ESPN's First Transgender Employee Praises Caitlyn Jenner's ESPYs Recognition: We Have ''Finally Arrived''

Many were moved by Caitlyn Jenner's special
recognition at the 2015 ESPYs on Wednesday
night, but it proved to be an exceptionally
memorable night for one ESPN employee.
Courtney Pollack joined ESPN in 2003, and in
2004, she became the first transgender
employee at the network to transition on the
job from male to female. She is the
communication chair for ESPN EQUAL, ESPN's
Employee Resource Group (ERG) for lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender employees, and
on Wednesday night, she experienced
Caitlyn's monumental moment live.
"The most anticipated moment of the show
began as soccer star Abby Wambach
introduced Caitlyn Jenner as the 2015
recipient of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award,"
Pollack wrote in a piece for ESPN Front Row.
"A beautiful video package was played
highlighting the life of Ms. Jenner's Olyimpic
fame, and her struggles with gender identity.
She graciously accepted the award which was
followed by a very powerful and moving
acceptance speech," she continued.
"With tears in my eyes, my children's hands
clenched in mine, I realized that on this very
night, the transgender community had finally
arrived!"
What made the night even more remarkable
was that Pollack and her children had the
opportunity to meet Caitlyn following the
awards show during Jenner's private
reception.
"With my kids in tow, my ESPN colleagues
Sara Johnson (with her brother), Christina
Kahrl (alongside her wife) and I were escorted
to a private reception where we would join
Caitlyn with her family and friends to
celebrate her special night," Pollack wrote.
"We met Caitlyn, and shared food and drinks,
accompanied by wonderful conversation with
her and other guests. This was absolutely a
moment I will cherish for the rest of my life."
In her emotional acceptance speech, the 65-
year-old Olympic athlete spoke up for the
transgender community, encouraging
everyone to try and be accepting of one
another. She also thanked her wonderfully
supportive family, later admitting to Good
Morning America's Robin Roberts that "it
wasn't easy" to hold her emotions together
when talking about her kids!
"My family have been so supportive of what's
happening," said Caitlyn, whose six biological
children (Kylie, Kendall, Brody, Brandon,
Casey and Burt Jenner) and three
stepchildren (Kim, Khloé and Kourtney
Kardashian) were all in the audience cheering
for her. "My kids are great. They're absolutely
wonderful. I'm blessed to have just wonderful
children."
It was with their support, Caitlyn told Robin,
that she was able to go public with her
transition. This marked a major milestone in
LGBT history, and as Caitlyn bravely shared
her own story, she empowered others like her
and helped the general public understand, as
she put it, that "we're all different. It's not a
bad thing. It's a good thing."