“As you read these words, somewhere on the planet, a parent is explaining to their child that people hate them for being different and that they must remember this knowledge to remain safe. That child could be White or a person of color. They could be of any religion or no religion at all. They could be able-bodied or have a disability. They could be neurotypical or neurodiverse. They could be straight or queer. They could be cisgender or gender nonconforming. They could be poor or financially secure. They could be privileged or marginalized. In the end, the details do not matter, aside from them being the target of bigotry for being different. I think of that child trying to process this new information in a mind that, up to that point, had only been concerned with what we all hope children are concerned with—dreams, joys, and simple delights. I think of the parents watching, perhaps not the light fade from their child’s eyes completely, but watching that light dim a bit. I think of how bigotry ends so many childhoods, and I am filled with sadness, outrage, and familiarity.”