> I would ask why a little boy identifies as gay in the first place, a bit young to be making such a big life decision.

It’s not about the little boy who identifies as gay in the moment; it’s about the little boy who realizes he is gay later on, and who has already internalized the message “it is wrong to be gay and people will make fun of you for it.”

And it’s not just gay people; this can apply to anyone who is considered “lesser”. The slurs are hurtful; and should be avoided out of empathy for your fellow humans rather than because the government said so.

But naturally there are a bunch of unempathetic edgelords who have to defy authority. So we are where we are.