A mother has penned a powerful open letter on Facebook, defending her son's right to wear nail varnish without fearing a backlash.
Devon Berryann, from Pennsylvania, USA, explained that her six-year-old had been teased at school for the polish he had on his nails.
Although she momentarily wondered whether taking it off would stop the bullying, Berryann said she realised she needed to let her son be who he wanted.
"He likes to wear girls’ clothes and tutus," she wrote on Facebook on 15 June.
"He tells me about the boys he likes at school. He says he will marry them and adopt babies. Maybe he will outgrow it. Maybe not."
"I love and accept him for who he is," Berryann continued. "I always thought that doing that would protect him from the pain of hurtful words and bullies, and I didn’t worry.
"A couple [of] days ago he told me again about kids teasing him at school for his nail polish, and for the first time ever I considered talking him into taking it off.
"Because for the first time ever I was scared that he would be gunned down one night when he was out having a good time with his friends.
"In that moment I was so terrified that I wondered if it would be better to stop appeasing him. Then I remembered all the reasons I let him be who he wants. Because it makes him happy.
"Because nothing hurts more than seeing your child truly sad.
"Because pretending to be someone you’re not to please other people only leads to self-loathing. To depression and to suicide."
Berryann said she feels the world needs to change to be better for her son.
"Because he is a wonderful, amazing person," she continued.
"He wants to be president. He thinks he is a ninja. He listens when you explain things and remembers it forever.
"He notices when you’re sad and tries to cheer you up. He has a light about him that just can’t be put out, no matter how hard some people have tried.
"What the world needs is more love and acceptance."
So what did she do? She went and bought more nail polish and let her son wear a tutu.
"So here he is world," she wrote alongside the photo of her son shared on Facebook.
"See my boy for the amazing person he is. Show him love. Show him acceptance.
"Help us change the world into one that deserves him."
The post was shared more than 12,000 times in seven days and encouraged other mums to share similar stories about their children.
"Let him rock it," one mother wrote. "I have put nail polish on my son because he asked for it.
"I don't care what he wants to be or who he wants to be as long as he is a loving, honest, respectful human, I will love him unconditionally."
Another wrote: "Love this! I let my kid rock pink dresses whenever he wants. You are such a great mumma."