Caitlyn Jenner spoke about her transformation at the ESPY awards.
Speculations and controversies rose over Jenner being the honoree for the ESPY's courage award. However, Jenner was brave enough to open up on stage in front of athletes and celebrities who came to celebrate the best of sports Wednesday evening.
At the 1976 Montreal Summer Olympics, the former Bruce Jenner broke a world record and won a gold medal in the decathlon. He was considered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
As one of the most known and celebrated athletes, Jenner decided to take advantage of the opportunity to speak in front of the biggest sports stars about transgender issues.
"Trans people deserve something vital: They deserve your respect," Jenner said at the ESPY Awards in Los Angeles.
“I’ve never felt more pressure than I have in the last few months. As you just saw, I dealt with my situation in private—and that turned this journey into an incredible education,” she added. “This transition has been harder on me than anything I could ever imagine, and that’s the case for so many like me.”
The 65-year-old Olympian wore a glamorous white gown. During her speech, she thanked Diane Sawyer, her family, and her mother.
Three months ago, Jenner decided to tell her story to Sawyer. “I’ve been thinking about this day forever,” Jenner stated in the famous interview. “And what I should do with my life, how do I tell my story, how I tell people what I’ve been through. And that day is today. I need the tissues. It’s gonna be kinda tough, but today is the day. Be honest with myself.”
Tearing up, Jenner looked at her family. “I always wanted my children to be so proud of their dad — for what he’d accomplished in his life," Jenner thanked her kids. “You guys have given me so much support, and I’m so, so grateful to have all of you in my life.”
Vanity Fair featured the first look at Jenner's life as a transgender. Shot by Annie Leibovitz, the magazine's cover introduced Jenner as 'Caitlyn' for the first time in July.
The ESPYs were Jenner's first major public appearance after her transition.
“If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead, because the reality is I can take it,” Jenner added towards the end of her speech. “But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with the truth of who they are, they shouldn’t have to take it.”
“For the people out there wondering what this is all about — whether it’s about courage or controversy or publicity — it’s about what happens from here,” she said.
“It’s not about just one person… it’s not just about me, it’s about all of us, accepting one another. We’re all different. That’s not a bad thing. That’s a good thing.”
Credit: Alberto Reyes/INFphoto.com
Video via YouTube from ESPYS 2015