Orlando Strong

This day is the anniversary of a massacre.
This time last year, I heard voices of fear, sadness and anger from the lgbtq community...but shouting above them were voices blaming the victims of this tragedy. "They shouldn't have been out in a gay club". "They got what they deserved". "God punishes the wicked". Ever since that day I knew that those voices were not the truth...from that point on I decided to stand for love...whether it came from a gay club, a bar, a church, a pastor or a prostitute. The hate, ignorance and judgement I saw this day last year from people who claim to love the lgbt community opened my eyes. I found love in the places they told me I would only find filth.

So to the LGBTQ+ community,
Stay strong.
Do not back down and do not be afraid.
For the sake of the homeless, bullied, depressed an suicidal queer youth out there. For the sake of the gay men "dissapearing" in countries our own president has connections to...for the sake of our ancestors, or broken, our tired and our dead...DO NOT FEAR.
But please be careful.

To those who say things like, "we mourn the loss of those who died...BUT...we cannot say they will be in heaven" there is no BUT. Those people were not in the wrong place...they were in the only place they could find to accept them and celebrate them. They are outcast by the church...and now they are disrespected by the church in death as well. How can those who claim to love gay people...say things like "we love you but...you deserved to die." Do me a favor.
If you have anything bad to say today,
Save your "buts" for later.
Today we celebrate.
Today we remember that our fight is not over.
So please respect our pain if only for today.
Keep your judgements to yourself.