Sunday morning was like no other: I woke up, ate breakfast and went with my family to eat lunch. All day long, I spent time with the people that I loved, I spent time with the people that I knew would accept me for who I am and who I would always be for the rest of my life. I then began scrolling through my phone and quickly learned of the devastating and heartbreaking mass shooting that occurred Saturday night at a gay nightclub in Orlando. I froze, there was nothing I could say, because this news, this disgusting, heartbreaking news, represented so much that I have been fighting against all my life. Fifty people were pronounced dead, while 53 were injured. Those people represented the gay community, they represented the ongoing acceptance that is spreading across our nation.

This act of terrorism was perpetuated by Omar Mateen, who brought a handgun and an assault riffle with him to the nightclub where he proceeded to open fire. The scene was brutal, described by many of those that were lucky enough to come out of it alive: "There were bodies dropping down everywhere." Nothing could describe this act of terror and hate. This act was not just made to the gay community, but this act was made against every single American that stands for something.

Why do we continue to destroy our humanity, our morality? Nobody deserves to die for being who they are, no matter their sexual orientation, their religion or their race. Every person is human, every person represents the life that we want to achieve — the life where there is no more crime against groups that have been exiled for being different. I am writing this article to every single person that feels that this hate and terrorist attack defines what you do with your life, and to let them know that this shouldn't scare people away from coming out. This act demonstrates that there is still so much at hand that needs to change. But instead of exploiting the gay community, it should inspire many to take a stand and to demonstrate to those out there still not ready to come out that we stand together in solidarity against the oppression.

The people that were killed will never see their families again, they will never continue pursuing their dreams. And nobody deserves to die, to be killed, simply because they are different. Nobody deserves to die in the hands of guns, period. Guns which are nothing but weapons that have continued to demonstrate just how easy it is to destroy families and communities in an instant.

I stand in solidarity with my community. I stand with those that have been scared of growing up who they are because they are different. No one deserves to hide who they truly are because of fear of rejection. No one deserves being discriminated against, or even worse, killed.

We all have to act now. We all have to demonstrate that we don't want to continue on the path of destruction. We continue on the march to stand for equality and justice, praying that no group ever is targeted for their race, gender or sexual orientation. As tears run down the faces of many of the members of the victims' families, let us run to them with open arms and show to the world that this is not who we are. We are not people who hate, who murder, who use weapons to shun or gun down groups of people who are different. We are people who reach out with acceptance, with love, with support to those that are different, to those that demonstrate to the world that love is love, and nothing ever stands in the way of that.

There comes a time in each and every one of our lives that define who we are. There comes a time where we look back and wonder if we were the best we could be. I am deeply saddened for what happened, for the continuous aggression toward people who have different views from others. I feel this void in my heart that continues to grow, that continues to wonder when humanity is going to say that we've had enough. When will there have been enough bloodshed to say we have turned into monsters? When will we finally come together and accept change, accept those people — our friends, our families, our neighbors — for being who they are? I won't let this change the way I am; I won't allow this to change anyone, as this just shows the bravery and courage of coming out — of declaring who you are as a person and who you will love for the rest of your life.

Words can not ever describe the pain and the sadness that the victims' families and friends must being feeling. This act is a cruel awakening that something needs to change, that the first step is to change gun control laws to prevent something as powerful as a gun from falling into the hands of the wrong person.

So, I ask you to stand in solidarity, stand with those that have been murdered for being who they are, for being human. We must demonstrate that this is unacceptable, that this is not what should happen to anyone, ever. Orlando, you are in our prayers and in our hearts as we mourn the loss of beautiful, amazing individuals that were just being in a place where acceptance of who they are was abundant.

Don't ever let others tell you who you should be. Don't ever allow anyone to think of themselves superior because you are different. Embrace who you are, look around and see that there is a whole community that stands alongside you with love and support. Don't let this act define what happens next. Demonstrate that no matter what happens, we stand together for being individuals, for being human and most of all, for being ourselves.