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Here's How Trans Folks Welcomed Caitlyn Jenner to the Twitterverse
Here's How Trans Folks Welcomed Caitlyn Jenner to the Twitterverse
Caitlyn Jenner kicked off Pride Month in a big way today, with a glamorous Vanity Fair cover, shot by iconic out photographer Annie Leibovitz, proclaiming "Call Me Caitlyn."
The former Olympian and Kardashian stepparent, once known to the world as Bruce, revealed her new name (and preferred pronouns) in an exclusive feature that was by and large well-received.
She also joined Twitter on Monday, and like the champion she is, promptly smashed the record for fastest accrual of one million followers. Just last month, Barack Obama's @POTUS account garnered 1 million followers in roughly five hours; Jenner surpassed the million mark in less than four hours. She thanked her supporters with a sweet tweet:
\u201cAnother Jenner world record, and at 65? Who'da thought! Humbled & honored to have reached 1M followers in 4 hrs. Thank you for your support.\u201d— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn Jenner) 1433199164
While many celebrities, such as Ellen DeGeneres and Jenner's doppelganger Jessica Lange, celebrated the newly out trans woman's unquestionably gorgeous debut, The Advocate was paying special attention to how trans people responded to the viral hashtag #CallMeCaitlyn. And one predominant theme emerged: Celebrate Jenner, then use that energy to focus on disenfranchised trans women.
Best-selling author and MSNBC host Janet Mock summed it up most succinctly (with just a touch of snark):
\u201cLet's celebrate Caitlyn & use her moment to uplift trans folks facing insurmountable economic barriers for affirming healthcare.\u201d— Janet Mock (@Janet Mock) 1433180129
\u201cAnd yes, the ultimate form of shade is not spelling Caitlyn with the requisite family "K." #CallMeCaitlyn\u201d— Janet Mock (@Janet Mock) 1433175316
Trans queer artist, writer, and photographer Sophia Banks was ready to pivot the conversation to life-and-death struggles that are facing countless trans Americans:
\u201cYeah it's great the media is paying attention to trans women. But Caitlyn Jenner and the reality of most trans women are worlds apart\u201d— Sophia Banks (@Sophia Banks) 1433178407
\u201cSo once people get over how beautiful Caitlyn Jenner is can we talk about trans women being locked up with men in prisons?\u201d— Sophia Banks (@Sophia Banks) 1433179762
\u201cHow most often trans women get jailed for survival crimes like sex work because transmisogyny makes employment difficult\u201d— Sophia Banks (@Sophia Banks) 1433179762
\u201cCan we shift the media focus and talk about how 20% of trans women will experience homelessness?\u201d— Sophia Banks (@Sophia Banks) 1433179762
\u201cI hear ya, media attention on trans women is great. Now let's talk about high levels of poverty, access to washrooms, etc #caitlynjenner\u201d— Sophia Banks (@Sophia Banks) 1433180195
Lourdes Ashley Hunter, the National Director for the Trans Women of Color Collective, applauded Jenner's truth, then refocused the conversation on ways to support trans women in need.
\u201cSHOUT OUT to #CaitlynJenner Do ya thing girl!\u201d— Dr. Hunter-Fowler (@Dr. Hunter-Fowler) 1433181957
\u201cSHOUT OUT TO ALL THE GIRLS WHO PAVED THE WAY FOR #CAITLYNJENNER TO LIVE UNAPOLOGETICALLY IN HER TRUTH!\u201d— Dr. Hunter-Fowler (@Dr. Hunter-Fowler) 1433187892
\u201cAll y'all mad about all the #CaitlynJenner coverage, DONATE to @TWOCCNYC at https://t.co/yuZ83a59YR and make yaself fell better!\u201d— Dr. Hunter-Fowler (@Dr. Hunter-Fowler) 1433193844
Indeed, many activists focused on the systemic issues facing transgender Americans -- and trans women specifically.
\u201cCis conservatives are measuring success in anti-trans laws passed, cis liberals are measuring it in magazine covers. Please switch places.\u201d— Red Durkin (@Red Durkin) 1433182387
\u201cFew Trans ppl have economic privilege of Caitlyn Jenner-15% of all trans ppl & 44% of black trans ppl are low income:\u201d— TheTaskForce (@TheTaskForce) 1433189092
\u201cTrans and not Caitlyn Jenner? 36% of trans women lost a job because of their gender identity:\u201d— TheTaskForce (@TheTaskForce) 1433189338
Some trans advocates simply applauded Jenner's flawless photos, while still connecting her Internet-breaking debut to broader visibility issues facing trans women:
\u201cBeautiful and amazing! The photos are stunning. @Caitlyn_Jenner #caitlynjenner #TransLivesMatter\u201d— Leo St. Von (@Leo St. Von) 1433190078
Some trans activists, however, were less than thrilled:
\u201cSo, a rich white republican lady got the Annie Leibovitz photoshop treatment on the cover of Vanity Fair. That's a thing that happened.\u201d— Jos Abolish ICE Truitt (@Jos Abolish ICE Truitt) 1433180345
Viral post saying Republicans 'have two daddies now' has MAGA hot and bothered