Dear everyone who continues to call Caitlyn Jenner “He/She” or “Caitlyn/ Bruce,"
There has been a lot of controversy over the past week over Caitlyn Jenner receiving the ESPY for courage. Some are saying that Lauren Hill, college basketball player with cancer should have won the award. While others are saying soldier Noah Galloway should have won the award for jumping on a live grenade to save his friend. However, that is not what I am here to talk to everyone about. I believe everyone is entitled to their opinion on the matter. You are allowed to believe what you want on who should have won the award. You are also allowed to believe whether ESPN was right or wrong in choosing Caitlyn Jenner. What I am not okay with are those people who are referring to Caitlyn Jenner as “He/She” or “Bruce/ Caitlyn.”
Caitlyn Jenner is a woman. She has had surgery, which made her into a woman. She dresses like a woman. She wears makeup like most women do. She has made a Twitter account where her name is Caitlyn Jenner. She has a show where her name is Caitlyn Jenner. On Instagram her name is Caitlyn Jenner. Her family refers to her as Caitlyn Jenner. She has changed her name to Caitlyn Jenner. She is no longer Bruce Jenner. She has abandoned this name. This name no longer exists to her. So why are people still referring to her as Bruce Jenner? Not only that, but why are people still referring to her as a he? Caitlyn Jenner is no longer a he. He does not exist.
Caitlyn Jenner exists and in calling her a he you are perpetuating a transphobic view AND not only that, but you are the reason Caitlyn Jenner deserved the award tonight. Now, most of you are saying no, I am not transphobic. I believe that he/she can do whatever he/she wants. But, the reality is you are still calling Caitlyn Jenner, who is a girl, "he/she." You are not allowing her to become who she wants to be. You are transphobic. Caitlyn Jenner won the courage award because it takes a lot of courage to stand up and say I was a boy, but now I am a woman. She won the award because there are still so many Americans out there who think she is wrong, and she is going to hell for what she did. She won the award because hate crimes on transgender people still exist. She won the award because there are people like you out there who will continue to call Caitlyn Jenner "he/she" or "Bruce/Caitlyn."
Caitlyn Jenner has given a voice to the transgender community, and she will continue to be that voice for a very long time. Through that voice I hope those of you who still refer to her as "he/she" and "Bruce/Caitlyn" can realize what you are doing and why it is wrong. Forget about who should have won the courage award, and think about respecting Caitlyn Jenner and the transgender community for what they want.
Sincerely,
A girl tired of muting people on Twitter for their ignorance
