Caitlyn Jenner admits: “It was easy to come out as trans, it was hard to come out as Republican”
The reality star also tackled controversial bathroom bill speaking at event outside the RNC, in Cleveland, Ohio, US
CAITLYN Jenner appeared at an event outside the Republican National Convention on Tuesday and said it was harder admitting she was a supporter of the party than as transgender.
She told the crowd at the American Unity brunch in Cleveland, Ohio, US: "It was easy to come out as trans, it was hard to come out as Republican."
She went on to discuss it should be some representatives who were banned from bathrooms, not transgender.
Taking a dig at the controversial bathroom bill, which has split the party, and has been a particularly thorny issues in North Carolina, she said: "We had over the last few years, we had three Republican state representatives, Jon Hinson, Larry Craig and a Bob Allen, who were all arrested for lewd behaviour in a men's bathroom.
"Maybe what we should do is ban Republican representatives."
She went on to note "the 'bathroom issue has been used politically for many, many, many, many, many years going back to 1877.'
First, she said, men and women were divided because men thought women were "weak and needed to be protected."
Then, she continued, bathrooms were divided for blacks and whites and cited Jim Crow's take on it: "We had to protect the white people from the black people.
"We had all these issues throughout the years, so this is not new."
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The I Am Cait star also spoke about how teens and children were coming out a trans a lot younger, and that their struggles often resulted in bullying and suicide, saying; "'Now you're telling me that the state of North Carolina is going to come in and bully you too?
"You can't live your authentic life and you have to go into this other bathroom?
"It just doesn't work. It's even more pressure for these kids."
Jenner, has 10 children, including Kendall and Kylie Jenner and is stepfather to Kourtney, Khloe, Rob, and Kim Kardashian.
When asked a direct question about Donald Trump she side-stepped it and did not address talking about him directly.
The reality star was honest about how she remained a Republican, despite admitting the Democratic Party has done better with trans and greater LGBT rights.
She also applauded President Obama's Defense Department for recently lifting the ban and letting trans individuals openly serve.