This week Caitlyn Jenner's show "I Am Cait" was officially cancelled after two seasons. It seemed like the universal reaction from the trans community was one of relief. Thank God Cait isn't here to literally orgasm on camera, argue that Donald Trump is good for women, and bash welfare that many trans people rely on.
Caitlyn jumped from being the courageous trans woman who put herself out for the world to mock to putting trans people on constant damage control. How did this happen? When Caitlyn Jenner came out, I watched the entire two hour reveal in the early morning on my phone. I had set my alarm earlier than usual so I could watch the whole thing before school. I had just come to terms with my trans identity, having come out to a few friends a few months prior. I was completely mesmerized by her experiences, struggling with gender dysphoria in secret for decades, and finally having the courage to come out and life as her true self.
When she announced her show, I was initially optimistic. I don't have cable, so I wasn't going to be able to watch it, but my hopes here high. I heard some say that Caitlyn was in it for the money, that having a huge reality show was just lining her pockets. I dismissed their claims. "Caitlyn cares about us," I said, "how dare you even imply that she's just greedy?" When they said Caitlyn needed time to adjust to being an out trans woman before broadcasting herself, I replied with "yeah, but now the world can see how difficult being trans can be." When they pointed out that E! may treat Cait's transition as a spectacle to gawk at, I scoffed. "They know how to handle a sensitive topic. Caitlyn will make sure it goes smoothly." Online, the transgender forums were the same way. Criticism of Caitlyn and her possible motives was barely tolerated.
Now, a year later, I agree with all of it. Caitlyn is greedy, backwards, and an embarrassment to the trans community. Whenever I caught the show online, I watched in the same way you watch a car wreck. Horrified, but unable to stop. "I Am Cait" showcased Caitlyn's horrific ignorance about how the average trans person lives. The trans women I talked to said it didn't portray trans women experiences at all. Cait couldn't get past her own riches, her own emotions, to see how other, less fortunate, trans women live. If anything, it angered trans people to watch. Articles started popping up noting the community's disappointment. Ratings dropped. And then it was cancelled.
The show itself could have been a success. A show about a trans woman growing into her new womanhood could have been enticing and educational to watch. The problem was Caitlyn Jenner. Her true colors came out and they were not pretty to look at.
Or maybe our hopes were too high. We had our own perfect, elegant version of Caitlyn Jenner that the real Cait murdered in cold blood. Caitlyn Jenner is not the right person for the job of "trans ambassador," but then again, who is?
