Glamour magazine honored Caitlyn Jenner with the “Woman of the Year” award last week, prompting the husband of a police officer who died on 9/11 to return her award in protest.
Moira Smith died during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks along with 23 NYPD officers. She was the only female NYPD officer to die that day.
Moira Smith was named “Woman of the Year” by Glamour in 2001, shortly after her death, and her husband James Smith accepted on her behalf.
James Smith told CNN his reasons have nothing to do with being a transgender person.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
In fact, he says he supports Glamour’s decision to honor actress Laverne Cox in 2014.
Via email, Smith said:
“My precinct covered a shelter for transgendered youth. On several occasions I responded there to take reports or give aid to suicidal youths. I listened to their stories of physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Young people thrown out of their homes or fleeing from unlivable conditions.”
“They didn’t have the luxury of being part of the Kardashian circus. They weren’t living in a Malibu Barbie beach house surrounded by what passes for family in Hollywood. They were truly brave people fighting hourly for existence.”
“When Mr. Jenner said the hardest part about being a woman was figuring out what to wear (in a recent BuzzFeed interview), he proved to me that he is not truly a woman. I believe this comment and others he has made trivializes the transgender experience as I have witnessed it.”
Glamour stands by its choices.
“Caitlyn Jenner has helped shine a light on the problems faced by transgender youth and given voice to a community that is often unheard,” a spokesperson said. “Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards recognizes brave, bold women who in their individual ways have all made a significant difference in the world.”
