Bruce Jenner's ex-wife hopes people can "embrace" his decision to become a woman.
Bruce Jenner
Linda Thompson - who was married to the 65-year-old former Olympian from 1981 to 1986 - has urged people not to judge her ex-husband as he has "been held prisoner in his own flesh".
She wrote: "Bruce has already 'gone through the fire', suffered unfathomable discomfort and pain, been held prisoner in his own flesh.
"It is certainly not our place to judge him or others who may feel trapped, ostracised, or alone."
And Linda, 64, hopes Bruce's decision will have a wider effect on others who may be perceived as "different".
Writing for The Huffington Post newspaper, she added: "My hope and my prayer is that humanity has evolved enough and been properly educated to exercise kindness toward those who have struggled or who we may perceive to be 'different'.
"Our uniqueness, our individuality, and our life experience moulds us into fascinating beings. I hope we can embrace that. I pray we may all challenge ourselves to delve into the deepest resources of our hearts to cultivate an atmosphere of understanding, acceptance, tolerance, and compassion. We are all in this life together."
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