Google airs advert about a transgender transition during the ESPYs

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Advert features journey of Jake Nothnagel transition from female to male
It follows his home videos of medication and exercise to reach his dream
The commercial was promoting City Gym as part of Google My Business
Divided opinion on Twitter, ad experts hailed its honesty and sensitivity
It came minutes before Caitlyn Jenner issued plea to support trans youth

Published: 14:57 EST, 16 July 2015 | Updated: 16:58 EST, 16 July 2015

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Google broke new ground on Wednesday night by airing an advert about a transgender man - moments before Caitlyn Jenner's 10-minute speech on trans issues at the ESPYs.

The commercial titled The Story of Jacob And City Gym features Jake Nothnagel, 26, describing his childhood as a boy trapped in a girl's body.

Using Jake's home videos, it follows his transition through surgery, medication and exercise to reach the masculine, muscular body he always dreamed of.

It came moments before Caitlyn Jenner issued an appeal for compassion on behalf of trans youth as she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award.

Google's powerful ad about transgender aired during ESPYs

Google's advert to promote its safe business aggregator features City Gym, which has become a haven for a number of transgender man including Jacob Nothnagel. The ad was aired during the ESPYs on Wednesday

The first scene shows a 26-year-old man fishing and talking about how he used to fish with his uncle

The second scene reveals that Jacob started life as a girl, as he sifts through photographs of his young self

'Trans people deserve something vital,' she said. 'They deserve your respect.'

The advert is designed to promote Google My Business, a service which purportedly vets businesses for safety and quality.

City Gym, the subject of the commercial, is described by owner Hailee Bland-Walsh as 'more than a place to workout... It should be a place to belong'.

She introduces viewers to Jake and three other trans men who had top surgery - removing breasts - before joining the gym to complete their transition.

By Thursday morning, the commercial had amassed more than 1.5 million views on YouTube.

Predictably, the two-and-a-half-minute segment divided opinion on Twitter, with some accusing Google of capitalizing on a sensitive issue.

One wrote: 'Where are all the positive comments? You mean the mainstream isn’t in big support of the ads? Is it because we are annoyed at how much this is getting pushed by corporate agenda?'

However, another said: 'thankyou @ABCNetwork @Google & #citygymstl for sharing Jacob's transition during ESPYs.This is the change I am looking for #translivesmatter'

AdWeek's Creative Director Tim Nudd applauded the commercial's honesty and sensitivity.

Journey: It then moves on to his YouTube videos, when he told viewers he was going to fully transition

Over time, after taking hormone medication and undergoing surgery, he starts having to shave

Eventually he joins City Gym with other trans youths to reach the muscular body he dreams of having

'It's a wonderfully made commercial,' Nudd told Daily Mail Online. 'The story is skillfully and evocatively told, and never feels exploitative.

'And it's unapologetic about the business tie-in, which is a good thing, as it doesn't feign disinterested altruism and instead presents a tangible case for supporting LGBT-friendly companies.

'Google has supported the LGBT community for years. With this ad, once again, it's leading by example.'

The advert, made to promote safe businesses, divided opinion on Twitter with some accusing Google of capitalizing on a sensitive subject. It was also aired just before Caitlyn Jenner's 10-minute speech

Ad experts hailed the three-minute spot as sensitive and honestly tied in with a business message

It came moments before Caitlyn Jenner issued an appeal for compassion on behalf of trans youth as she accepted the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. 'Trans people deserve something vital: your respect,' she said

According to Google's vice president of marketing Arjan Dijk, the firm wanted to add a voice to the conversation as it gains tractic.

Dijk told USA Today: 'The video had more than 1 million views on YouTube, and we thought: "We are in the middle of this conversation around the transgender community. Clearly we struck a nerve. And we want to be able to continue to have this conversation."

'Not that many big brands have very publicly supported and endorsed the transgender community. It's a role we want to play as a brand.'