In the two months since her debut on the cover of Vanity Fair, Caitlyn Jenner has been praised for her courage and hailed as a hero for the transgender community.
Unfortunately for Caitlyn, not everyone is of the same opinion.
In a recent interview with The Wrap, journalist and trans activist Zoey Tur criticized Caitlyn for her alleged insensitivity toward the difficulties faced by most transgender individuals.
“Caitlyn Jenner will never understand the real cost of being transgender because she will never have to bear the cost,” Tur said. "She’s a product."
Tur’s comments were made in response to a controversial scene in I Am Cait Season 1 Episode 2, in which Jenner made what many believe to be insensitive remarks about the plight of disadvantaged trans youths.
“[Can’t they] make more not working, with social programs, than they actually can with an entry-level job?” Jenner said at one point. “You don’t want people to get totally dependent on it — that’s when they get in trouble.”
In her April interview with Diane Sawyer, Caitlyn confirmed that she remains a staunch Republican.
As trans individuals are significantly more likely to struggle with poverty and employment issues, her conservative views on social programs are bringing Caitlyn into conflict with many prominent voices in the trans community:
"Now I’m worried," said activist Jenny Boylan. "Caitlyn has every right to be just as conservative as she chooses, but many transgender men and women need social programs to survive, and that’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“Caitlyn Jenner is a great person and I admire what she’s doing,” said Madison Rae, who works with at-risk transgender youth.
“Unfortunately, the message that’s she’s delivering doesn’t hold the same power as it would have had it come from someone who’s gone through that life experience.”
The remarks echo Raven Symone’s recent comments about Caitlyn.
The former child star and current co-host of The View cautioned Jenner about trying to do too much too soon, and urged the former Olympian to take some time to truly experience life as a transgender woman before booking too many media appearances.
Unfortunately, in the world of the Kardashian-Jenner clan, any day that you’re not on TV is a day that’s been wasted.