Our generation is realizing that the most important priority is self-love, and that is absolutely true. To love yourself is to embrace and accept your beauty, intelligence, faith, flaws, and everything in between. When it comes to gender and sexuality, though, people get uncomfortable, and that just sucks.
Personally, I would rather not explain my gender identity or sexuality with people because honestly, it gets exhausting. I began to discover I was attracted to more than just boys when I was in the sixth grade and came out to my friends and classmates the next year. Nobody really cared. One day my brother told his friends, and they literally yelled "ew" and ran away. In high school, I was always open about it because people would rarely say awful things to your face. My sophomore year, I came out to my dad, who told me not to go crazy and get a disease. I have not told any more family since.
So yes, people have made me feel uncomfortable with who I am. But I have never been scared. I have never been beaten. I have never been sexually assaulted for my sexuality. I have never been threatened.
I have never been shot at.
On June 12th, 2016, the lives of 49 of my LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters were brutally ended.
To be hated and targeted so terribly by someone I do not know simply for expressing love for myself and others is not a feeling I cannot relate to. To be so full of hatred and negativity towards myself and others for no real reason is something I will never, ever be able or willing to comprehend.
This is the time. We need action, unity, and celebration in diversity. I lost a beautiful group of my people. We all lost a beautiful group of our people. We prayed for France - we need the same love and compassion for our own country. This was an act of terror against our people on our cherished soil. This is supposed to be the land of the free and it is our responsibility to make that beloved statement a reality for all. If we fail to take real action, "#lovewins" could turn into "#lovetried."
My soul hurts for the wonderful souls that were lost that night. Words will never be able to express the sympathy I have for their loved ones. My love goes out to my fellow LGBTQ+ individuals everywhere, who I know are hurting. My heart and support go to those who are closeted and now are probably even more scared to accept and express themselves.
Rest in peace to everyone lost. Rest in peace to a portion of real families, Orlando, Florida, and the United States of America.
