I am completely at a loss for words. I went from being happy that it was pride month and seeing some great pictures of my friends who were enjoying Indi pride, to waking up this morning to read the terrible news.
At least 50 people are dead and 50+ were injured in a night club in Orlando Sunday morning. Not only did this happen during pride month, but this happened at a known gay night club.
Not to mention that this happened on "Latin night" and thinking about the Latinx community also being there was very scary and painful to think about.
As an ally of the LGBT community, I was brought to tears when reading that this person, who I will not say because his name does not deserve to be named, was upset over seeing two men kiss in Orlando. At least according to his father's statement.
My heart has sunk even lower when reading posts from my friends and loved ones about how this has impacted them. I cannot imagine what it is like to be in their shoes, to be afraid for their lives just for existing.
For one to have so much hatred in their heart for people just because of their sexual orientation is very sickening and very difficult for me to understand. It seems as though people do not have the slightest idea about how hard people have had to fight to even have a safe space for LGBT people in the first place.
I think of how hard people had to fight to even have pride in the first place. All of the exploitation, assault and violence that this group of people have faced.
At this point, it is going to take more than just your "thoughts and prayers." You cannot tell the LGBT community that they are going to hell one minute and then say "prayers for Orlando" the next.
Until the LGBT community can freely love the way that they deserve without fear can we truly say that they can live freely. I'm sorry if this seems to be a whole bunch of thoughts that do not have good flow but that is how my day has been. Thinking about everything and feeling overwhelmed with sadness, anger and confusion.
It is important for this country to come together and fight homophobia as a whole. Just because the LGBT community has gained a lot of equality, it is quite clear that they have so much more to go to as a community.
