Caitlyn Jenner's ESPYs Speech

It's hard to find fault with any of this.

You know, it is an honor to have the word “courage” associated with my life, but on this night another word comes to mind, and that is “fortunate.” I owe a lot to sports. It’s showed me the world. It’s given me an identity. If someone wanted to bully me, well you know what, I was the MVP of the football team—that just wasn’t going to be a problem. And the same goes tonight. If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead. Because the reality is, I can take it. But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn’t have to take it. So for the people out there wondering what this is all about, whether it’s about courage or controversy or publicity, well, I’ll tell you what it’s all about: 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 another. We’re all different. That’s not a bad thing. That’s a good thing. And while it may not easy to get past the things you [don’t always] understand, I want to prove that it is absolutely possible if we only do it together.

Wow, wow, wow! What a heartfelt, beautiful speech. She's a class act all the way! She's beautiful inside and out. She totally deserved that award! She is truly courageous! BRAVA!

I watched it last night and also saw some clips this morning. Her speech was incredible and I hope she makes a new career of public speaking. She can truly help make a difference in this world - for the better. Well done, Caitlyn!

Beautiful.

^ That doesn't work either.

I hope she makes a new career of public speaking.

Well Bruce was on the motivational speaking circuit for years, so it wouldn't be new, but you're right - as Caitlyn, she'd be on a whole other level inspiration-wise.

Horse Tears,

It's interesting, I was in a bar in midtown last week, and she walked in with a few friends. Her voice was very loud and deep, as it typically was whenever Bruce delivered his speeches or spoke on that reality show. Someone near me said "she looks a lot more Bruce than Caitlyn", I guess that meant that she still has many masculine features, including her voice. The airbrushed magazine cover was overdone and looks very little like her in real life.

Brilliant speech last night.

Voice -- not sure really. To me, she sounds the same, just with some natural aging of the voice going on. Part of it is probably simply that now the voice doesn't quite match the look, if that makes sense. But then again, there are plenty of cis women (is that the right term?) who have deep voices. Then you have 30 or 40 year old or older women who sound like five year old girls when they speak. Gotta use the pipes ya got.

I don't know what the deal is with the video on YouTube, why JG2's stopped working, why the link I posted earlier is now a "private video". **Knock wood** but looks like **at least for now** this is working, full presentation link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv3HGZSKs1Q

(Quit messing with your video links, ESPYS 2015 YouTube Channel!!! lol)

I failed to say the obvious earlier since my mind can only go one track at a time, but I thought it was a wonderful speech and the whole presentation was well-done.

Still can't get past Rachel Dolezal?

Maybe I am misremembering. Caitlyn seemed to cause quite a pressure build-up for you and Rachel came along and made your lid blow off when you kept insisting that Rachel being black was the same exact thing as Caitlyn being a woman.

As for myself, so far this has been the best possible outcome in the very swift evolution of Caitlyn's politics. All those years, Bruce was so isolated in his own head he had no idea he wasn't alone. And since telling his story he has learned trans history and last night was telling, let's face it, a room filled with many really stupid rich athletes that it was time to start being kind to people who are different.

Now, I wish she had gone further. I wish she had said, "So, popular jocks, no more beating up fags, no more calling anybody fags, no more harassing lesbian athletes, no more violence, no more murder. You are the bullies, I was a bully, and now I know why I was. I couldn't face the truth about myself."

Granted, it's a pipe dream. But it seems to me that Caitlyn knows that the rugged individual narrative sold by the party she has been a member of is a lie. So we'll see. I'm cautiously optimistic.

I really don't think there's any going back to the Republican party for Caitlyn, not as it stands today. The scales have fallen from her eyes and she has gone from isolated and alone to realizing there's a movement that has been going on a LONG time and the party Bruce supported has stood in its way every step. Plus, the politicians would ALL reject her.

Updated On: 7/16/15 at 08:50 PM

One of the things I've learned from patient trans people is that very often there is an age divide within the trans community. The younger a person has surgery, the more their looks are conforming to the norms of their post-transition gender. Sometimes people who transition late in life resent that, because they can not as easily "pass" as the younger folks do. The voice is a lot of work, and maybe not even work Caitlyn feels like doing at this stage of the game.

Did she discuss her vehicular homicide?

I guess I don't see what one has to do with the other. And I don't see Jenner as this untouchable instant role model that others do. I think it's great she wS brave enough to come out but it takes a lot more than transitioning to deserve respect.