Caitlyn Jenner revealed this week that her status as a Republican earned her more flak than her coming out as transgender.
“I have gotten more flak for being a conservative Republican than I have for being trans,” Jenner said during an appearance at the
University of Pennsylvania, mobile news site Billy Penn reported.
The comment was in response to a question about her political affiliation from the audience.
Vanity Fair reporter Buzz Bissinger, who was moderating the event, interjected: “Just because you change gender doesn’t mean you change your core beliefs.”
Formerly known as Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn came out as transgender last year and she has chronicled her journey on the reality show “I Am Cait.”
Jenner told the University of Pennsylvania audience: “I’m not a role model. I’m so new to this community I don’t expect to be one.”
Jenner, who said she believes Democrats were better at addressing LGBTQ issues, described her support for the
“Reagan conservative approach,” The Daily Pennsylvanian reported.
“The bigger issue is what our country is going through right now,” said Jenner, referring to economic issues.
The event, sponsored as part of QPenn, the university’s week of LGBTQ awareness, got mixed reviews, with some students leaving early, others calling Jenner “self-absorbed,” and others expressing interest in her story, according to The Daily Pennsylvanian.
Jenner also received questions about her political affiliation during an appearance on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in September, when she told the host that her views on gay marriage have changed from opposition to acceptance.
“As time has gone on, I think, like a lot of people on this issue, I have really changed the thinking here to, 'I don't ever want to stand in front of anybody's happiness,' you know? That’s not my job,” Jenner told DeGeneres at the time.
Twitter users had mixed reactions to Jenner’s political stance.