To: Samantha Power, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Ms. Power: Caitlyn Jenner Is Not Our Ambassador
With her lack of international diplomatic experience, unusual access to wealth, and outright dismissal of her own community, Caitlyn Jenner is not fit to be an ambassador of trans rights to the international community.
Why is this important?
Samantha Power,
We, trans and gender nonconforming people, are asking that you do not in any capacity grant Caitlyn Jenner's request to "work with the UN to promote transgender rights around the world" (The Washington Blade). The U.S. trans and gender nonconforming communities are full of leaders far more adept at this task. It is insulting that our expertise at advocacy, organizing, and politics is being looked over for the petty celebrity star power of a former Olympic athlete. Jenner could actually be detrimental to the rights and well-being of trans people across the planet since she shares so few of our communities' experiences with homelessness, unemployment, and violence. Those experiences are especially prevalent internationally and among trans people of color at home: Jenner will never understand what it means to live at this intersection of racism and transphobia. Removed from the realities of her community by a mountain of wealth, Jenner has previously stated that she's not one of the trans people who speaks out against discrimination and has shamed other trans people for using state welfare. In the words of a recent protest against Jenner:
“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."
Please take a look at this list of just a few people more qualified than Jenner: http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/100-amazing-trans-americans-you-should-know#.qree9vqAE
Sources:
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/11/13/caitlyn-jenner-seeks-to-work-with-un-on-trans-rights/
http://www.inquisitr.com/2300839/caitlyn-jenner-under-fire-from-friends-over-views-eager-to-look-more-like-angelina-jolie/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a46024/caitlyn-jenner-halloween-costumes-interview/
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/caitlyn-jenner-confronts-protesters-who-call-her-an-insult-to-women-20151311
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/ellen-degeneres-caitlyn-jenner-gay-marriage/2015/09/09/id/681030/
We, trans and gender nonconforming people, are asking that you do not in any capacity grant Caitlyn Jenner's request to "work with the UN to promote transgender rights around the world" (The Washington Blade). The U.S. trans and gender nonconforming communities are full of leaders far more adept at this task. It is insulting that our expertise at advocacy, organizing, and politics is being looked over for the petty celebrity star power of a former Olympic athlete. Jenner could actually be detrimental to the rights and well-being of trans people across the planet since she shares so few of our communities' experiences with homelessness, unemployment, and violence. Those experiences are especially prevalent internationally and among trans people of color at home: Jenner will never understand what it means to live at this intersection of racism and transphobia. Removed from the realities of her community by a mountain of wealth, Jenner has previously stated that she's not one of the trans people who speaks out against discrimination and has shamed other trans people for using state welfare. In the words of a recent protest against Jenner:
“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."
Please take a look at this list of just a few people more qualified than Jenner: http://www.buzzfeed.com/saeedjones/100-amazing-trans-americans-you-should-know#.qree9vqAE
Sources:
http://www.washingtonblade.com/2015/11/13/caitlyn-jenner-seeks-to-work-with-un-on-trans-rights/
http://www.inquisitr.com/2300839/caitlyn-jenner-under-fire-from-friends-over-views-eager-to-look-more-like-angelina-jolie/
http://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a46024/caitlyn-jenner-halloween-costumes-interview/
http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/caitlyn-jenner-confronts-protesters-who-call-her-an-insult-to-women-20151311
http://www.newsmax.com/TheWire/ellen-degeneres-caitlyn-jenner-gay-marriage/2015/09/09/id/681030/