By now we have all heard about and seen the new Vanity Fair cover of Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce. The headline reads, “Call Me Caitlyn," and is her way of shedding the mask that is Bruce and embodying who she is truly meant to be. In the recent Vanity Fair article Caitlyn explains, “I'm not doing this to be interesting. I'm doing this to live." She has been described as beautiful, an inspiration, and courageous by many who have heard her story. However, while Caitlyn is being praised across all forms of social media there has been a recent public dispute over ESPN awarding her the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at this month's ESPYs.

The Arthur Ashe Courage Award is a sport-oriented award, although its presentation is not limited to athletes. When announcing that the award would go to Caitlyn, ESPN cited Jenner's “strength of character" that she displayed when coming out. During a press release ESPYs executive Maura Mandt said, “[Jenner] has shown the courage to embrace a truth that had been hidden for years, and to embark on a journey that may not only give comfort to those facing similar circumstances, but can also help to educate people on the challenges that the transgender community faces." However, much of the general public does not agree with ESPN's pick of Caitlyn as the recipient. Some argue that Caitlyn is not courageous for the steps she took to personify her true gender.

There is much debate over whether or not Caitlyn can be called courageous at all. However, if you compare Caitlyn Jenner's courage to the courage of someone else, you need to reconsider. You cannot compare obstacles. You cannot compare the hardships that people have overcome. Being courageous is not a race to the finish line. Caitlyn opened herself up to the world and took a huge leap of faith in order to embrace who she wanted to be. She made incredible progress in bridging the gap between the straight and transgender populations. To so many who know the struggle, Caitlyn Jenner's actions exemplify true courage.

Another important question that we must ask ourselves is: Now that Jenner looks like a woman, will she be treated as one? Will people disrespect her by, instead of praising her for her mind, objectifying her body? Will she be treated as a beautiful, intelligent, and thoughtful transgender woman instead of the infamous Bruce Jenner?

We need to honor transgender men and women, not only for their new physical appearances, but also for who they are as people. It is unfathomable how the media immediately transitioned to commenting on Jenner's appearance instead of focusing on the amazing accomplishments she has achieved. However, this is a much deeper issue that doesn't only affect the transgender population. It would appear that Caitlyn is now getting a taste of what it's like to be a woman in this world. Despite this set back Caitlyn is nothing but gracious, shown by her tweeting continuous thanks to her many fans.

Apart from the wide spread love Caitlyn is experiencing, we need to understand that the fight for equal transgender rights is far from over. It will still be years before the transgender community will be privy to all the same liberties that straight people enjoy. It doesn't seem fair that those who are only looking to be themselves are shot down and ridiculed. We live in a world where blending in is more important than standing out. We live in a world that preaches individuality but practices conformity. The struggles of others must never be forgotten. They should not have to fight alone. No one should experience the fear and the shame that is thrust into the minds of those who only wish to be themselves. Let us remember Caitlyn Jenner and the tough journey that she has endured, but more importantly, let us not forget that the fight for equal transgender rights continues and that regardless of one's gender or sex we all deserve to pursue our own happiness.