Christopher Cervantes
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Election years have, and always will be, a maelstrom of ideologies and arguments that mash together into one big conundrum. Maybe that’s why whenever we hear any type of public figure show support for a high-profile candidate, there is a proverbial hailstorm of backlash from the media and public.

Sometimes, there’s a reason people take a double take.

On March 4, in an interview the Advocate, transgender celebrity Caitlyn Jenner reported that she likes Republican candidate Ted Cruz and wants to be his trans ambassador. Jenner said, “I think he’s very conservative, and a great constitutionalist, and a very articulate man. I haven’t endorsed him or anything like that. But I also think, he’s an evangelical Christian and probably one of the worst ones when it comes to trans issues.”

Ted Cruz is one of the biggest opponents of the LGBT community. He is against both same-sex marriage and civil unions, urged states to ignore the Supreme Court ruling of Obergefell v. Hodges (which legalized same-sex marriage in the United States), and, in November, attended Pastor Kevin Swanson’s “Kill the Gays” rally. Concerning transgender issues, well, he ignores them.

Ever since that comment, Jenner has been the subject of various criticisms on social media from her fans and icons alike, calling her clueless and out of touch. It’s not hard to see why people are upset.

Jenner seems to want this role of “trans ambassador” for the sole purpose of educating Cruz on the seriousness of transgender issues. The first part of changing people’s minds is educating them. Given Cruz’s past and current ideologies regarding the LGBT community, there is no doubt in my mind that he is in need of a proper education in common decency and inequality.

But even if Jenner’s intentions are noble, I don’t think she should waste her time with Cruz. If she wants to work toward furthering the rights of transgendered people, then she should endorse a candidate who is aware of them so that work and progress can actually be done.

If Jenner still wishes to educate, I suggest she wait a few months. The she can educate Sen. Cruz as much as she wants.