Is it weird to "respect" pronouns?

I treat pronouns as a shortcut for regular nouns. If I know somebody named Jehosophat Ozymandias Englemyer, Jr. it is convenient to be able to use a short word like “he” instead of his full name all of the time.

I’m fine with corrections. For example:

me: “So Kathryn…”
her: “I actually go by Katie”
me “okay, sorry” (mental note made for addressing in the future)

is the same to me as:

me: “alright my dude”
her: “I actually prefer ‘her’”
me: “okay, sorry” (mental note made for addressing in the future)

This question is because I was watching a video were the person insisted “you need to respect my pronouns!” and then later just “respect my pronouns!”

It struck me as a weird, adversarial language construct.

Whenever someone uses a command form it immediately evokes obedience or rebellion.

When you use the word “my” it is ownership. Can you own a common word? I guess you sort of own your name, but does “respect my name” make sense?

How do you respect a word? I guess “Sir” and “Madam” are honorifics, but most pronouns aren’t. Are they being promoted to honorifics? Should you have to earn an honorific?

Maybe it is just late and I’m getting loopy.