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Telegraph, Daily Mail

Caitlyn Jenner Backlash: Anger Over ESPY Award; Petition Calls for Jenner to Be Stripped of Olympic Gold Medal

Jun 4, 2015  •  Post A Comment

While much of the response to Caitlyn Jenner has been positive, the revelation this week of Bruce Jenner’s new identity has also sparked some backlash. The U.K. publication The Telegraph reports that a petition has been started on change.org that seeks to have Jenner stripped of the Gold Medal won in the decathlon at the 1976 Olympics.

“The petition, written in the style of an open letter to the IOC, has already gained almost 9,000 signatures,” The Telegraph reports.

The petition reads, in part: “It has recently come to light that gold medalist Bruce Jenner is in fact transgender, and therefore, identifies as a woman. We congratulate Ms. Jenner on these new developments and wish her the best. However, this creates somewhat of a problem as Ms. Jenner (as talented as she is) claims that she has always believed herself to be truly female, and therefore, was in violation of committee rules regarding women competing in men’s sports and vice versa.”

Meanwhile, the announcement that Jenner will receive the Arthur Ashe Courage Award from the ESPYs has also been met with criticism. The U.K.publication The Daily Mail reports that a number of those who are angered by the decision feel that the honor should have gone instead to Lauren Hill, a college basketball player who died of cancer in April.

Others have indicated that the Ashe Award should go to wounded war veteran Noah Galloway, who was rumored to be a runner-up for the award.

ESPN denied that it had selected a runner-up, and issued a statement Wednesday defending its choice of Jenner.

The network said in its statement: “The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is meant to honor individuals whose contributions transcend sports through courageous action. Sometimes that courage is demonstrated over the course of a lifetime and sometimes it is demonstrated in a single act that shines a light on an important contemporary issue.”

The ESPN statement adds: “At all times, there are many worthy candidates. This year, we are proud to honor Caitlyn Jenner embracing her identity and doing so in a public way to help move forward a constructive dialogue about progress and acceptance.”

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7 Comments

  1. Enough with the ridiculous notion that Jenner should have to give up HIS Gold Medal (he won it as a man, any idea to list him as a “her” now in Olympic annals is also ridiculous).
    I’m more familiar with Lauren Hill’s story, but either her or Noah Galloway would have made excellent winners as well.

  2. It would be easier to believe Jenner if he hadn’t waited to make his announcement until after he had learned to manipulate the media for profit from the Kardasians. Watch how much money he makes and how tired the public becomes of this act. The magazine cover, the reality show; right out of the Kardasian playbook

  3. Well, I guess I won’t be watching the espy,s this year. What a f ing joke giving Jenner that award. I have no problem with a person becoming who they are,but ESPN should really be ashamed of them selves. But ratings drive the network

  4. BOYCOT the ESPY show. It can and will backfire on the net work. someone will come Start our real sports network. Leave the bulls—t like a weardOO who puts on little girls clothes and talked to a reported by someone with early stag of deme_____ha . All the money that was made will chock the life out of any benifites RECIVED .Boys will be boys. LOL We will teach our young men rite from wrong.

  5. The ESPY is an absolute grace. Bruce Jenner still has male chromosomes, a penis, and does not share the real experiences of women i.e periods, pregnancy, childbirth. Why are people hell – bent on denying science and siding with these delusional nutwits. Science matters, incase ESPY hasn’t caught on to this concept.

  6. Boycot!!! This is absolutely disgusting! Bruce Jenner was the athlete. If they are going to give the award to BRUCE Jenner then give it posthumously, because Bruce no longer exists. Shame on you ESPN.

  7. Jenner thought ESPY stood for ‘Enjoying Sex Penis Needed.”

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