Caitlyn Jenner was given the 2015 Arthur Ashe Courage Award, and her acceptance speech is amazing. Who knew that something this good—something that could reshape the culture for the better—would come out of the never-ending Kardashian shitshow? Watch the speech.
All across this country, right now, all across the world, at this very moment, there are young people coming to terms with being transgender. They’re learning that they are different and they are trying to figure out how to handle that, on top of every other problem that a teenager has. They’re getting bullied, they’re getting beaten up, they’re getting murdered, and they’re committing suicide. The numbers that you just heard before are staggering, but they are the reality of what it is like to be trans today.
The point Jenner makes to the assembled athletes about their respect for hard work—transitioning is hard work—is really deft. Watch the speech.