I can’t pinpoint why, exactly, Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair unveiling has given me so much gusto this past week. I feel like I’ve come out of the closet a million times in the last 72 hours. I’ve related. I’ve reflected. I’ve retaliated. I’ve rejoiced.

It was one of those moments that ignited and polarized an entire world. Though, I was positively shocked by the outpouring of support on Monday. From the President to celebrities to my conservative friends from small-town Mississippi, the sentiment was more than bright.

Then the long-form analysis started coming in, along with many outlets refusing to acknowledge Caitlyn’s identity, petitioning to revoke her Olympic medals, and dissertations of what the word “hero” means via shared photos of amputees on Facebook.

“Hero” is a word as subjective as the entire experience of gender.

My understanding of what it means to be male in 2015 America is just as valid and real as any other person who identifies as such. Likewise, my understanding of what it means to be a hero is just as valid and real as your definition, be it a veteran or the mother who raised 4 kids on her own.

Too many times in this life I’ve heard, “I have no problem with being gay [insert any minority] but I don’t go around telling people I’m straight [insert privilege].”

You don’t go around telling people “I’m straight” because you don’t have to.

You don’t face discrimination at work due to your gender not aligning with your assigned sex or because of the person you love. Your marriage is recognized as valid in the eyes of the government. You can extend your wife/husband health benefits. You can adopt a child. You get the idea.

Me affirming my sexuality is not about playing the victim — it is about giving a community validity and visibility. It’s not about attacking your religion, taking away your rights, or destroying the moral fabric of society. It’s about achieving parity.

Truth be told, my experience as a gay man in 21st Century America, on the whole, has been incredible — especially for a gay man who came of age in the Deep South.

Our personal stories of nuanced experiences are integral to broad acceptance and affirmation.

Only in high school did I encounter intolerance — years before I told anyone about my sexuality. It wasn’t until sophomore year of college, at an extremely conservative school, I opened up to my mom about something I thought surely she’d stop loving me over. But she didn’t stop loving me. Neither did my dad, or my fraternity, or my best friend, or my boss, or anyone who mattered to me.

My 5 years of being an out gay man have included many important milestones such as college, the start of a career and moving across the country. In these 5 years, I haven’t faced the prejudice and challenges like Caitlyn and so many in my community have.

I acknowledge and am thankful for such open-armed acceptance. To anyone facing (or seeing our friends facing) these challenges and ignorance, I beg just one thing: Empathize, be loud, know your definition of hero is just as valid as the next person’s, and understand that you are a member of a community that is visible and important and real.