Rick Santorum's Views on Bruce Jenner's Transition May Surprise Some: "You Have to Respect Everybody"

Potential Republican presidential candidate makes some candid remarks over the weekend

By Mike Vulpo May 03, 2015 2:27 AMTags
Rick Santorum, Bruce JennerGetty Images

Possible Republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum is weighing in on Bruce Jenner's transition.

After revealing to Diane Sawyer that he is transitioning from a man to a woman, the 65-year-old Olympic gold medalist and parent of six received some "respect" from the conservative politician.

(At this time, Bruce Jenner has not chosen to publicly identify as a woman and so E! News will continue to refer to him as Bruce and use male pronouns, until he indicates otherwise.)

"If he says he's a woman, then he's a woman," Santorum told a group of reporters Saturday at the South Carolina Republican convention. "My responsibility as a human being is to love and accept everybody. Not to criticize people for who they are."

During his two-hour sit down with ABC News, Bruce also admitted to being a Republican. In fact, he told Sawyer that he would go to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to help promote the LGBT cause.

ABC

"In a heartbeat, why not," he told Sawyer. "And I think they'd be very receptive to it."

Santorum, however, has not always been open about LGBT rights. The politician recently made headlines with his strict views on same-sex marriage after saying that he would not attend a same-sex wedding because it "would be a violation of my faith."

But on the topic of Jenner, the 56-year-old urged the public to react in a "compassionate and respectful" manner.

ABC

"I can criticize, and I do, for what people do, for their behavior. But as far as for who they are, you have to respect everybody, and these are obviously complex issues for businesses, for society," he said. "And I think we have to look at it in a way that is compassionate and respectful of everybody."

While Bruce has not commented on Santorum's latest interview, the words he spoke with Sawyer may make it safe to say he would approve of the politician's statements.

"Have an open mind and an open heart. I'm not this bad person," Bruce shared. "I'm just doing what I have to do."

Learn more about what it means to be transgender at https://glaad.org/transgender

If you are transgender and need help or advice, contact the Trevor Project https://t.co/guMjyYIfng

PHOTOS: See Bruce Jenner through the years