The recent shooting at an LGBTQIA+ night club in Orlando, Florida has left our country devastated. The man who shot up the night club killed 49 people; the largest number of civilian lives taken in a terrorist attack since 9/11. This crime has swept the media throughout the United States and has caused many support rallies from the LGBTQIA+ community. This crime has left our country feeling depressed, and ready to take action in order to try and ensure events like this never happen again.
But this article is about more than noting the terrorists for this horrific action. This is about all of us as Americans. What happened in Orlando was a hate crime, and part of what happened should fall on us. No, we didn't pull the trigger, and most of us weren't even in the same state. So how can it fall on us? I read an extremely powerful status yesterday from a friend that summarized it into something as follows. "It's on us because there have been countless times we stood as bystanders in America while people were hated on because of their gender identity. It's on us for every time we let someone use the word gay or fag as derogatory. It's on us because we justify homophobia. It's on us from every time we made fun of a kid for being gay. It's on us for every time we acted like it was just a phase."
I identify as bisexual, so this horrific incident really hit home for me. But I will not be silenced or tricked into thinking that this was just one random act of hate. Yes, this was extreme and severe and horrible, but it is not one man's fault. It is all of us who let the bigotry of sexism, discrimination against gender identity, and offensive nature that some people treat the LGBTQIA+ community.
So what do we do? We say something. Every time a kid is bullied for being gay, say something. Every time someone uses the word fag or gay to diminish something or someone, say something. And every time someone does something offensive because they are "homophobic," say something. We are the United States of America. We were built on the fundamental idea that people are different and that's okay. Want to "make America great again?" Say something and stand up for the LGBTQIA+ community. Make us feel welcome, love us, because that's all we want at the end of the day; to love and be loved. Let's fight back with love, not war.
