Transgender women have been raped, murdered, humiliated, and limited for as long as there have been people on this planet. They have fought to the death for their rights and their people, and yet they cannot find shelter at a women’s resource facility because they were born with a penis. The gay and lesbian community has just begun to start enjoying life, but transgenderism is still misunderstood and hidden away in society. Coming out as a transgender person and saying, “This is me, and I love myself” is courageous, because of the violent past that is kept out of the history books. In April, Bruce Jenner came out as transgender in an interview with Diane Sawyer. In June, Caitlyn Jenner hit every newsstand in the nation with her big debut in Vanity Fair magazine. Cate’s new reality television show begins on July 26, and she receives the ESPN Arthur Ashe Courage Award on July 15.
The Arthur Ashe is one of the most prestigious awards in the world of sports. It comes with a responsibility to the public, to be a leader and ascend the world of sports to new levels. Ashe inspired this award by using his sports fame to advocate for human rights for the African American community; he never stepped down from adversity, but instead pushed on with strength and courage. Therefore, it is understandable that ESPN is being criticized for choosing Caitlyn Jenner.
Bruce Jenner was called the “world’s greatest athlete” in 1976, when he set a world record in the Summer Olympics’ decathlon. However, the fame pushed him towards the Kardashian lifestyle for the rest of his years, until he came out as transgender. Bruce was living in a world that trained him for self-promotion; he learned how to play the media like a world-renowned ringmaster. It was a very courageous move to come out as transgender in this world, especially as a well-known public figure. However, ESPN had many candidates for the Arthur Ashe Award that are true heroes, and not living their lives for the camera. The New York Post published an article about why Devon Still deserved the award over Jenner. Still used his sports fame to save his daughter from a terminal illness, and raised half a million dollars for further cancer research, while Jenner spent more than half a million dollars on new breasts, face lifts, extensions, and a nose job. This does sound harsh, but many believe that for Caitlyn Jenner to deserve a legitimate award like this, she must do something with her newfound fame. She has not donated to transgender community shelters, she has not spoken for the community, and she has not supported others in their life choices to be who they want to be. This transition in her life is all for her, which is fabulous and she is wished all of the happiness in the world, but the transgender community suffers as she puts on her new Louboutin heels.
ESPN’s decision to award Caitlyn Jenner with the 2015 Arthur Ashe had to be an ethically difficult one. They had much to gain going into the future, but also much to lose. The ESPN fan base is 94 percent male. The probability that this specific audience knows really anything about the transgender community is little to none. The situation was that they needed a new candidate for the 2015 Arthur Ashe award. Bruce Jenner used to be a sports superstar in the 70s, so technically he was eligible. However, the sex change would be called into play in this ethical dilemma. The transition did not take away Jenner’s Olympic gold medal. Therefore, there were no legal restraints in this situation.
When identifying ESPN’s values, one must take into consideration the newsworthiness of choosing Cate. Caitlyn is the hot topic in every newsstand, broadcast, blog entry, and radio station around the nation, but is it for the right reasons? She has not changed life for the transgender community, only for herself, so her change was not truly that drastic of one. People have been getting sex changes since the '80s. In a radio interview on The Dan Patrick Show, sportscaster Bob Costas said that ESPN’s choice of Caitlyn Jenner for the Arthur Ashe Award was a “crass exploitation play, a tabloid play.” He does not believe that she fits the description for the award, and the majority of the public agrees. There were other candidates that were highly deserving of this award, and whom the public would have celebrated and stood behind in their efforts to change society (i.e. Devon Still or Noah Galloway).
ESPN stood to lose respect, fans, and credibility over this award nominee. However, they would gain page views and more coverage because Jenner is a hot button issue, right now.
It would not have damaged Jenner in any way if she did not receive this award. She is not taking the responsibilities of the award anywhere. It is a big deal for ESPN to give a sports-related courage award to a transgender person, but not if they are not going to do anything with it besides get a reality TV show that is exactly like "Keeping Up With the Kardashians." ESPN should have chosen Still or Galloway for a positive change in this world. They would have gained supporters for cancer research, or more foundations for amputees to live a joyous and flourished life; they could have helped the community, according to utilitarianism and communitarianism. Under Immanuel Kant’s ethical principles, if ESPN can give an award to someone who will just put it on their nightstand, then the gold medal in Olympics will go to the person who would be getting the bronze medal; homicidal killers will be famous; someone with a low IQ and no motivation will get the Nobel Peace Prize.
Caitlyn Jenner is in a limbo phase, right now. She can choose to do great things with her life, inspiring thousands. She can change the futures of transgender people across the world. She can use her wealth to help the unfortunate and lead them to a happier path. She can set an example that will change society. However, so far her new TV show is following her on vacations and watching her do her makeup, so one can worry about the future. ESPN could do no wrong choosing inspirational people who care about the community and the welfare of others and their futures. Noah Galloway is a double amputee, an Iraqi war veteran, a cross fit athlete, runner, and third place winner on "Dancing With the Stars." ESPN is making a lot of money on page views alone for their announcement of Caitlyn Jenner as the award winner, but losing the faith from kids in high school with disabilities who work hard and dream of someday being a leader like Arthur Ashe, and fans have always supported ESPN as what they say they are, “an inclusive workplace for all” (ESPN Careers). ESPN bought into celebrity gossip and sensational news; it is in the highlights of the news, right now.
What is covered in the news is important, no matter what it is. It is important because it effects its audience, it makes them feel, think, and act. Tragedy in the news makes us rethink our lives and ponder what our purpose on this planet is. When we see others getting awards, we think of what we could do to get that award, how it would make us feel, if the nominee deserves it. While Caitlyn Jenner’s actions have been courageous and bold, they do not help the transgender community that Jenner is now part of. It teaches people, if you have enough money, you can have the body you have always dreamt of. Jenner has always been in the public eye, but she has been wealthy for a long time, and part of a family that is famous for their bodies. This transition from Bruce to Caitlyn Jenner is reminiscent of Kim Kardashian’s transition into the fashion world of beauty. Caitlyn Jenner is now famous for her body, joining the rest of the Kardashians. ESPN’s decision was not ethically right, but it did give Jenner the open door to inspire thousands. Let’s pray that she walks through that door.