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WATCH: Raven-Symoné Says Caitlyn Jenner Is Moving Too Fast with Her LGBT Activism

WATCH: Raven-Symoné Says Caitlyn Jenner Is Moving Too Fast with Her LGBT Activism

WATCH: Raven-Symoné Says Caitlyn Jenner Is Moving Too Fast with Her LGBT Activism

We have questions for Raven.

Raven-Symoné, whose hair is superb, by the way, made some interesting comments today on The View regarding Caitlyn Jenner. Raven, who’s known for making some fairly inflammatory, if not obtuse, statements (but who is excellent at rolling her eyes at conservative anti-gay bakery supporter Candace Cameron Bure), asserted that Caitlyn is moving too fast in her LGBT activism.

“When I came out, I didn’t go and go hardcore and be like, ‘I’m going to save the world for LGBT,’” the co-host said on Monday’s episode. “You’ve got to learn it. You’ve got to learn it first, and she’s not, really.”

Exiting panelist Rosie Perez suggested that maybe Jenner was simply holding back, strategically waiting for the proper platform, but her co-host disagreed, saying that you don’t have to be a part of the community to be an advocate.

“Well, I think you can be strategic before you come out as well,” said Raven-Symoné. “Beforehand, I was definitely repping the community, even when I wasn’t saying this is what I was. And I’m not faulting you because yes, we need you. It’s too fast, too soon.”

The former Cosby Show star also said that she doesn’t claim to be a gay rights activist: “I can’t be. I learned from the real gay rights activists. I can only do what I can.”

So Raven thinks Caitlyn is moving too fast in her trans activism. We have a few questions for her, but first, an eyeroll. 

1. Why are you the arbiter of what "too fast" is? You have described yourself as "not a gay rights activist," so I'm confused as to why you would have a strong opinion about others' activism. Not to mention, there is no one path to becoming an activist.

2. Actually, why is this being "all of a sudden" a bad or unexpected thing? Surely the speed with which she has ascended to this point is justified by secretive nature of Caitlyn's trans identity, as well as her probable fear that endorsing trans rights would be tantamount to outing herself. This is how it is for some people in our community. They fear coming out, so they keep quiet about everything related to LGBT issues. Then when they come out, they can finally be free to say and do what they want, so they let loose on all the things they've held inside for years.

3. Why are you putting the blame for suddenness entirely on Caitlyn? She has a bigger platform than your average LGBT person, and the media is rushing to cover everything she says and wears. It's going to feel in-your-face for a little while as news and entertainment outlets find every angle they can. Yes, some of it has been deliberate on her part, such as coming out on a Vanity Fair cover, but her high profile necessitated that.

4. Has Caitlyn made things worse for trans people? I could understand why you have a problem with her if in her haste to fully settle into her own skin, she had uttered some untruths, or somehow damaged the progress of trans acceptance and education in our society. To a certain extent, because she's so well-known, because she's white, because she's wealthy, she definitely isn't able to represent every trans experience. But I'd bet Americans know a little bit more about trans issues as a result of the spotlight that's been shining on her. And I'd bet there are a few kids out there who saw her speech at the ESPYs and thought "there's hope."

 

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Ellen Wall