Caitlyn Jenner speaks out for transgender rights at Women's March LA: 'Turn this country around!'
Caitlyn Jenner is using her voice to speak out for transgender rights.
The activist and former Olympian, 70, took the stage at the Women’s March in Los Angeles on Saturday and declared her desire to change the direction the country is taking.
Dressed in a white blazer, lavender skirt and heels, Jenner shared her delight to be attending her very first
Women’s March.
“Together as women, trans women and cis[gender] women, we have the power to influence our communities, our families, our friends and colleagues, and turn this country around!” she told the crowd, Deadline reported.
Jenner used her time in front of the crowd to make a plea for the safety of transgender women of color. According to the HRC Foundation, at least 22 transgender people and gender non-conforming people were killed in 2019, and all but one were black.
“The time is now. Women in Hollywood and across this nation are energized! It is damn time we stop the slaughter of trans women of color,” Jenner told the crowd.
Though she supported President Donald Trump in the 2016 election, Jenner has since said she was wrong to advocate for him, based on his treatment of transgender people.
“Sadly, I was wrong. The reality is that the trans community is being relentlessly attacked by this president,” Jenner told Reuters in 2018. “He has ignored our humanity. He has insulted our dignity. He has made trans people into political pawns as he whips up animus against us in an attempt to energize the most right-wing segment of his party.”
She also called her support of Trump a “mistake,” and shared a desire to move on from her choice.
“I cannot support anyone who is working against our community. I do not support Trump,” Jenner said. “I must learn from my mistakes and move forward.”
Along with thousands of attendees, fellow speakers at the Women’s March LA included Mira Sorvino, who spoke out about “predators” like Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, and R. Kelly, as well as Bella Thorne and Amber Heard.
Jenner headed back in front of the camera last year to star on the U.K. reality show I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, in which she roughed it in Australia and completed outlandish “bushtucker trials” that included physical challenges and eating insects.
Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle:
Texas mom and dad locked in battle over child’s gender identity: What happens when parents disagree?
Jazz Jennings, Chaz Bono and Caitlyn Jenner: How the last decade changed the way we see gender
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