immediately reacted to Caitlyn’s comments. “@Caitlyn_Jenner You are such a traitor…So we need to ‘protect girls sports’ from other girls now? And fairness? Don’t you know how testosterone blockers work?” one person wrote. “Girls belong in girls sports. Trans girls are girls. There is NO evidence of trans girls outperforming their cis peers. There is only evidence of them being harassed and harmed by their peers. Drop this, develop your hobbies and spend your time NOT doing harm to trans people,” another posted.
In response Caitlyn’s stance, both GLAAD and National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund have issued statements to HollywoodLife. “Caitlyn Jenner’s views do not represent the transgender and gender nonconforming community,” GLAAD spokesperson Serena Sonoma tells HL EXCLUSIVELY. “Every major medical association, as well as hundreds of athletes at all levels, support letting trans kids play and are opposed to these harmful bills. Recent polling shows the majority of Americans also oppose anti-transgender laws, across party lines. It’s unfortunate and baffling that anyone would target the most vulnerable among us to court voters, rather than focus on real threats like COVID, lack of access to healthcare, education and discrimination. Jenner’s support of anti-trans laws only serve to aid lawmakers attacking transgender people and youth,” they also said.
The National Center for Transgender Equality Action Fund echoed the same sentiment, calling Caitlyn’s opinion “wrong” about the “danger” of these bans. “Transgender people aren’t a monolith, and like every community there are members with different opinions. Jenner is wrong about the danger and harmfulness of these anti-transgender bans,” Deputy Executive Director Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen said to HollywoodLife. “We all care about fairness, and that’s why athletic conferences, school districts and states have policies in place to make sure that kids are treated fairly,” they added, noting it is “important” for transgender people to run for public office and “break down barriers.”
“It’s reassuring to know that the NCAA has looked into this and determined that transgender people can safely play sports. They are experts on athletics, and they support transgender student-athletes. It can be helpful to remember that these bans aren’t about elite athletes,” the NCTE Action Fund also said. “They are about the ninth grader who wants to play on the JV volleyball team. They’re about the teenager who wants to play on the same team as their friends after school. Bans like this single them out for harassment. Adults are at our best when helping youth to learn and thrive, not putting a target on their backs.”
Caitlyn filed paperwork to run for governor of California on April 23, launching a gubernatorial campaign. “California has been my home for nearly 50 years,” her mission statement, shared to social media, read. The announcement came after she said she would never run.
“I came here because I knew that anyone, regardless of their background or station in life, could turn their dreams into reality. But for the past decade, we have seen the glimmer of the Golden State reduced by one-party rule that places politics over progress and special interests over people. Sacramento needs an honest leader with a clear vision,” she explained.