Former Olympic gold medalist and transgender activist Caitlyn Jenner is Tel Aviv Pride’s guest of honor for 2025. She addressed the media on Wednesday night at the David Intercontinental Hotel in Tel Aviv just hours after touching down at Ben-Gurion Airport.
The David InterContinental Hotel in Tel Aviv is the official sponsor of the Pride Parade set to take place at the city’s Charles Clore Park on Friday, June 13.
Jenner’s visit to the Holy Land comes amid unrest in both Israel and the United States, so it comes with a purpose.
Reflecting on her first visit to Israel years ago, Jenner recalled, “I met the nicest, friendliest people, I think, in any country I’ve ever been to in my life. Everybody had a smile on their face. Everybody was having a good time.”
She further expressed her admiration for the openness and welcoming nature of the Israeli people, especially towards the LGBTQ community.
“The Israeli people are very open-minded. They’re friendly, they’re, you know, great for the LGBT community, and nobody knows it,” she said.
Jenner’s mission for her current visit is to bring light to the LGBTQ community in Israel and to help shift global perceptions.
“I think you guys have a marketing problem because maybe, maybe I can come out and help market this a little bit,” she noted, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness.
Her remarks underscore the fact that Tel Aviv hosts the second-largest Pride event in the world, yet many people outside of Israel remain unaware of its significance.
Jenner acknowledges challenges of war in Gaza
In addition to celebrating the LGBTQ community, Jenner acknowledged the challenges faced by the region, including the ongoing tensions in Gaza.
“Even though we are always in this moment of happiness and appreciating your coming, we also always speak about the situation, and our hearts are with those suffering in Gaza. We always hope for freedom for them too,” said the deputy mayor of Tel Aviv, who welcomed Jenner at the event.
Jenner also discussed her journey as a transgender individual and her advocacy for the trans community. Reflecting on her struggles with gender dysphoria and the societal challenges she faced, she shared: “I always grew up with when you’re gender dysphoric, you’re kind of born that way, but when I grew up in the 50s and 60s, nobody talked about it. There wasn’t even a word for it. I had no idea what it was, so I kept my mouth shut.”
However, her breakthrough came when she publicly came out in 2015 on the cover of Vanity Fair. “It was life-changing for me because from that point on, I just didn’t have to lie anymore. I could just wake up in the morning and just be myself all day.”
Since then, Jenner has been dedicated to shedding light on issues faced by the trans community, with a particular focus on fairness in sports.
“I’ve been an advocate for the last five years because I know what’s wrong as far as with the trans community [that] is keeping biological men out of women’s sports. It just doesn’t work,” she stated.
Hope that her visit contributes to fighting for equality
Jenner expressed her hope that her presence in Tel Aviv would not only celebrate the achievements of the LGBTQ community but also contribute to the ongoing fight for fairness and equality.
“I want to bring a little bit of light in the small way that I can, and I think if everybody does a little something, we can change people’s minds to the perception of what Israel is all about.”
As the Pride Parade approaches, Jenner’s visit underscores a message of inclusion, diversity, and solidarity – both in Israel and globally.
Through her personal story and continued activism, she aims to encourage others to embrace the freedoms and rights that the LGBTQ community, particularly in Tel Aviv, has worked so hard to secure.