At last night's annual ESPN awards, the ESPYs, Caitlyn Jenner was honoured with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. It was her first big public appearance since announcing that she is transgender and when she took to the stage to make a powerful and moving speech about the journeys for herself and other transgender people around the world, as well as people's attitudes towards transgender people, things got emotional.
Caitlyn began her speech by talking about putting herself in high-pressure situations such as competing in the Olympics, and raising a family but none more pressurised than the last few months and her experiences with her transition. She described the experience as eye-opening, inspiring and frightening.
She also noted the "power of the spotlight" and how positions in the spotlight brings a certain responsibility to raise awareness and a change in attitudes.
But this transition has been harder on me than anything I could have imagined. For that reason alone, trans people deserve something vital, they deserve your respect. And from that respect comes a more compassionate community.
A well deserved standing ovation brought her speech to a close but not before more than a few tears were shed. It's 11 minutes well worth taking out of your day to watch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j5AC_NgQpc
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