On Sunday June 12th, 2016, Omar Mateen walked into the popular Orlando-based gay night club at 2 am, and opened fire on a bunch of innocent party goers enjoying a night on the town. Sources say that the shooting soon turned into a hostage situation after some time. In all, Mateen killed 50 and injured 53. Soon after police chased Mateen, where after some time they finally caught him, and eventually killed him. There was a massive call for the citizens of Orlando to donate blood to those survivors who were in critical care. A huge crowd of people went to the local blood bank to donate. So huge that there was not enough workers to take blood. After seeing what has been called 'the most brutal mass shooting in American History', what do we do as American people?

Live, that's what we have to do. Live and not let this weaken us. That's what the spirit of the Pride festival all over the country in the month of June. What Pride is for the LGBT community is the chance to live freely and celebrate who are and how far we've come. It's a chance to go into the streets, speak our words, and show that we are people too. While claiming that this is a guns rights issue, which it is, but it is also an issue of underlying homophobia. The parents of the shooter even claimed that Mateen was sickened by the sight of two men kissing. Even making numerous violent radical claims against the gay community. Even being caught up in cases in 2013 and 2014 of alleged terrorism. With the recent push to require a background check before purchasing a gun, Mateen was legally allowed to purchasing a gun siting that he had posed no threat at all.

This is another huge blow to the LGBT+ community. This showed that we can't even go into a place of comfort and enjoy ourselves comfortably. Our own freedom to be fearless and free has been hindered as well. However, the LGBT community doesn't take this lying down. We continued to celebrate our pride even though we live in a world that revels in the notion of "be who you are". Which is the biggest form of hypocricy if I've ever saw one. Yeah you can be yourself, as long as you completely change who you are to fit what society wants you to be. There is always a catch to everything nowadays. Yay there's marriage equality, but you're not allowed to have any say in any of the medicial decision on your spouses death bed. Yay we get more media representation, but it's confromed to the sassy friend who has no substance and is often very offensive.

We continue to live as second class citizens, and treated as we don't belong. However, that's what makes us special as a people. Though constantly being protested against, criticized, and often assaulted, we continued to flip the bird and live the way we want to live. Which brings me full circle to the question "what now?" We continue to celebrate pride. We continue to love one another just as if not more passionately. We stand together. Though the fight to find acceptance in this world is far from over, we can never let anything like this horrible incident break us or define us. There's no doubt that there needs to be strict laws on gun control. It breaks my heart to see what we can do lower these shootings, but we're not doing it. It also breaks my heat to see all the good that cold be done for the LGBT community, but because of bigotry and down right ignorance, that can't be done either. So, I urge all of you to live your life and honor those you have in your life. Just by showing up and saying "I'm here, and I'm not backing down", is the most powerful tool we have to use. Live your life, stay positive, and just keep being you. Like I said, standing up and going out without any fear is the greatest thing you can do right now. Peace and Love!!