This week, a California high school track meet caused waves across the nation when transgender female runner Athena Ryan finished in second place in the girl’s 1600m at the California State Championship qualifier meet, igniting a debate about whether or not she should have been allowed to compete in the race in the first place. And that debate has even reached Caitlyn Jenner.
After hearing about the controversy, Caitlyn Jenner spoke out against the decision to allow Athena Ryan to compete in the event. Jenner, who is a transgender woman herself after transitioning in 2015, called the decision “wrong,” and called on her followers to help her push back.
“As ‘somewhat’ of a track star myself, and a trans person, THIS IS WRONG!!! HELP ME PUSH BACK!” Jenner said in a tweet, also adding a link to her political action committee, Fairness First.
And FYA trans ppl you are being used by the radical gender ideology cult as political pawns. That’s all you are to them.
— Caitlyn Jenner (@Caitlyn_Jenner) May 22, 2023
“And FYA trans ppl you are being used by the radical gender ideology cult as political pawns. That’s all you are to them,” Jenner said in a follow-up tweet.
It’s a bold stance from Jenner, who formerly went by Bruce Jenner and was a track and field star for the United States Olympic team in 1976, winning gold in the men’s decathlon. But she faced some criticism as a result.
As many quickly pointed out, Jenner’s stance on the matter comes off as somewhat hypocritical, given that she has gladly accepted Glamour’s Woman of The Year Award following her transition.
And here you are competing against women in women’s sports @Caitlyn_Jenner https://t.co/Whiptv4nwD
— rooted.wings (@BrittRooted) May 22, 2023
Not only did Jenner accept an award designated for women, but Jenner also competed as a woman in a golf tournament a few years ago.
This MAN (Big Bruce) competed as a woman (Caitlyn) in a golf tournament a few years ago.
Now he is grifting millions from conservatives via a Super Pac to "fight the radical gender ideology, put parental rights at the forefront of education, and keep boys out of women’s… pic.twitter.com/t2PJEf0jdt
— Lauren Witzke (@LaurenWitzkeDE) May 19, 2023
The perceived hypocrisy generated quite a few reactions on social media as people called out Jenner.
Did @Caitlyn_Jenner forget she was Glamour's woman of the year? Maybe someone should've pushed back against this. How soon we forget. It was OK for YOU to celebrate your womanhood but you don't want that same chance for others. What a hypocrite https://t.co/wQOBPYxlF3 pic.twitter.com/x6JQNu0xo9
— Miss Posh Boss (@RubythePirate2) May 23, 2023
You may have a point.
Oh, now return all of your “woman of the year” awards. https://t.co/xJXqcIAwru
— MAGA IS A CANCER (@Gaslit_Nation) May 22, 2023
Give back all your "Woman of the Year" awards first.
— Shawn Farash ❌🐻 (@Shawn_Farash) May 22, 2023
It’s certainly an interesting stance for Jenner to take, given everything.
