On Wednesday's The Source show, CNN host Kaitlan Collins cheerfully put on display the liberal media's fixation on Americans who identify as transgender as she devoted a three-minute segment to celebrating Nashville electing a transgender at-large representative to its Metro Council.
While council member Olivia Hill tried to emphasize job qualifications instead of identity, Collins naturally pressed for Hill to use the position to promote transgender rights in light of recent laws that have been pushed (by Republicans) across the country.
Near the end of the show, the CNN host was beaming as she set up the segment: "Tonight the state of Tennessee has its first openly transgender lawmaker. Olivia Hill is a member of Nashville's Metro Council. She's also a Navy veteran who served in combat during Desert Storm and is an advocate of LGBTQ+ community, and a council member at large."
Collins began with a flourish: "Council Member, this is a historic day for you. I know this is a really big moment. You are now the first transgender elected official in Tennessee. One of the pitches that you made to voters was that you were, quote, 'a qualified human.' What drove that?"
Hill emphasized the discussion of issues on the campaign trail, leading the CNN host to talk up the possibility of more liberal activism on transgender issues as Collins followed up:
One thing that people, of course, will look for when you're in this role and what this means is, is a bigger national picture, though, of course, is more than 220 laws have been introduced this year, most -- a lot of them specifically targeting transgender people. How do you plan to use your voice when it comes to that issue specifically?
Any opposition to LGBTQ is "targeting." As the segment came to a close, Collins cued up her guest to push for transgenders not to back down even if they get negative pushback from family and friends:
HILL: I tell people a lot of times that, you know, imagine what your greatest wish is -- and whether that be to Miss America or a billionaire or whatever -- and imagine what your greatest wish is, and then imagine how you would feel if you woke up tomorrow and your wish came true. And that's what it's like for most trans people once they get to a point where they transition because you finally get to be your true, authentic self, and there's really not much that could ever match with that.
COLLINS: If any of them are listening tonight and are struggling or dealing with some of the things that you said you dealt with feeling that isolation or that loneliness, what would you say to them?
HILL: Just keep pushing through. Just be your authentic self and be you, and eventually things will change. People will come back around. The biggest issue we have in the trans community is a lot of people see us as men in wigs, and they don't -- they don't really truly see us for what and who we are.
This episode of The Source with Kaitlan Collins was sponsored in part by The Farmer's Dog. Their contact information is linked.
Transcript follows:
CNN's The Source with Kaitlan Collins
October 4, 2023
9:46 p.m. Eastern
KAITLAN COLLINS (before commercial break): Meanwhile, barriers have just been broken in the state of Tennessee tonight. You are about to meet the first openly transgender person elected to public office there, a U.S. veteran who ran for a right to sit at the table, and she joins me there next.
(...)
9:50 p.m. Eastern
KAITLAN COLLINS: Tonight the state of Tennessee has its first openly transgender lawmaker. Olivia Hill is a member of Nashville's metro council. She's also a Navy veteran who served in combat during desert storm and is an advocate of LGBTQ+ community, and a council member at large. Olivia Hill joins us here on The Source. Council Member, this is a historic day for you. I know this is a really big moment. You are now the first transgender elected official in Tennessee. One of the pitches that you made to voters was that you were, quote, "a qualified human." What drove that?
OLIVIA HILL: Well, I tried really hard to just work off of my experience and my resume for a right to sit at the table. I knew that trying to run as a trans woman would not win voters, and I just ran for my experience.
COLLINS: And what did you hear from voters when you were out on the campaign trail?
HILL: You know, the thing that I shared the most with folks is that people understand Nashville traffic. People understand how Nashville traffic has slowed down. But the thing is, is all the utilities have seen the same traffic -- so power, water, storm drains have all seen the same traffic, and they've all slowed down, and that's my expertise. So I've served 10 years in the Navy and then almost three decades at Vanderbilt University running the power plant.
COLLINS: Yeah, they say all politics is local of course. One thing that people, of course, will look for when you're in this role and what this means is, is a bigger national picture, though, of course, is more than 220 laws have been introduced this year, most -- a lot of them specifically targeting transgender people. How do you plan to use your voice when it comes to that issue specifically?
HILL: Well, I really try to separate that. I have a job to do in Nashville and to work on infrastructure, utilities and transit. And I plan to work very hard on that. I retired a couple years ago, and I plan to spend most of the effort on that. But I will also spend some time to try to advocate for LGBTU rights, especially T.
COLLINS: Yeah, you have mentioned that you have been through a lot and that you lost a lot of friends, some contact with family members, your job. I just wonder how you're feeling tonight?
HILL: You know, I tell people a lot of times that, you know, imagine what your greatest wish is -- and whether that be to Miss America or a billionaire or whatever -- and imagine what your greatest wish is, and then imagine how you would feel if you woke up tomorrow and your wish came true. And that's what it's like for most trans people once they get to a point where they transition because you finally get to be your true, authentic self, and there's really not much that could ever match with that.
COLLINS: If any of them are listening tonight and are struggling or dealing with some of the things that you said you dealt with feeling that isolation or that loneliness, what would you say to them?
HILL: Just keep pushing through. Just be your authentic self and be you, and eventually things will change. People will come back around. The biggest issue we have in the trans community is a lot of people see us as men in wigs, and they don't -- they don't really truly see us for what and who we are.
COLLINS: Council Member Olivia Hill, congratulations and thank you for joining us here on The Source tonight to share that. Best of luck in your new role.
HILL: Thank you so very much for having me on the show.
