Caitlyn Jenner, a Republican candidate in the recall election for California Governor, has been making the rounds in conservative circles to convince Californians to vote for her in the gubernatorial race.
Jenner's recent appearances on Fox News and at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) come amid a wave of Republican state legislature proposals to deny trans kids gender-affirming care, access to bathrooms, and participation in sports.
While some Republicans have supported Jenner's conservative ideas, the transphobia of certain CPAC attendees leapt out as she exited the conference.
One attendee badgered her as she left, referring to her by her deadname, as well as calling her a "sick freak" and a transphobic slur once she'd exited the building.
Watch below.
Caitlyn Jenner heckled out of CPAC 2021pic.twitter.com/tMW05T1Gmg— \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0a Kal-El of Krypton \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf3d (@\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\udf0a Kal-El of Krypton \ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08\ud83c\udf3d) 1626008728
One of the conservatives to come to Jenner's defense was far-right commentator Tomi Lahren, who's become famous for her incendiary remarks on issues like Black Lives Matter and the Second Amendment.
Lahren rightly called the heckling "despicable."
Hearing how some \u201cconservatives\u201d treated @Caitlyn_Jenner at CPAC makes my blood boil. There\u2019s no room for your hate in the America First movement. We believe in freedom and we believe in limited government. The way she chooses to live her personal life harms you in no way!— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1626063278
The attacks on @Caitlyn_Jenner are despicable. I\u2019ll go to bat for her every single time and if you want to take my \u201cconservative\u201d card for it, take it and shove it. Your mob is no better than the Left\u2019s and in fact, it\u2019s uglier.— Tomi Lahren (@Tomi Lahren) 1626069762
But Lahren has repeatedly commented on trans issues before, often in opposition to treating trans people with human dignity, as well as respect and recognition of their identities.
People pointed out that Lahren helped create the conditions that prompted the CPAC attendee to heckle Jenner, including the false suggestion that trans children are undergoing gender confirmation surgeries.
Tomi Lahren can\u2019t even keep her hatred consistent.pic.twitter.com/eHvVghzKZx— Tony Posnanski (@Tony Posnanski) 1626091494
This you?https://twitter.com/TomiLahren/status/1133506356885872642\u00a0\u2026— Yepconomist (@Yepconomist) 1626070311
Noted anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ pundit Tomi Lahren is somehow stunned that the right is transphobic and anti-LGBTQ, after she has attacked LGBTQ and especially transgender people for years. There's no excuse for attacking Jenner for being trans. But Tomi owes a lot of apologies.pic.twitter.com/cc0MLImpi1— David Badash (@David Badash) 1626107016
Step 1: Spread transphobic hate to Republicans.\n\nStep 2: Act shocked when Republicans are transphobic.pic.twitter.com/M4qSIIcDSd— Dakota Johnson & Johnson (@Dakota Johnson & Johnson) 1626106140
But tomi....you're transphobic as well.... these are your ppl...so!?pic.twitter.com/gnkB7aRps1— Agustin (@Agustin) 1626099629
Tomi pretending to be shocked at transphobia in the conservative community is the funniest thingpic.twitter.com/kRm7VRE5Xj— jonny jon jon butter shabadoo (@jonny jon jon butter shabadoo) 1626095130
Conservatives responded to Lahren's tweet by parroting the same transphobic rhetoric and disinformation that she previously amplified.
Tomi Lahren is an example of a \u201cconservative\u201d who doesn\u2019t know what fundamental principles she\u2019s conserving.\n\nYoung people like free market, liberty, and choice, but haven\u2019t thought through their worldview and where genuine freedom is derived (morality), so they\u2019re inconsistent.— Jenna Ellis (@Jenna Ellis) 1626106105
If you honestly believe this is "just about her policy"\n\nYou're an idiot\n\nAnd you NOR the party can read the room \n\nConservatives want the nuclear family\nREAL men & REAL women\n\nThere will always be an alternate agenda here\n\nThe AMERICA FIRST agenda \nWill cease to come first\n\nhttps://twitter.com/TomiLahren/status/1414438023475998724\u00a0\u2026— The\u0191\u0289\u036bc\u0367\u043a\u036d\u03b9\u036a\u03b7\u0363kitty\ud83c\udf44 (@The\u0191\u0289\u036bc\u0367\u043a\u036d\u03b9\u036a\u03b7\u0363kitty\ud83c\udf44) 1626109080
Supporting trans in not conservative.https://twitter.com/TomiLahren/status/1414465218412007425\u00a0\u2026— Dr Field General Lets Be Frank (@Dr Field General Lets Be Frank) 1626112130
For her part, Jenner thanked Lahren on Twitter.
@PreetBharara/X
@RepBrendanBoyle/X
@twesq/Bluesky
@christopherharris/Bluesky
@evangelinewarren/X
@FrankC164/X
AMC