In the early morning hours of June 12^th, 2016 tragedy struck Orlando, Florida like no other. At 2 AM, a gunman entered Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, and opened fire. A total of fifty people were killed with fifty-three others injured. This wasn’t just any hate crime, either. This was a hate crime and an act of terrorism, as the gunman, Omar Mateen, called 911 and claimed allegiance to ISIL. The Orlando shooting has since become the deadliest terror attack in the US since 9/11.

The month of June is known as Gay Pride Month. Pride festivals have been happening all over the country, and the LGBT community has been celebrating, even if there wasn’t a pride festival going on in their city. That’s what those men and women were doing that fateful Saturday night. They were celebrating, they were having harmless fun. And then? A horrible, awful action was committed. They went into that club hoping for a night of fun but instead it ended in a massacre of terrible proportions.

Many people in the club didn’t even know what was happening at first. The gunshots were said to follow the beat of the music. It only occurred to people when they saw bodies falling. They felt trapped and on the brink of death and many did whatever they could to get out alive. At least one man jumped a six-foot high fence to escape. The gunman was eventually gunned down by the police, but in the end, a total massacre had occurred. That crime cannot be undone.

I don’t care about your opinions on gay marriage or the LGBT community, if you cannot honor those fallen in a terrible crime, you have lost my respect. This is the deadliest terror attack (as well as a hate crime) since 9/11. If your own personal prejudices prevent you from feeling empathy towards the friends and families of those whose lives were unfairly taken from them, then you need to reevaluate yourself.

I will not go on some rampage about gun laws and what should be done and what shouldn’t be done. I have my own opinions, but now is not the time for that. Now is the time to move forward and understand what needs to be done next. Hatred is spreading through our country like a wildfire and we need to put it out before it becomes unquenchable. Regardless of your sexuality or your beliefs, it is time to stand with the LGBT community in defense against this level of hatred and terror.

Orlando was horrible and awful and will not be forgotten anytime soon. In the wake of such an event, we need to empathize with those who were affected, not go on rampages about gun reform. What we need to keep in mind is love, not hate. Hate brings forward events like this. Love people regardless of their gender, religion, sexuality, or anything. We cannot take more of this; we need to promote love over fearmongering hatred out of people.

I stand with Orlando.