I may change my mind when she endorses Donald Trump (I can't get over her Republicanism), but I do think LGBT people are unnecessarily harsh toward Caitlyn Jenner. She's made some blunders, but she has shown a willingness to listen to and absorb criticism—thick, she ain't. And her show is filled with useful teachable moments, whereas it could easily have been pure fluff.

Matthew Breen's sit-down with her for The Advocate cover bears out my take on her:

The media has kind of labeled me as the spokesperson for the trans community. That is not the case. I am only a spokesperson for my own journey. After that, I know nothing. Am I learning a lot? Absolutely ... I’m just trying to do my best, that’s all.

She says about her appearance (for which she's taken heat, especially when joking about how looking the part is the hardest part of being trans):

Kimberly [Kardashian West] says, ‘If you do go out, you’ve got to rock it, baby!’ You cannot let [the paparazzi] get that picture. They’ll take a picture of you with no makeup on, lousy outfit—and they’ll use it forever. You’ll never get rid of it. Kim’s very good at that stuff. It does take a little bit more work if you do go out. You’ve got to at least look good, at least the best you can ... But there’s more to life and womanhood than just that. And those are things I’m learning; I’m trying to read up on it. I’m trying to understand it because it’s all new to me.

Read the rest of Breen's thoughtful story, illustrated with images by Ryan Pfluger, here.