She’s on board to make America great again. Caitlyn Jenner defended her befuddling, controversial stance as a Republican and member of the LGBT community during an event at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.
While she didn’t speak at the actual convention, the former Olympian, 66, participated in a Q&A at the Big Tent Brunch event hosted by a conservative LGBT organization The American Unity Fund on Wednesday, July 20.
“I feel like our best hope to get back to a constitutional government with 18 enumerated powers is in the Republican Party,” Jenner told the audience. “But I have to admit I’ve been very disappointed over the last five or 10 years and so I won’t give up hope on it.”
The I Am Cait star joked that announcing her political affiliation was harder than telling the world she was transitioning. “It was easy to come out as trans. It was harder to come out as a Republican,” Jenner said.
The conversation touched on the recent anti-trans laws approved by Republican lawmakers, such as North Carolina’s controversial HB2 bathroom law. At first, she quipped that she hasn’t personally faced any problems using the women’s bathroom. “I have no had any issues about bathrooms myself. I haven’t used a men’s room in a year and a half, thank God, because there’s some great conversation going on in the ladies’ room,” Jenner said.
On a more serious note, she condemned the legislation as bullying and mentioned the depression it can cause for young trans people. However, she believes that Republicans just need a better education on LGBT issues. “I get it. The Democratic Party does a better job when it comes to the LGBT, the trans community and all that kind of stuff,” Jenner said. “The Republican Party needs to understand. They need to know people who are trans.”
The former decathlon champ also explained that parts of her political beliefs were influenced by her late father, William Jenner, an extremely conservative World War II veteran. “If my dad knew what was going on in this country when he fought so hard … I think he’d be very disappointed,” she said.
Watch the clip above to see Caitlyn’s statements!
