In the 1976 Summer Olympics, Bruce Jenner made every American proud when he won gold in track, set a world record in the decathlon, and left no doubt he was a champion.
Almost four decades later, in front of a packed auditorium in Los Angeles and a television audience of millions for the ESPYs last week, a ravishing 65-year-old transgender Caitlyn Jenner left no doubt she was, indeed, still a champion.
Jenner’s journey from All American Boy, track star and heartthrob of the nation to a radiant woman appearing stunning on stage in a white Versace gown is one that has since had American talking.
For Caitlyn, it must have felt like another Olympic moment. She turned the spotlight squarely and purposefully on a subject not previously discussed at the nation’s dinner table: the until-now silent ‘T’ for transgender in LGBT.
Caitlyn had the attention of millions – and the standing ovation she received on conclusion proved she opened minds, provoked new thought and earned a measure of respect.
“All across this country, right now, all across the world, at this very moment, there are young people coming to terms with being transgender,” she said. “They’re learning that they’re 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.”
She’s right.
The plight of trans men and women in America is one that has been invisible for too long. The stories of young transgendered men and women choosing to commit suicide rather than deal with a cruel, unaccepting world – or being murdered through ignorance and intolerance – are too often met with inaction if not apathy.
That is unacceptable.
Whether or not you think Caitlyn deserved the Arthur Ashe Courage ESPY Award (named for the African-American tennis star who died of AIDS in 1993), the fact is she hit the ball out of the park by using the opportunity to call attention to a previously taboo subject – at the same time giving hope and inspiration to tens of thousands of trans and trans-questioning youth and adults.
I didn’t know the man, of course, but I have a feeling Arthur Ashe would have liked the idea of that.
Kudos to Caitlyn Jenner for using her notoriety to forge social change, but closer to home, in Tampa, Fla., there is an outstanding transgendered woman who is also earning a staggering level of respect and support for herself and the trans community.
Ashley Brundage, who transitioned in 2010, is climbing the corporate ladder at PNC Bank where she has been showered by her employer with well-deserved awards for excellence. (Not incidentally, PNC Bank scores a perfect 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Index.)
She is the president of the Tampa Bay Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce, serves on numerous boards including the Tampa International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival, the Ybor Youth Clinic and TransAction Florida, and in 2013 was named one of Tampa Bay’s “Community Leaders Under 35” in the LGBT community.
That’s just the beginning. Ashley was nominated for the 2014 and 2015 Tampa Bay Business Journal “Woman of the Year” award and was named 1 of 14 “Most Remarkable People of 2014” by Watermark magazine, the well-respected LGBT publication of Central Florida.
This young transgendered woman is involved in countless other boards and organizations and is a tireless advocate, educator and national speaker on transsexual issues and workplace equality and diversity.
She has been has been married to Whitney for 12 years. Together they have two sons ages 9 and 7.
Ashley Brundage’s story as a transgendered woman, business professional, community leader, activist and parent isn’t typical, but it is inspiring. Ashley is living her life in her own truth — with pride, devotion, selflessness and, yes, courage.
Just like Caitlyn Jenner.
Peter Jackson is the President and Group Executive Publisher of Multimedia Platforms Worldwide, parent company of the Florida Agenda.
