Pulse: An Opinion

Pulse

At the time this is being written, 49 are dead, and another 53 of the people who were at the club are wounded.
All because one homophobe had access to a gun. I'm not going to turn this into a thing about gun control laws, though it is something I have an opinion about, but I need to express something:

It terrifies me.

As an LGBTQ+ person, it chills me to the core. My brothers and sisters and in-betweens are dying, and it breaks my heart. Perhaps I didn't lose a loved one, but it feels like I did. Because it could have been me, you, or anyone.

I live in Canada, and I know the shooting was in Orlando and I know we have stricter gun laws here but that fact that I no longer feel safe as an LGBT person anywhere, the fact that something like this can happen and everyone who isn't affected turns a blind eye, it pisses me off. No, it fucking terrifies me. Because it shows at a fundamental level that they think we are less, that we are somehow broken and worth less than someone who is cis and straight.
I didn't stop crying for days when I found out, and it still stings. I doubt it will ever stop stinging. Honestly, it didn't have to be that homophobe. It could have been any homophobe with access to a gun. I'm scared. I don't feel safe. And it's awful that I have to feel this way for who I am, something I can't and wouldn't change....

But more than anything, I want to use this opportunity to tell all my fellow LGBTQ+ people that you matter. These homophobes may try to demean us, they may kill us, but we are strong. We will get through this together. They will not win this battle, because they are not right about us. There is nothing wrong with who we are, and we will not change because it hurts their ego or goes against their religion. Now, more than ever, is a time to stand as one and show the world that though we are grieving, we will never give up.

We are not less. We are people, and we will not be marginalized and murdered for who and how we love.

❤ 💛 💚 💙 💜