After everything that has happened in Orlando these last few days, I thought I would take a moment to write something to the survivors of the shooting at Pulse. I also want to let everyone know that I'm a fellow LGBTQ member, so this shooting has hit me close to home as well. I've seen other people of the LGBT community say it and I'll be the next to say this. It honestly could've been me. I could've been there. That has always been my biggest fear with such large LGBT events like pride. But on to my letter to the survivors.

Last night, I laid in bed thinking about all of you, the survivors. I couldn't sleep until I got some of my thoughts out, but earlier in the day today I decided I was going to write this article. So here goes nothing.

I want you all to know that you aren't alone.

Most people are praying for the victims and their families, but most people also often forget that even if you got out of Pulse unscathed that night, you still likely have wounds. They just may not be physical wounds. I want you all to know that I'm thinking of you, I can't imagine the pain and heartbreak you are going through right now. It is such a horrific and tragic event, everyone wants you to recall something, they want to hear your stories. But they all lack to realize that there is likely a wound with talking about what happened in your eyes that may be made bigger with every conversation about it.

Do not feel guilty for being one of the survivors, but rather take pride in it. This comes with time, but please do not feel guilty for surviving because I'm sure those who didn't survive wouldn't want anyone to feel guilty that they lost their lives and you didn't. Everybody deserves to live and while these type of things shouldn't happen, they do and it was out of your control whether or not you survived. Other than the possibility of being in the right or wrong place of the building at the right or wrong time. Which you had no idea anything was going to happen, so again it's not your fault.

That could have been any of us, and could've happened anywhere. It's unfortunate that you had to be involved in something like this, but this event can help us. Somehow there is a way that we can use this event as a learning experience and use it to help us in the future. Whether it just be to watch for our own safety, and point out something out of the ordinary or calling attention to hate crimes against this and preaching equality.

While I, and other members of our community do not know exactly what you are going through, we are standing by you to help you, to support you. We all are effected by this in different ways, but I cannot imagine what you are going through. I want you to know that you aren't alone, and in time it will get better. This has brought our community closer together and I am keeping you in my thoughts during this time. As a community we will recover and prove to everyone that this won't bring us down, but make us stronger.

This event has pushed me to become more open to being a member of the LGBT community because I want to pride myself in this community, and let the world know that it's okay to be different. This is something I have feared, I feared being judged for who I am, but after this, I do not care. If you are going to hate me for who I am as a person, then hate me because if that is the case I don't need you in my life anyways. As unfortunate as it is, this is how most LGBTQ members have to think and cope, because we are in a world where things like being in a relationship with a person of the same gender as you is just thought to be wrong. In some cases more wrong than the loss of lives in Orlando at Pulse.

I hope the LGBT community comes out stronger. I believe that we will, I wouldn't doubt any of us.

From a fellow LGBTQ member, with love.