On this day in history, September 25, 2015, Caitlyn Jenner officially changes her name and gender
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as William Bruce Jenner, officially adopted her transformation and adopted her new name on September 25, 2015.
The legal process for the name change began on September 15 of the same year, following her decision to live openly as a transgender woman.
Caitlyn's journey is intertwined with remarkable achievements in sports. As an American decathlete, she clinched a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic Games held in Montreal, amassing a then-record-breaking score of 8,618 points.
Yet, in 2015, she made history of a different kind, becoming one of the most prominent athletes to publicly come out as transgender.
Caitlyn Jenner's name change and legal recognition
To facilitate this profound transformation, the 73-year-old Caitlyn initiated the name change process to "better match my identity," as reported by the Associated Press.
Superior Court Judge Gerald Rosenberg granted the petition, officially recognizing her as Caitlyn Marie instead of her birth name, William Bruce.
This decision came after Jenner submitted a medical declaration and passed a background check, affirming her commitment to embracing her true self.
The announcement of her transition unfolded through a revealing interview with Diane Sawyer, which was broadcast on ABC's '20/20' program.
In the same month, Caitlyn was honored with the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the ESPYs, a testament to her bravery and commitment to advocating for transgender rights.
“If you want to call me names, make jokes, doubt my intentions, go ahead. Because the reality is, I can take it. But for the thousands of kids out there coming to terms with being true to who they are, they shouldn’t have to take it,” she said.
Caitlyn further documented her transition journey through the E! series 'I Am Cait.' She shared "Yesterday was significant, because my name and gender change came through. Holy crap.
Caitlyn said in the series, "Here we are - honestly never knowing if this day would ever come. In some ways, it's a little sad. Bruce was a good guy, did a lot of good things, raised a tremendous family and wonderful kids. But I just couldn't play that game any longer."
She told Out magazine, "I actually cried a little bit about it. "I was on the golf course, off playing by myself. It was very exciting, but such a head trip."
Caitlyn Jenner's high-profile marriage and reality TV fame
Caitlyn shot fame in 1991 when she married Kris Kardashian. The couple later became central figures in the immensely popular reality show 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians,' which chronicled the lives of their family.
The marriage eventually ended in divorce in 2014.
In April 2015, Caitlyn made the groundbreaking announcement that she identified as a woman.
Two months later, she revealed her chosen name, Caitlyn Jenner, marking a pivotal moment in her journey.
This transition was further explored in the reality series 'I Am Cait,' which premiered in July and ran for two seasons.
Her public transition from male to female became a cultural touchstone, sparking conversations about gender identity, visibility, and acceptance.
Caitlyn is a parent to six children through her marriages to three different spouses - Burt Jenner and Cassandra Marino, from her marriage to Chrystie Scott; Brandon Jenne and Brody Jenner, from her union with Linda Thompson; and Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, from her marriage to Kris Jenner.
Throughout her journey, Caitlyn has candidly acknowledged her challenges as a parent, especially concerning her eldest four children.
"The big formative years for them, I was really struggling with these issues," Caitlyn said on '20/20' in 2015. "I didn't do a good job. And I apologized to my kids for that," she added.
Caitlyn Jenner's political ambitions and candid memoir
In a surprising twist, Caitlyn, a Republican, announced her candidacy for the position of governor of California in April 2021. This move coincided with the state's recall election scheduled for later that year.
However, her campaign faced challenges and distractions, including a temporary suspension of activities for her appearance on the reality show 'Celebrity Big Brother' in Australia. Ultimately, she had a poor showing in the election.
Caitlyn also shared her personal journey through the memoir 'The Secrets of My Life,' published in 2017. This candid account allowed readers to gain deeper insights into her experiences and struggles.