I would like my boyfriend to be more respectful towards me whenever we are in public, but he constantly behaves as if I don’t exist. He comes and speaks to me only if some other guy begins to have a conversation with me, after which he acts as if I am his property. I have repeatedly asked him not to treat me like a commodity, but he doesn’t even understand what I mean. I don’t know why he can’t accept that what he does is disrespectful. He loves me a lot and is very different when we are together in private, which is the only reason I haven’t ended this relationship. I keep hoping he will change but it is almost a year now and he hasn’t done anything different. Should I break up?
Respect isn’t something to be given in public or private; it is to exist in both spaces if it is to mean something. A lot of men seem to have a problem with how they treat women, probably because they haven’t been raised well by their parents. It’s where this regressive, misogynist notion of reducing a person to a commodity comes from. Your boyfriend may love you and treat you respectfully in private, but his inability to take what you say seriously and change in public means he is incapable of giving you the respect you deserve. If you don’t end this now, you will simply resent him further as time goes by. You have given him many opportunities, all of which have been ignored. I suggest you put yourself first for a change and be with someone who gives you what you deserve. It may be the only way of getting him to change.

How can I tell if someone who claims to love me is being honest?
You can go by their actions rather than focusing on their words alone. Spending time with this person will help you ease most of your doubts as you get to know them.