‘Transparent’ star: ‘Caitlyn Jenner is not a figurehead for the trans community’
By Will Stroude
As one of the most high-profile transgender people in the world, former Olympic athlete Caitlyn Jenner has been held up as a representative of the trans community – whether she wants to be or not.
Her thoughts and beliefs no longer seen as just personal views, and her gaffes – of which there have been a few – are often spoken of in relation to how they affect perceptions of the wider trans community.
Now, Jeffrey Tambor, who plays trans woman Maura Pfefferman in the acclaimed Amazon series Transparent has defended Jenner, insisting that he doesn’t think she has ever claimed to be the “figurehead” she’s sometimes perceived to be.
According to Yahoo, Tambor told the Press Association that while he acknowledged that Caitlyn has privileges that many trans people don’t, she doesn’t claim to be typical of the trans community.
“Not everyone in the transgender community looks like Caitlyn, has as much money as Caitlyn, has as much power, obviously don’t have TV shows, but with her story, with her knowledge, with her courage, there’s a phrase – she floats all boats,” the 72-year-old said.
“I don’t think she’s a figurehead and I don’t think she’s come out as a figurehead and that’s where the mistake would be. She’s just a person. I’m for her.
“It’s about people. The publicity of it sheds light on the stories and that’s the good part of it.”
Jenner, whose reality show I Am Cait was recently cancelled after two seasons following poor ratings, is set to appear in a dream sequence during the third season of Transparent. Check out the trailer for season three here.
The third series of Transparent hits Amazon Prime on September 23.
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