Caitlyn Jenner clashed with protesters outside of Chicago House on Thursday, where she was scheduled to give a speech. As Jenner entered the building, protesters outside began to yell at her, calling her “an insult to trans people.”
According to Uproxx, the protesters organized the action on Facebook, on an event dubbed “I Ain’t Cait.” An excerpt from the text reads:
Chicago House, a nonprofit who claims to support those of us in the LGBTQ community who experience marginalization, homelessness, and economic exploitation, is holding a fundraiser this Thursday.
Who, you may ask, did they select to speak on the issues facing trans people and especially trans women in our city? Caitlyn Jenner, who lives in a mansion and has a net worth of millions of dollars, while the average trans person has a 41 percent chance of experiencing homelessness and a nearly 50 percent chance of living off less than $10k per year.
As stated in the excerpt above, the protesters were unhappy with the fact that Jenner, an incredibly privileged trans woman, was chosen to give a speech at Chicago House. It stood as another situation in which Jenner was being held aloft as a bit of a symbol for trans people, even though her experience is fairly atypical of what most trans people go through. Protesters were absolutely not happy with that.
Jenner attempted to speak to the protesters, but was unsuccessful and left–though she still delivered her speech. Christina Kahrl, who organized the event, stood by her decision to invite Jenner–after all, the point of the event was to raise money for Chicago House, and Jenner was someone who could bring that money in.
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