Caitlyn Jenner delivers powerful speech at ESPY Awards by Arushana Sunderaeson
Caitlyn Jenner delivers powerful speech at ESPY Awards
Sorry Kim Kardashian, but Caitlyn Jenner is officially my favourite Kardashian/Jenner family member. Caitlyn Jenner called for acceptance on Wednesday night as she delivered a powerful speech at the ESPY Awards.
Jenner’s segment began with a montage narrated by “Mad Men” star Jonn Hamm. “People were looking for a hero to believe in and there he was,” Hamm said as images of Jenner participating in the Olympics games played. “Bruce Jenner made patriotism cool again.”
As the montage wrapped, the camera panned to a teary eyed Jenner in the audience.
“Wow. I have to talk after that?” she said.
“Thank you so much. It is so wonderful to be here tonight. Now the last few months have been a whirlwind of so many different experiences and emotions, but to tell you the truth it seems like every time I turn around in life I’m putting myself in high-pressure situations,” she opened.
“I’ve never felt more pressure. Picking out this outfit- OK girls, I get it!” she joked. “And next the ‘Fashion Police.” Please be kind on me, I’m new at this.” (Dont worry Jenner I have a feeling Joan Rivers is smiling up there in heavens and proud of you for coming out and accepting who you are!).
But Jenner’s acceptance speech took a serious turn when she addressed bullying, suicide and murder plaguing the transgender community.
“The real truth is before a few months ago, I had never met anybody elese who was trans, who was like me. I had never met a trans person, never. As you saw, I dealth with my situation on my own, in private,” she explained. “It’s been eye-opening… inspiring, but also frightening.”
“Transgender people are getting bullied. They’re getting beaten up. They’re getting murdered and they’re committing suicide,” she continued.
She encouraged the audience to accept people for “who they are.”
“My plea to you tonight is to join me and make this one of your issues as well. We start with education. I was fortunate to meet Arthur Ashe a few times and I know how important education was to him. I know people in this room have respect for hard work. This transition has been harder on me than anything I could have imagined. Trans people deserve soemthing vital- they deserve your respect. And from that respect, comes a more compassionate community, a more empahtetic society and a better world for all of us.”
Before exiting the stage, the 65-year-old made sure to thank her family- as the camera cut to Kim and Khloe Kardashian and Kendall, Kylie (who was captured wiping away tears) and Brody Jenner- for all their support.
“I’d like to thank my family. The biggest fear I’ve always had in coming out is that I never wanted to hurt anyone else. Most of all my family and kids. I always wanted my children to be so proud of their dad. You guys have given so much back to me, you have given me so much support. I am so, so grateful to have all of you in my life. Thank you.”
After thanking her mother, Esther, Jenner saluted the athletic community.
“It is an honor to have the word courage associated with my life. Another word I have is fortunate. I owe a lot to sports. It has given me an identity. If someone wanted to bully me [back then], it didn’t matter because I was the MVP. Same thing goes tonight, if you wanna make jokes, go ahead, I can take it. But for the kids out there coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn’t have to take it.”
“It’s about what happens from here. It’s not just about one person. It’s about thousands of people. It’s not just about me, it’s about all of us accepting one and another. We’re all different, thats not a bad thing- that’s a good thing.”
Caitlyn Jenner you are an inspiration to so many people out there and your speech has touch not just myself, but many boys and girls out there and inspired myself and others to accept who we are and to love ourselves. Cause LOVE is the only thing that matters! You are the perfect definition of courage. Thank you Caitlyn Jenner for sharing your story and being a positive role models to transgender community and many out there who are struggling to find acceptance and confidence within themselves. If you want to know more about transgender community please visit these sites below.
http://www.glaad.org/transgender/transfaq
http://www.familyservicetoronto.org/programs/dks/res_trans.html
http://www.advocate.com/transgender
Submitted by Arushana Sunderaeson
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