Take something about yourself. Any general thing. For this example, let’s say the fact you have brown hair.

Now, you’re not allowed to talk about having brown hair. You have to dye it, because if anyone found our you had brown hair you might get fired, or attacked, or killed. And trust me, people will try to uncover your true hair cover to hurt you or get you hurt.

You see every day on TV parodies of people with brown hair, acting like fools and being used as stock predator, villain or annoying characters. Politicians debate whether brunettes should have the same human rights as redheads and blondes.

Your schools don’t have policies in place to protect you if you’re bullied for being a brunette.

Churches don’t welcome brunettes and they teach that people who don’t fight their hair colour and dye it will go to hell.

When you’re brave enough to admit you’re a brunette, you lose friends and risk being disowned by your family. People tell you to stop talking about being brunette, and that you should just maybe keep dying your hair until the world gets less prejudice, instead of being open about your hair colour.

Chances are, in spaces where people don’t hate brown hair, you’re going to want to show it off. You’re going to take any opportunity you can to be proud of it. It’s going to become a big part of your life and who you are.

Keep this in mind the next time you wonder why for LGBTQ people being LGBTQ is “everything” to them, or the next time you call “pride” movements unnecessary.