In November, SLM told you about Olympian-turned-reality-TV-star Caitlyn Jenner’s visit to St. Louis biker bar Shady Jack’s, where she joined friends for a drink and a motorcycle ride around downtown.
This weekend, you’ll be able to watch Jenner’s St. Louis stop on her nation-wide road trip in full on the new episode of the E! docu-series I Am Cait, which airs at 8 p.m. Sunday.
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Leon Braxton, a LGBTQ advocate famous locally for turning a downtown Asian restaurant into a destination for delicious soul food, says the episode will include the trip to Shady Jack’s, along with Jenner’s visit to St. Louis’ Transgender Memorial Garden, the first in the U.S., and the Transgender Life Celebration at the Metropolitan Community Church of Greater St. Louis.
See also: Caitlyn Jenner, Scott Disick Visit St. Louis Biker Bar Shady Jack’s
Braxton is also featured in the episode. He serves Jenner a helping of his renowned fried chicken and talks about what it’s like to be an intersex person, a topic not previously discussed on the show, which centers on the gold medalist’s life after her gender transition.
“Cait was lovely and very attentive when I discussed with her what it’s like to be intersex,” Braxton tells SLM. “She was very nice and understanding. She especially commented on how much she liked my fried chicken. She said that was the best fried chicken she had every eaten and could eat it every day. I was thrilled when she said that.”
Jenner’s trip to St. Louis coincided with Transgender Day of Remembrance, dedicated to people killed in anti-transgender violence. Braxton says in an editorial published by Vital VOICE Magazine he thinks Jenner’s appearance on the marked day brought media attention to a worthy cause. A somber photo of Jenner at the memorial service received more than 220,000 likes on Instagram.
“Caitlyn’s image drew the attention of people that otherwise would have not taken notice,” Braxton said.
Jenner continues to draw criticism for her political views, especially her stance against same-sex marriage. Braxton, who watches her show weekly, says he’s more focused on watching her journey and transition.
“Do I agree with everything Caitlyn has said? No,” Braxton wrote in Vital VOICE. “But those are her opinions, and her views are her views. We all cannot have the same views or opinions – what a boring world that would be if we did! If we banish her for her views, we are doing the same thing to her that people do to us: exclusion.”
Catch the St. Louis episode of “I Am Cait” at 8 p.m. Sunday on E!
Contact Lindsay Toler by an email at [email protected] or on Twitter @StLouisLindsay. For more from St. Louis Magazine, subscribe or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
