Candis Cayne on ‘Transparent,’ Caitlyn Jenner, & Trump

Larry King interviews Candis Cayne, an actress, performance artist, and transgender icon known for her roles in ‘Nip/Tuck,’ ‘Dirty Sexy Money,’ ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race,’ and ‘I Am Cait.’ Cayne is an activist for the LGBT community and is releasing a new book, ‘Hi Gorgeous!: Transforming Inner Power into Radiant Beauty.’ Larry asks why Cayne wrote the book, and she talks about wanting to teach women of every race and age how to be beautiful both inside and out.

Larry asks if Cayne has more insight from having been a man, and she says she’s always felt female but has experienced life as a male and the different reactions it elicits. She recounts coming out twice, first as gay and then as trans, because there wasn’t a word for trans people back then. Luckily, Cayne was raised by accepting parents, and coming out was only hard in the sense that she had to vocalize new things she was discovering about herself. As an actress and performer, Cayne wants to fight for her community and be vocal.

Larry mentions Cayne has been outspoken in her criticism of Donald Trump, and she replies that a president can’t only represent part of the country. In response to whether she believes Trump has been rough to the LGBT community, Cayne laments that Trump has filled his cabinet with people who are outspoken against the gay community. Larry asks about Cayne’s friend Caitlyn Jenner’s conservatism, and Cayne acknowledges they’ve argued about politics, but she believes that true conservatives should be able to converse with liberals and not let their differences hinder their friendship.

Larry asks why Cayne didn’t want to blend after her transition, and Cayne says she wants to be open about her past. She describes the first time post-transition that she went out with a man as liberating, finally feeling like herself. Larry asks if Cayne will get married, and she says she will if the right guy comes along. Delving more into her personal life, Larry asks Cayne what it felt like to be in the wrong body when she was young. She remembers thinking why she couldn’t be like a girl. Asked what advice she’d give to a young trans person, Cayne says you should be who you’re supposed to be when the time is right, and to make it a safe and positive transition.