WATCH: Caitlyn Jenner Gives Rachel Maddow a Reason to Talk Trans Issues (Finally)

In a surprising and welcome change of pace, MSNBC host and political commentator Rachel Maddow devoted a part of a segment on Monday night's Rachel Maddow Show to talk about Caitlyn Jenner's debut on the cover of Vanity Fair magazine.

"We all have moments in life when we have decisions to make and sometimes we decide we need to pick up and move in a big way," she said of Jenner's historic coming-out and what it means for trans people.

"We all have moments in life somewhere along that scale for reasons that seem particular to us but are likely shared by a lot of other people," said Maddow, "and we've reached that moment when the choice is moving forward or staying where we are for no kind of life at all."

It is worth noting that until last night, Maddow had been largely absent from the national conversation on trans issues, with a history of remaining surprisingly quiet on issues related to transgender people on her show. The lesbian host has frequently covered issues affecting LGBT people in general, but has shied away from covering trans-centric stories like those of Monica Jones or CeCe McDonald, and doesn't appear to have ever had a transgender guest.

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GLAAD and trans activist Dana Beyer even called her out for not using the phrase "gender identity" when mentioning the newest Employment Non-Discrimination Act's inclusion of transgender individuals.

Despite this, Maddow was not shy about opening up and praising Jenner's courage.

"More people will make it through because Caitlyn Jenner made it through and is making it through," Maddow said. "Because Caitlyn Jenner made this historic leap, out loud and in public. This is absolutely history, in the finest living sense today."

Watch the entire clip below.