It’s more about the chatter the marriage equality plebiscite has created. I liken it to the license to comment which pregnancy seems to signal to anyone looking at an expectant mum.

The bulging belly is very much up for discussion. Any other time, commenting on a woman’s size is taboo. ‘’Wow, are there twins in there?’’ That’s fair comment, it seems, when you know cup cakes aren’t the cause of the extra kilos.

Same seems to go for two woman in a relationship. The couple I observed were deep in conversation, laughing over a latte, holding hands and oblivious to the world around them. A stranger interrupted. He gave them a ‘’thumbs up’’ – yes stuck up his thumb – and said ‘’I know people like you and I love you both, I will vote ‘Yes’.’’ The couple politely thanked the man and returned to their conversation. He interrupted again. This time, to announce the one with short hair was the more ‘’masculine’’ of the two.

Read More: I just want to be treated the same as the next person

What makes a person say ‘’I know people like you’’. Like what? And since when is short hair a sign of masculinity? (The woman was edgy, feminine and beautiful, but that’s beside the point).

It got me thinking about Pink’s words at the recent MTV awards. How it must feel to be so blatantly judged by your look. Her speech was about her daughter feeling ugly ‘’like a boy with long hair’’. It’s a shame adults can still need this pep talk too.

"’Do you see me growing my hair?' She said, 'No, mama.' I said, 'Do you see me changing my body?' 'No, mama.' 'Do you see me selling out arenas all over the world?' 'Yes, Mama.' 'OK! So, baby girl. We don't change. We take the gravel and the shell and we make a pearl. And we help other people to change so they can see more kinds of beauty.'"