An Open Letter To The LGBTQ+ Community After The Orlando Shooting | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Politics and Activism

An Open Letter To The LGBTQ+ Community After The Orlando Shooting

Why fear and violence will never silence us.

23
An Open Letter To The LGBTQ+ Community After The Orlando Shooting
Visit Stockholm

On June 12th, there were roughly 320 people at Pulse, a gay bar in Orlando. It was Latin Flavor Night, and the majority of the attendees were latinx, queer and ready to celebrate during Pride month. At 1:58 a.m., at the center of the dance floor, he hijacked an entire religion and our community’s safety.


The bloodshed of that night ended at 5:53 a.m. when it was reported that the shooter was dead. The horror of that night still lives in the heart of everyone, and in the head of every single LGBTQ+ individual. It is one thing to see a tragedy take place and another to know, without a doubt in your mind, that it could have been you in the middle of that dance floor. So many people have told myself and other LGBTQ+ individuals to “not take it personally,” but how do we stop? Those people were our siblings, our family. They were people just like us.

When I heard about the shooting, I remember crying and mourning the lives of the victims, but also seeing a slideshow of all of my loved ones' faces and knowing that it could have been them. It could have been me. This was not just a terror attack, it was a hate crime. There is no word for this kind of fear. There is no way to describe this form of empathy. It is not that we as LGTBQ+ understand this pain and fear. Simply put, we live in this pain and fear every single day of our lives.

I know our community is terrified. I know that it is so much easier to hide in closets and in the shadows of our former selves than it is to speak out about this. Which is why we have to talk. We can not allow fear, violence and hate to make us silent. To anyone in our community reading this, do not stop being yourself. Do not tuck little parts of yourself away because you are afraid of the world.

To those individuals who have still not come out, I want to say that we are sorry. We are so sorry that you are having to suffer this tragedy without the rest of us. We still love you and whenever you do come out, and please do not let this atrocity be the reason you choose not to do so, we are ready for you. Although the world is not always a loving and safe place, we promise that we will help to create a loving home for you in our community. There is a place for you in this world. There is a place for you here with us.

To you all, do not to let this tragedy mar you. Let it hurt you. Let it make you cry yourself to sleep tonight. Let it scare the hell out of you. You need to let yourself feel it before you can heal but please, don’t let it change you. After a tragedy like this we have to be open and loud. There is a reason we have gay pride and this is it. All of those who have walked before us have fought for this. From Stonewall to Pulse, people have lost their lives and died for this. We have been fighting for our right to exist since before you were born.

A spark of hatred is worthless if we refuse to let it catch fire. We owe it to each one of our brothers, sisters, siblings and community members that lost their lives to be as loud and proud as our bodies can muster. I know when we are alone, it is easy to feel isolated and afraid. When we stand together, we can accomplish so much. Our community can be so strong when we stand together and do not let fear burn us alive.

On June 12th, our community was attacked, and we lost 49 members of our family. I know it is easy to feel alone when these things happen. I know it seems like the world hates us. That is not true. You are not alone in the world. We are here and there are so many of us. That day, thousands of us around the world filled the streets to stand in solidarity. To say, “We are here, and we are not afraid.” We will not let hatred and fear rule us. We will only let it make us stand stronger and closer to one another.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Taylor Swift in orange dress playing a moss-covered piano on stage with bright lights.

A three-and-a-half-hour runtime. Nine Eras. Eleven outfit changes. Three surprise songs. Zero breaks. One unforgettable evening. In the past century, no other performer has put on an electric performance quite like Taylor Swift, surpassing her fans ‘wildest dreams’. It is the reason supporters keep coming back to her shows each year. Days later, I’m still in awe of the spectacle ‘Miss Americana’ puts on every few days in a new city. And, like one of Taylor’s exes, has me smiling as I reminisce about the memories of the night we spent together.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

A Few Thoughts Every College Freshman Has

The transition into adulthood is never easy

26605
Mays Island
Courtney Jones

Today I started my third week of college at Minnesota State Moorhead. I have survived welcome week, finding my classes on the first day, and being an awkward loner in the dining hall. Even though I have yet to be here for a month, I have already experienced many thoughts and problems that only a new college student can relate to.

Keep Reading...Show less
Students walking on a sunny college campus with trees and buildings.

"Make sure to get involved when you're in college!"

We've all heard some variation of this phrase, whether it came from parents, other family members, friends, RAs, or college-related articles. And, like many clichés, it's true for the most part. Getting involved during your college years can help you make friends, build your resume, and feel connected to your campus. However, these commitments can get stressful if you're dealing with personal issues, need to work, or aren't sure how to balance classes and everything else going on during the semester.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

9 Reasons Why Friends Are Essential In College

College without friends is like peanut butter without jelly.

11115
Bridgaline Liberati and friends
Bridgaline Liberati

In college, one of the essential things to have is friends. Yes, textbooks, a laptop, and other school supplies are important but friends are essential. Friends are that support system everybody needs. The more friends you have the better the support system you have. But you also have someone to share experiences with. And don’t settle for just one or two friends because 8 out of 10 times they are busy and you are studying all alone. Or they have other friend groups that do not include you. Don’t settle for just one or two friends; make as many friends as you can. After the first couple of weeks of college, most friend groups are set and you may be without friends.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

The Power of Dressing Up

Why it pays to leave the hoodie at home.

8224
sneakers and heels
Sister | Brother Style - Word Press

For a moment your world is spinning. The phone alarm has just scared you awake and you’re flooded by daunting thoughts of the day ahead. You have three assignments due and little time to work on them because of your job. You’re running late because you’ve hit snooze one to many times after yesterday’s long hours. You dizzily reach for a hoodie, craving its comfort, and rush for a speedy exit, praying you will have time to pick up coffee. Does this sound familiar?

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments