President Barack Obama Praises Caitlyn Jenner: ''It Takes Courage to Share Your Story''

POTUS speaks out in support of the E! star

By Alyssa Toomey Jun 01, 2015 10:30 PMTags
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After endless support from friends, family and fans, President Barack Obama is speaking out about Caitlyn Jenner's public debut on the cover of Vanity Fair.

"It takes courage to share your story," the Obama administration tweeted, via the 53-year-old commander in chief's @BarackObama account. The post included a link to Caitlyn Jenner's first tweet which read, "I'm so happy after such a long struggle to be living my true self. Welcome to the world Caitlyn. Can't wait for you to get to know her/me." 

Minutes after the initial post, the Obama administration also encouraged followers to share their stories with regards to LGBT equality. "Your story matters in the fight for LGBT rights—share it here: https://ofa.bo/s6mA ."

(With the release of her Vanity Fair cover on June 1, Caitlyn has chosen to publicly identify as a woman and E! News will refer to her using female pronouns. In stories published prior to this date, Caitlyn was referred to as Bruce and male pronouns were used.)

VIDEO: Watch the behind-the-scenes video from Caitlyn's Vanity Fair cover

Obama's support comes after a number of celebs, including Caitlyn's famous family members Kim Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kendall Jenner and Kylie Jenner, as well as famous fans such as Maria Shriver, Kerry Washington, Hoda Kotb, Ellen DeGeneres and more expressed an outpouring of support following the Keeping Up With the Kardashian star's first print interview and photo shoot since sharing her transition with the public. 

"For all intents and purposes I am a woman," Jenner said during a two-hour special with Diane Sawyer, which aired in April. "People look at me differently. They see you as this 'macho male,' but my heart and my soul and everything I do in life, it is part of me, that female side is part of me. It's who I am. I was not genetically born that way."

Following her big debut, Jenner's Twitter page quickly became the fastest growing account to reach 1 million followers, beating out the previous record holder, Mr. President Obama. She thanked fans for the accomplishment and gave a nod to her past as an Olympic athlete. 

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