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Caitlyn Jenner, a hero for transgender rights

Photo Illustration: Kayla Stroud/THE SPECTATOR

Written Jordan Barela, Editor-in-Chief 

Members of the Kardashian family are no strangers when it comes to headlines and media buzz.

However, one member of the Kardashian clan is grabbing headlines for an actual reason now.

Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce Jenner, appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair; her coming out as a woman.

Social media was ablaze after the release of the cover.

The response to Caitlyn’s coming out was overwhelmingly positive. However, when it comes to social media, idiocy is bound to pop up.

People have made lighthearted pictures or “memes” in response. Some people still consider Caitlyn to be a male. Child star has-been, Drake Bell tweeted “Sorry… still calling you Bruce.”, which has since been deleted and he issued an apology.

What is worse is that some people do not consider Jenner to be a hero.

Particularly now that she was awarded ESPY’s Arthur Ashe Award for Courage. Jenner winning the award has caused an outrage on social media because she won the award instead of Lauren Hill, a nineteen year old college basketball player that succumbed to her battle with brain cancer and Noah Galloway, an Iraq veteran who lost an arm and leg and competed on the most recent season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

The outrage over the award is understandable. However, that does not mean that people should diminish Jenner’s courage. All three individuals are heroes.  An award is not going to change that and an award should not measure the vast amount of courage these brave individuals have shown.

Jenner is a hero for transgender rights. Just like Hill was a hero for battling cancer and Galloway is a hero for fighting for freedom.

What people need to realize is that there are different definitions of a hero. Heroes come in different shapes, sizes and yes, genders.

 

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