<<Print>>Caitlyn Jenner last week picked up the Glamour Magazine Transgender Champion award.
The former Olympian has been receiving such plaudits ever since ‘coming out’ with the decision to change gender- although one man is clearly not amused.
Police officer James Smith, whose wife Noira Smith won Glamour’s woman of the year award in 2011- has returned it to the magazine for their decision to award Jenner this year.
Noira Smith died rescuing those trapped in the Twin Towers in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The magazine honoured her posthumously in December 2001.
But her husband James, also a police officer- believes it cheapens the award to hand it out to ‘Bruce Jenner’. In an open letter he posted on Facebook, he asks if there are no worthy women in the entire world than Jenner? He believes the decision to award it to her is a cheap PR gimmick; and since it dishonours his wife’s memory, he has decided to return their award to them.
Glamour says their decision to give the award to Caitlyn is a sound one. A spokesperson for the magazine said:
“We were proud to honor his wife… in 2001, and we stand by our decision to honor Caitlyn Jenner. Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards recognise women with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.”
Read Smith’s scathing letter below…
Cindi Leive
Glamour Magazine
Conde Nast
1 World Trade Center
New York, NY10007
Dear Ms.Leive,
On October 29th, 2001 I was honored to accept the Glamour Magazine "Woman of the Year Award" posthumously given to my wife, Police Officer Moira Smith. Moira was killed on September 11th, 2001 while rescuing thousands from the World Trade Center. EMT Yamel Merino was also posthumously honored that evening for her heroism.
I was shocked and saddened to learn that Glamour has just named Bruce Jenner "Woman of the Year". I find it insulting to Moira Smith's memory, and the memory of other heroic women who have earned this award. Was there no woman in America, or the rest of the world, more deserving than this man? At a time when we have women in the armed forces fighting and dying for our country, heroic doctors fighting deadly diseases, women police officers and firefighters putting their lives on the line for total strangers, brave women overcoming life threatening diseases…the list of possibilities goes on…is this the best you could do?
I can only guess that this was a publicity stunt meant to resuscitate a dying medium.
After discussing this slap in the face to the memory of our Hero with my family, I have decided to return Moira's award to Glamour Magazine.
Sincerely,
James J Smith.