Love Is Love Is Love
My heart hurts.
I spent this past weekend with my tribe, my peeps, my heart and soul. For two days, I watched the beautiful people go by. We spent Saturday without a care in the world, except how we would feed people on Sunday. When Sunday rolled around, that carefree attitude vanished.
Last year, we had a bomb threat at Pride. The culprit was caught before the event, so not a big deal, but we were a little leery.
The shooting at Pulse in Orlando Saturday night wasn’t as close to home, but it’s so much worse. The threat is real. 49 are dead. These were wonderful people who, like us, wanted to burn off some steam and have a good time.
In my Facebook feed, I see recounts from friends who have been asked why we care so much. “Did you know someone there? No? Then shut up already.”
Every person in that nightclub was already a survivor of persecution, bullying, and hatred just for being there. Now, they are victims or survivors of a hate crime, an act of terrorism. It could have been me. It could have been you. It could have been your best friend, your brother, your son, your mother, your crush whom you never told, or your boyfriend or girlfriend. When you’re part of this community, even when you’re on the fringes as an ally, you know it could have been anyone you know. And that hurts.
If you’re on the outside saying, “Well, that doesn’t describe me,” you’re part of the problem. We’re all human. It’s not about “us” and “them.” It’s about solidarity. It’s time to stand up and protest this bullshit happening on American soil, brought about by American citizens in the name of some psychopathic religion that believes in a god that rewards evil. (That is NOT ISLAM, by the way.)
It’s time to acknowledge our differences (yes, this was a gay club) and also condemn this behavior outright. It DOES matter that this was a gay club. IT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS WAS A FUCKING HATE CRIME. Hate exists because we ignore the haters, the bullies, and the assholes, thinking they will go away. They’re not going anywhere. They grow bolder with less opposition, and all of a sudden, they’re running for President.
Now is not the time for silence. It’s time to take a stand against violence toward “others.” We are all human. Everyone deserves to live a good human life without the threat of violence for being who they are. (And this isn’t about the type of gun he used, either. The terrorist in Paris used a knife with the same devastating results.) If you want to stand up for gun control, I’m not going to stop you. At least you’re standing for something. I’d prefer it if you stood for love of ALL of our people, not just the breeders, or the pious, or the rich, or the white.
Love is love is love is love is love.
