Caitlyn Jenner Looked Ethereal at the 2015 ESPYs, Received Standing Ovation
Photo: Getty Images
The world’s been waiting for (and arguing over) Caitlyn Jenner’s acceptance of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPYs ever since she was announced as its recipient back in early June. And on Wednesday night, the moment finally arrived.
Prior to the award, U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team forward Abby Wambach introduced a 10-minute-long video (which you can view here) of Jenner’s history as both an athlete, and as a person struggling with gender identity, narrated by actor Jon Hamm. Also in the video were brief interviews with Jenner’s mother, sister, and daughter Kendall, who helped explain her story — which we first learned about during her monumental tell-all interview with Diane Sawyer in April.
“Just like in 1976,” Hamm said, referring to Jenner’s decathlon win at the Olympics, and now, her living the life she’s always wanted, “the timing couldn’t be any more perfect.”
Wearing a cream-colored, long-sleeved Atelier Versace dress with glamorous ruching detailing at the waist (which looked very Kate Middleton, if I may say so myself) and her hair pushed to one side, Jenner looked stunning and statuesque as she took to the stage to accept the award. The occasion marked her first official appearance since coming out as transgender.
Photo: Getty Images
Though she began with a joke about the hardships of picking out her outfit for the show, her speech quickly took on a more serious, and, in many instances, inspirational tone.
She used her platform to speak about the hardships faced by young trans people — including one teen who committed suicide several days before Jenner’s interview aired on television — and how she hopes her position as a well-known trans person can help people in the future.
“If there’s one thing I know about my life, it’s the power of the spotlight, Jenner told the audience. “Sometimes it gets overwhelming, but with attention comes responsibility. As a group, as athletes, how you conduct your lives, what you say, what you do, is absorbed and observed by millions of people, especially young people. I know I’m clear with my responsibility going forward: to tell my story the right way for me, to keep learning, to do whatever I can to reshape the landscape of how trans issues are viewed, how trans people are treated, and then, more broadly, to promote a very simple idea: accepting people for who they are.”
She ended her speech by thanking Sawyer for her help with the trans community, as well as her family, many of whom, including Khloe Kardashian and Kendall and Brody Jenner, could be seen tearing up in the audience. When she was finished, the entire auditorium stood up and cheered together.
Whether or not you personally believe that Jenner deserved the award, you’ve got to admit: It was a seriously powerful moment, and one that will surely go down in history as a major milestone for the LGBTQ community.
Jenner and her mother Esther. Photo: Getty Images
More from Yahoo Style:
The Kardashian-Jenner Crew Goes Matchy-Matchy to Support Caitlynat the ESPYS
Caitlyn Jenner Stole an Hervé Leger Dress From Her ‘Vanity Fair’ Photo Shoot
Caitlyn Jenner Wore Alexander Wang to Celebrate Gay Pride
