Caitlyn Jenner, formerly Bruce Jenner, has been the main subject on social media for a majority of 2015. Media outlets have been rushing at the opportunity to report on Jenner’s transition, which was finally confirmed in an interview with Diane Sawyer in April. Jenner recently graced the cover of Vanity Fair’s most recent publication, appearing as a fully-fledged woman.

The support for Jenner has been overwhelmingly positive. People all over social media cried out in pride and happiness for Jenner. Never before had such a high-profile figure like Jenner come out as transgender, and this moment was a massive win for the LGBTQ community.

So why is there backlash over Caitlyn Jenner?

In my opinion, this subject is particularly unique because most of the opposition is not coming from the typical source of anti-LGBTQ personnel, the people you hear about in the news preaching against equality rights. There is animosity coming from our very peers.

People are becoming angry over the fact that Caitlyn Jenner is being hailed a hero for coming out about her true identity. This is because they feel that the people who protect our lives are not getting the recognition they deserve; the soldiers, police officers, firefighters, and other people alike deserve to be called heroes, not a media celebrity.

Caitlyn Jenner has also recently been awarded the Arthur Ashe Courage Award. The response to this decision has been comprised of much disappointment and anger. People think that Jenner is unworthy of this prize because the people she beat out included Lauren Hill, a college athlete battling brain cancer, and Noah Galloway, an army veteran and double amputee.

People are saying that Jenner is not a hero, and that she is not courageous; she does not deserve this much recognition and is only receiving so much attention because she is famous in the popular media world.

But why can’t they all be considered heroes? "Brave" and "courageous" are words that describe all of the individuals mentioned. The people who work to protect our country absolutely deserve our respect and gratitude. Anyone who battles a disease while maintaining a positive outlook on life and inspiring others also deserves that same recognition. And I believe it is also remarkable for someone constantly in the media’s spotlight to finally accept themselves for who they are after a lifetime of struggling with their identity.

Caitlyn Jenner has become a hero to people throughout the world struggling with gender identity. If a celebrity like Jenner can have the courage to make a change of this magnitude, then that can help someone else in the same predicament and show them they are not alone. By going public with her identity, she has given comfort to those facing similar circumstances, and also educated people on the reality of trans people.

It does not make sense to put down Caitlyn Jenner in favor of someone else. Jenner became a national hero as a result of winning the decathlon in the 1976 Olympic Games for an outstanding athletic accomplishment. Why can’t she be a hero now for bringing unprecedented visibility to gender dysphoria and other transgender issues?

It is acceptable to look up to many different people because heroes come in various forms. Let’s not make heroism into a competition, but rather appreciate those who inspire us.