Caitlyn Jenner on same-sex marriage: 'I can go with it'
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Reality TV star and transgender woman Caitlyn Jenner made her first talk show appearance at Ellen, where she spoke out on her experience as a transgender person, according to The Cut.
The 65-year-old former Olympian turned reality TV star told Ellen DeGeneres that she felt "fabulous," and that "I'm just a very lucky person in so many ways, and my experience has been so different than the people in this community and I've learned that over the last few months in doing our show."
Jenner, of course, was referring to E!'s "I am Cait," which success she attributes to the team behind it. She said, "We have so many great people putting this show together and we're really trying to make a difference and educate people, and open up a conversation so we can talk about this issue because it's out there. People are dying over this issue."
In light of Jenner's foray into becoming a voice for the the LGBT community, she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the ESPYs in July, NBC News reports. However, she admitted that at first, she wasn't a supporter of gay marriage.
EW reports that Jenner admitted: "At first, I was not for it. I’m a traditionalist. I kind of like tradition, and it’s always been a man and a woman. I’m thinking, ‘I don’t quite get it.’"
However, Jenner said on Ellen that her opinions have definitely changed since her transition. She said: "As time has gone on, as time has gone on, I think, like, a lot of people on this issue have really changed their thinking here. I don’t want to stand in front of anybody’s happiness. That’s not my job. If that word 'marriage' is really, really that important to you, I can go with it."
DeGeneres said in an interview with Howard Stern on his SiriusXM show that she was confused by Jenner's stand on gay marriage. The host said: "She still has a judgement about gay marriage."
"I said, ‘You’re wanting people to understand and accept you—this is like, really confusing to people. And you still have a judgement about gay people and marriage," DeGeneres said. Nonetheless, the host admitted that it was "a great interview."
USA Today reports that in Jenner's ESPYs acceptance speech, she said, "Trans people deserve something vital, they deserve your respect. From that respect comes a more compassionate community."
