Caitlyn Jenner Delivers Powerful Speech As She Receives Her Arthur Ashe Courage Award: 'Transgenders Deserve Respect'

After facing criticisms over ESPN’s decision to grant her the ESPY Award, Caitlyn Jenner accepted the recognition with grace. She went onstage and provided the audience with an emotional and beautiful speech about the transgenders needing the rest of society’s respect.

Donning a white long gown, Jenner went up the stage to accept her Arthur Ashe Courage Award. She took the time as an opportunity to share her recent experiences of being an official part of the transgender community and why people should treat transgender people with respect. In her speech, she recounted how used she is to overcoming high pressure challenges over the years.

She cited the winning at the Olympics and raising a family as some of the challenges she went through but her transition tops all these. She said it was harder than anything she could have imagined. She gave some statistics on the ordeals transgender people have to go through everyday, with some ending up being physically hurt and murdered. Ultimately, she shared that all the difficulties that trnasgenders need to cope with, they certainly deserve something “vital:” people’s respect.

With the award, there is no doubt in people’s minds that she is brave. However, Kylie and Kendall Jenner’s father said more than anything, the award made her feel fortunate. She claimed that the spotlight on her because of the award gives her the opportunity to speak up for trans people. “I know I’m clear with my responsibility going forward, to tell my story the right way — for me, to keep learning, to reshape the landscape of how trans issues are viewed, how trans people are treated,” Jenner said. She added that she only has one simple idea to promote, and that is people should accept each other for who they are.

Us Magazine reports that during the event, noticeably among the audience are Jenner's children and stepchildren, giving her support while she delivered her heartfelt speech. None of them chose to walk the red carpet, just the televised event. However, Kylie Jenner did furnish some of her fans with some backstage photos of the brood. She Instagrammed a group pic of all Jenner's children and stepchildren, except for Rob Kardashian. The picture showed everyone in sophisticated black outfits but posing with wacky faces.

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