Caitlyn Jenner's ESPYs Speech — Page 2

I didn't see it at the time either! But you kept drawing the two back together in your comparison analysis mostly to support your political distaste of Jenner. I guess I feel like it's my turn to do it now. I also did not see Jenner as either untouchable or an instant role model. In fact, I laid out what I thought would have to happen for this to be a palatable development and what she has said has gone much further than Bruce would ever have been capable of.

Like it or (obviously in your case) not, but somebody last night used a national platform to shed light on the reality of the difficult lives of young transgender people, PARTICULARLY transgenders of color, to a room filled with people who were in large degree most likely VERY uncomfortable to be exposed to this reality, even second hand. If it was all "I, me, my..." it would be one thing. But it most decidedly was not.

And, as I said back then, the whole "transracial" thing was only being talked about by media types trying to belittle Jenner. Which is a motivation that I think overlapped with yours.

In all humble sincerity, that's what people (including me) often say in the face of sudden change that causes a strong reactionary impulse.

Look I don't know what to say. All I know is the day after it aired I posted that I hoped Caitlyn underwent a political transformation along with her physical one. And what I heard in the ESPY speech, which included many many mentions of others who have gone before her and others who will come after her along with focus on herself, it seems as if that evolution is under way. And that's a win.

And if as she said in the speech, you want to rag on her about whatever, you don't like her voice or her clothes, go ahead. But it sounds like she realizes the great work is beginning and that too is a win. Just watching Brett Favre wiggle in discomfort was worth it to me.

He wriggles all the time because his penis is shaped like a pig's tail.

Look, as a lover of Bruce's physical looks and loather of his politics, I'm in an odd position being put on the defense team. I guess every generation gets its own trans athlete and Bruce was simply a different caliber of athlete than Rene Richards. And to paraphrase Donald Rumsfield, you don't necessarily make social change with the personalities you want, you make it with the personalities you get. Back in the day, ANYBODY could ignore the Renee Richards story, but for sports fans (including the misogynist homophobic ones) they can't ignore Caitlyn, particularly the rah rah Amurica hard right.

Also, we do all recognize the "you gave this to xx while yy is more deserving" is straight outta the Fox News playbook, right? Palin-esque, even.

Updated On: 7/17/15 at 10:34 PM

He didn't even mention Mr. Ash in the speech.

Yes, she did actually.

Updated On: 7/17/15 at 11:21 PM

I'd have to hear it again, but I don't really remember.

I just have a hard time seeing all the hoopla around Caitlyn, when I've seen real transvestites struggle for years, and never had the money or wranglers that Ms. Jenner has. Seems awfully easy to do all of this when you are "F U Wealthy" in the first place.

Sweet ones, at least.

"Also, we do all recognize the "you gave this to xx while yy is more deserving" is straight outta the Fox News playbook, right? Palin-esque, even."

Believing your personal choice should have won, been chosen, gotten an award, been recognized instead of someone else I don't think ascribes to any particular network, political point of view or candidate. It is universal and is a product of people's belief that their opinion is THE right one whether or not there is any objective evidence to support it. If you want to attribute it to a certain playbook, you could just as easily attribute it to the BWW playbook of "I can't believe that xx show didn't win the Tony over yy in 1983. They wuz robbed".

Take this for what you will, as it is coming from the Daily Mail, but it speaks of the buying and selling of the award.

To me, it just felt like more of the same. Someone wrote a BEAUTIFUL speech. I appreciated what was said. Had it come from someone other than Jenner, I could have appreciated it far more than I did. The bad teleprompter reading and the well-timed cuts to the stacked-in-order-of-twitter-followers family just left me feeling a bit like the interview did. It's fantastic that it's getting said in such a public way, but it all feels so insincere.

Updated On: 7/18/15 at 01:31 PM

You do know that Caitlyn isn't a transvestite, right?

And what determines "realness"? The struggles and hardships of those without Jenner's money are certainly real and Jenner is certainly privileged in not having to go through that. But does that some how make Caitlyn's transition and experiences with that transition and her own hardships not real?

Updated On: 7/18/15 at 01:39 PM

That last sporting event I watched was the Tony Awards, but I have to say, I'm kinda surprised at the apparent reverence so many people have for the ESPYS which are, let's face it, essentially marketing product for a cable sports network, not an olympic medal.