Every year when Pride Month arrives, the same conversations surface. Some people celebrate it with colour and joy; others insist it's "not normal". The word gets thrown around as if it's a fixed, universal truth. But when you look closely, "normal" is often just another way of saying "what I'm used to".

So it's worth pausing and asking: what do we really mean when we talk about normal?

Because when I look around, I see things that are far from normal — and yet they pass without question.

Is it "normal" to set fire to flags because you disagree with someone's identity? Is it "normal" to send vile messages to strangers online, people you've never met, simply because they exist differently to you? Is it "normal" to shout at teenagers in the street for holding hands with the person they love?

These actions are loud, aggressive, and destructive. And yet they're rarely described as "not normal".

Now compare that to something much quieter:

A young person trying to understand who they are. Someone looking for a place where they feel safe. Someone hoping to live honestly, peacefully, and without fear.

Which of these feels more normal? Which of these harms no one? Which of these is simply a human being trying to find their way?

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The truth is, Pride isn't about being different for the sake of it. It's about being allowed to be yourself without being punished for it. It's about belonging. It's about safety. It's about the freedom to live a life that fits.

And if we're honest, that's something everyone wants — LGBTQ+ or not.

So this Pride Month, instead of asking whether someone else's life is "normal", maybe the better question is this: Is kindness normal? Is respect normal? Is letting people live their lives in peace normal?

Because if those things aren't normal yet, they should be.