Quote:No, getting the surgery is irrelevant, was just pointing out many were making an incorrect assumption.

 

ESPN created and bestows the award, it is up to them to determine who qualifies. I have no doubt the prospect of more fame and money had something to do with Jenner's recent disclosures, but that does not mean doing so was not courageous. Is Lauren Hill more deserving? Probably, but I don't hold ESPN in high enough regard to care one way or another.

 

Suicide rates among transgender individuals are alarmingly high. If Caitlyn Jenner's "coming out" helps some poor, anonymous soul feel better enough about him or herself to reconsider ending their life, then good was done. It matters not one whit to me that Jenner's motivation may not have been 100% purely based on the well being of others.

 

Understood.  But, IMO, that award was already Jenner's the day he/she agreed to sit down with Diane Sawyer for the interview. 

 

I agree with you in saying that ESPN shouldn't be held in high regard.  This only solidifies that viewpoint as far as I'm concerned. 

 

I don't think Jenner's declaration is going to save a single life to be quite honest.  If you listen to some of the experts on this subject, including one person who had the gender reassignment after being pressured to do so only to flip back to male after the fact because the change didn't fix his issues, nothing is going to change because Jenner has decided to put on a dress and makeup and attach some fake boobs.  All it's going to do at the end of the day is refill the coffers and give a bit more time in the limelight.  Those in the LGBT community who think this is somehow going to provide some sort of vindication at the end of the day are going to be very disappointed.  All a circus like this does is create more division.  If Jenner's genuine goal was to help others and to make the changes necessary to deal with the issues in his/her life, and he did it quietly outside of the public eye, I'd probably be more sympathetic.  The fact that Jenner has been actively promoting this in order to boost interest in a reality show starring Caitlyn diminishes the benefit drastically.

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