Caitlyn Jenner Legally Changes Her Name And Gender

This weekend marked another milestone of sorts for Caitlyn Jenner. Just three months after Caitlyn Jenner introduced herself to the world on the groundbreaking cover of Vanity Fair, a judge approved the Olympic champion’s request to legally change her name and gender.

According to the magazine, the 65-year-old requested the change to ?better match my identity.? Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg granted the petition to call Jenner ?Caitlyn Marie? instead of her birth name, ?William Bruce,? after Jenner submitted a medical declaration and passed a background check.

Though the legal name change was just that, it was no doubt another barrier broken for Jenner as this means she is now legally accepted as a female in the United States. One might say that this officially brings her inspiring transitional journey full circle. Since she emerged on the cover of Vanity Fair back in July, Jenner has been praised, both from the transgender community and her celebrity peers and friends for her decision to publicly come out as her new self. She is now regarded as a powerful role model for the transgender community and frequently makes empowering speeches about her journey in hopes this will inspire those in a similar position.

?This transition has been harder on me than anything I could have imagined. And that’s the case for so many others besides me. Trans people deserve something vital – they deserve your respect. And from that respect, comes a more compassionate community, a more empathetic society and a better world for all of us,? she said as she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award back in July.

Jenner’s family have also been supportive, from her daughters to her now ex-wife Kris Jenner all publicly proclaiming their support for her.

It hasn’t always been an easy journey for Jenner though; she recently revealed that she had received many threats since she revealed she is transgender in a now historic Diane Sawyer interview.

“The uncomfortableness of being me never leaves all day long. I’m not doing this to be interesting. I’m doing this to live,” Jenner said at the time. Nevertheless, she is a role model for all that is positive and ever changing in our society and was even referenced by President Barrack Obama in a recent speech: ?(A)ll you have to do is look at the cover of Vanity Fair to see how America is more accepting of people for who they truly are.?

Via Vanity Fair