Orlando

 

Here we are 36 hours after one of the most horrific mass shootings in American history. The amount of information flooding the internet is incomprehensible and the grief is felt far and wide the world over. The shock has yet to subside and the anger is slowly coming to a boil. The political rhetoric is thrusting people even further apart and the true issue is being neatly swept under the rug. This was a well thought out act of hatred and he was given everything he needed to carry it out without anyone batting an eyelash.

When the story broke Sunday morning, every channel and news outlet began drawing our attention away from the fact that this was a hate crime and into the throes of “radical Muslim terrorism”. While I do agree that this horrific was act committed by someone whose ideas were in line with members of ISIS there is no concrete evidence to support that he was in fact radicalized. This person was born and raised on American soil, he went to American schools, and he worked an American job. The fact that he was Muslim has no real bearing upon this tragedy. Actually, the only thing it says is that he was raised with a strong moral compass yet somehow he was influenced by the overall hatred that is brewing in our country.

For decades the LGBT community has been at risk and under-protected against crimes of hate and bigotry. In my opinion, the LGBT community is the least protected of any group of people on American soil…well, except American-Muslims. Why is this? Why is it when a clear act of hate is committed the authorities and news outlets spin it to seem like something else? Why is it that the WASP’s of America have the audacity to say they are working for the people when in fact they are standing there doing nothing to protect their constituents? Why is it when these mass shootings happen every right-wing republican talks about how things would have been better if everyone had been armed?

I am utterly disgusted and appalled at how this heartbreaking tragedy is being spun in such a way that it is the victims faults for being gay. It is the victims faults for being at the nightclub. It is the victims faults for not being armed. These people lost their lives. Their families lost sons and daughters. Their partners lost soulmates. The world has lost 49 amazing human beings.

My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, to those who have survived this harrowing ordeal, and to the team of investigators, officers, and first responders who are still in the midst of all the carnage that has occurred. Thank you to all those who are able to look at this situation with an open heart and mind.

It is going to take a long time for the impact this has made to become less vivid. As a bisexual woman I feel less safe being out and proud. I wanted to share in our PRIDE festival this year with our children but after the events over the last 36 hours I will instead talk to my children about tolerance, acceptance, and unconditional love for their fellow “man”. This should be a time of dramatic change in the LGBT community and for gun control laws, instead I fear that during this election year it will be used to further divide the people and inhibit positive progress and change.

Izzy