On Sunday June 12th, I woke up like it was just a normal Sunday. I figured I’d get up, go to work, geek out over the Tony Awards, and that’d be all. When I grabbed my phone to check my email I was shocked to find out about the events that took place at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando earlier that morning. At the time there were 20 people that had been pronounced dead. I quickly rushed online to make sure that my friends in Orlando were all okay, as Orlando and it’s people hold a very special place in my heart. Thankfully they were. Now the death toll was up to 50. There’s not a single article about that day that doesn’t make me cry.

In the time since the tragedies at the club, I have seen a surge in support for the LGBT community, and it seems as though people are coming out of the closet left and right(myself included). It fills me with such joy to see One World Trade Center, The New York Stock Exchange, Cinderella’s Castle, and a myriad of other famous monuments lit up like a rainbow in support. As it seems like, in the past, the LGBT community has gotten the short end of the support stick, it’s nice to finally see the world uniting(for the most part) to support love.

This week is Pride Week in NYC! New York is filled with so much pride all the time, so pride week is like a big celebration of what makes New York so special. It’s a chance for you to wear all the rainbow you want, kiss someone you love in public without feeling judged, and celebrate who you are, whether that’s gay, trans, or just a really loving ally. So here’s what I’m encouraging everyone to do this week:

1. Be an ally. Whether you identify as part of the LGBT community or not, I advise you to spend this week(and the rest of your life) being as open and loving and supportive as you possibly can. You have no idea what it means to anyone to have friends that say that they love you no matter what. Gay, straight, trans, dinosaur, monkey, we’re all a part of the same city, we might as well act like it.
2. Take part in pride! I’m spending my Saturday morning at The 35th Annual Pride Run!! I’m so excited to be doing something I love to do and celebrating who I am at the same time!! If running isn’t your thing, go to the parade or the festival! It’s such a unique experience that will fill you with so much love for the people in this city. Or just throw on your favorite rainbow article of clothing or piece of jewelry and be a silent supporter. That works too.
3. Help spread the word. So if you don’t wanna go anywhere near pride this weekend, it’s okay, you don’t have to. But, it would mean the world to a lot of people if you helped spread the word that love is love, no matter what. The only way we’ll all survive on this earth is if we decide that it’s time to accept each other no matter what.

Lin Manuel-Miranda said it best in his Tony speech, “Love is love is love is love.” As long as we remember this, hate will never win, and the 50 beautiful lives that were lost in Orlando won’t have died for nothing. So go! Celebrate pride, wear a rainbow, marry who you love, be a friend. We need everyone to go all out this year! The world needs as much love and support as it can get. #Loveislove