What exactly would you say to this?
 

"You gotta play the game"

Why would I pretend to be someone I am not, lie to people, and try to change everything I am just to fit in?

When a parent tells you this, how exactly are you supposed to feel? Like my own personality just isn't good enough? I have to "play along" because it's expected? act like a straight person?

Seriously

To me I see it as demeaning as if I am just some actor taking a role and this isn't real life.

or am I just flipping my shit for no reason?

It may be true that life has many points where you do have to play it like a game, but you shouldn't have to make your self a game. You are who you are, no "game" changes that.

It's true that sometimes to make things better you've got to just play the game, but you have every right to be upset because your parents are the people who should love you unconditionally for who you are. If you asked said parent for advice and they said that it's completely different, that's them telling you the truth.

You shouldn't feel the need to hide who you are.

Well, if playing the game, is the difference between being treated like shit/getting the shit beat out of you and that not happening...I think I would play the game.

But other than that, I wouldn't do it. And no human loves unconditionally. No human can...because we're humans. We have things we don't like and things we hate and things we like.