Must read! Bruce Jenner's ex-wife Linda Thompson writes about him

Bruce Jenner's second wife and mother of his sons, Brandon and Brody Jenner, actress/lyricist Linda Thompson, 64, wrote an article titled 'How Living With and Loving Bruce Jenner Changed My Life Forever'. In the piece, Linda explains how Bruce came to her in 1985 and told her 4 years after they got married that he wanted to become a woman. This actually led to their divorce. "If Bruce had told me about his gender issue when we first began getting romantically involved, I would not have married him. Pure and simple." Linda writes. Her story is quite touching. Read below..

By now, Bruce Jenner has revealed his struggle with gender dysphoria. I never would have dared to speak on this issue before he was comfortable enough to do so first. It is, after all, his truth, so I knew he should be afforded the dignity to reveal that truth on his own time and in the way he sees fit. I have respectfully kept his secrets private and would have taken his confidences to my grave had he not spoken out.

Bruce and Linda got married in 1981, days after he finalized divorce from his first wife

But now, many years into his remarkable life, he has spoken out. His legacy will likely be sprinkled with references like "Olympian," "decathlon gold medalist," "world's greatest athlete," "son," "brother," "husband," "father," "grandfather," "friend," and, hopefully, "pioneer" and "trailblazer for the civil rights of the transgender community."

So as much as this is about Bruce, it's not all about him. The sharing of my experience is meant to enlighten and inform -- to lend a modicum of comfort and support for all those disenfranchised, struggling, discriminated-against, searching souls.

Bruce's story and his struggle are uniquely his; my experiences with Bruce are commensurately uniquely my own. Following is a brief history of my time with Bruce -- a life experience that shaped my existence immeasurably.

Linda (former Miss Tennessee USA) dated Elvis Presley for four years and lived with him until a year before he died

One hot Memphis night in July 1976, Elvis (yes, that Elvis) and I were watching the Summer Olympics that were being held in Montréal.