The recent tragedy that struck Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, Florida has shocked almost everyone in the United States. In the early hours of last Sunday, a gunman opened fire on hundreds of clubbers. He ended up killing 49 Americans and wounding many more. This attack is considered the worst terrorist attack since September 11th, 2001. As a gay college student in the city of Chicago, I definitely have a few words on the topic.

Not only has this massacre left a countless number of families grieving but has also made its way into one of the worst mass shootings in the history of the United States. I am also deeply saddened how politicians, like Donald Trump, have been solely using this horrific event from the start as a way for them to discuss politics. This is definitely not the first time we have experienced a mass shooting like this. My thoughts and prayers go out to each and every single person who was affected by this shooting. But I would like to mention how the LGBT population has been treated in the United States in the past year.

Let's remember how the LGBT community has been treated by the Republican party over the last few years. If I remember correctly, earlier this year the news was covering a county clerk that goes by the name, Kim Davis. Kim Davis broke the law and refused to issue marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. Not only was she breaking the law, but she also managed to get support from big names in the Republican party. These big name republicans included Ted Cruz and Mike Huckabee. Not only was this woman a hateful person, but she also deeply offended the LGBT population. It's situations like this one that promotes a hate for the LGBT community and ostracizes us even more from the straight population of the United States.

Shortly after this recent attack, Donald Trump took to the campaign trail to give a speech in which he stated, “We want to live in a country where gay and lesbian Americans and all Americans are safe from radical Islam, which, by the way, wants to murder and has murdered gays and they enslave women,”. Not only is this quotation surprising, it is also extremely rude to the American-Muslim population. Inferring that Muslims would like to kill gays and enslave women is not only fear mongering but is also inciting violence towards that community.

While this tragedy happened, I was dancing at Spring Awakening Music Festival in Chicago. To think that something so horrible could happen at a club-like scene to so many people is truly terrifying. The DJ's at the festival paid homage to the victims by lighting up their stages with the rainbow colors of the LGBT community for a little while. This tragedy struck the hearts of millions and will surely be remembered for years to come. I find it completely insane that my community has been attacked in this manner. With the Pride Parade coming up, everyone remember to keep their eye out and to be safe!