June 13, 2016 is a catastrophic day in American history, not only for the gay community, but for all of America. Unfortunately, I don't think it will be remembered that way. The responses I have seen to the mass shooting at the Pulse night club in Orlando Florida are incredibly heart breaking. They are homophobic, judgmental, and insensitive. There has been a crippling silence from most of the Christian community, and many who have spoken out have cast their judgement upon these "sinners", rather than uplifting them and loving these hurt people in a way that Christ would. This is a call to action. Don't condemn people in pain; show them the love that Christ showed you, rather than contributing to a stigma that only pushes hurting people further away from organized religion.

Let's call this shooting what it really is: a hate crime, an attack, a catastrophe. #PrayForParis had 70 million posts on Instagram and the amount of social recognition for the Orlando Shooting has paled in comparison. It breaks my heart to see the lack of response from so many fellow Christians and churches, and I have to wonder why. This is not a matter of gay people dying. This is a matter of people dying. There has been an attack on our country and the only people who seem to be talking about it are homosexuals. The community of Christians who are supposed to uplift people and their families in prayer have avoided the topic harder than they're avoiding the Target bathrooms.

Why have the responses been so apathetic? People grieved and panicked over Sandy Hook, Columbine, and 9/11. What makes this one so different? I think it all comes down to one thing: homophobia. Who cares whether you think their lifestyle is sinful? American people were brutally murdered, and your response is "Yeah, well I would rather it be the gays than us." (Yeah, I heard someone say that.) If Jesus could eat dinner with the wicked, sick and dying, then you can pray for people whose biggest crime is being in love. Why dwell on sexuality in the case of this shooting? This is a travesty and we need to send love, not judgement. This was not God's punishment. Being killed was not what these people deserved. A man let his own homophobia overrun his life, which resulted in the death of many people and an obtrusion on a movement of love.

Upon discussing the event with LGBT friends, I have learned that so many people within the gay community are afraid for their lives. This hate crime, and the responses to the deaths of 49 people, has shown LGBTs that even in times of distress and mourning, homophobia is alive and well. The idea that they could be murdered for loving someone is absolutely terrifying. Gay clubs are where girls can go to dance, with no worries of being harassed by men, it is where gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people can go to be themselves with no judgement from bigots. It is supposed to be a safe place, but is now a place of terror, as the community is reminded of the murders that took place in such a formerly playful and fun venue.

This has greatly impacted the LGBT movement and caused grief and worry among so many people. Imagine the uproar that this shooting would have caused if had it occurred in a "normal" club, a store, or anywhere else other than a gay club. The responses would have been tremendous, and all social medias would have been blowing up with posts. We need to acknowledge how big of a problem this shooting has been. If you're one of those apathetic people, you should definitely be praying for the friends and families of the men and women who were killed in a time where they were finally learning to accept themselves.

This isn't a time for you to throw condemnation upon others for being different than you. In Matthew 7:5, Jesus says "You hypocrite! First, take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Your judgment on these people is equally as bad in God's eyes as them loving someone of the same gender. So before you verbally attack these people, just know that your words only set the Christian community back even further in our attempts to evangelize to the world.

This is an opportunity for Christians to uplift others in Christ. This is an opportunity to show the LGBT community the love that they deserve. You really want to change someone's life? Don't condemn them, they already think you think they're going to hell. Society has a twisted view of Christians, so don't fulfill that judgmental stereotype. The only way to move on from this tragic event is to support and love each other, even if that means setting aside your political beliefs for a minute. Prove that you are here for support, because that is not only what the Christian community needs, but what the LGBT community needs during this dark time.