My heart goes out to Orlando, and those whose lives were lost or impacted by this. It was a horrifying, homophobic hate crime deliberately perpetuated at a prominent place of safety/acceptance for LGBT+ people. It's saddening but not surprising that amongst the inevitable talk of religion+gun control, many are neglecting to mention the targeting of innocent LGBT+ people in this crime, the impact it has on the LGBT+ community, and the undeniable role of homophobia and/or transphobia in this massacre.
The death toll is almost at 60 now, with more than 50 people injured, making it the worst gun crime in the history of the US. Do not forget that it occurred at one of the most famous gay bars, a place of safety for LGBT+ people (and we are already often at risk simply for existing.) Do not forget it occurred on Latinx night, that many there were LGBT+ people of colour, do not forget it occurred on a night where trans women of colour were publicly headlining/ running the event.
It is a time for mourning and respect - not of glorifying the killer and his name and face, but of remembering and honouring the victims and their lives, and supporting each other, and the LGBT+ community.
This is not an isolated and irrelevant incident of violence against LGBT+ minorities (such crimes are usually ridiculously under-reported by the media anyways), and certainly not the only one where the obvious role of homophobia and/or transphobia behind it is forgotten, overlooked, or excused as something else, and not the only crime with its impact on the LGBT+ community forgotten or pushed aside.
These hate crimes are only encouraged, not hindered by, a society as a whole that still normalises homophobic and transphobic language, behaviour, beliefs, and culture. It occurs in the context of a society which, in talking about crimes like this, again and again fail to acknowledge the LGBT+ context and significance in it. These tragedies don't occur in a vacuum, and the discussion of them shouldn't occur in a vacuum.
There are a lot of issues at play here, some of which I may not be fully educated enough to speak about. But what I can say, if only from my personal perspective, is that in what is undoubtedly one of the worst acts of gun violence in history, that the significance to and impact on the LGBT+ community is absolutely undeniable, and that it can't be overlooked.
A lot of us, some of whom are young, closeted, or live in an already intolerant/unsafe place, saw people just like us murdered in cold blood, and saw the public reaction to it, not all of which have been particularly respectful or kind. We're allowed to be angry, to mourn, to speak out, or to take the time we need to process something that, from any angle, is truly horrific.
Our community lost so many just in the past 48 hours. In talks of gun control and legislation and so forth, also remember where and why this crime occurred, remember the specific group of people which this crime was perpetuated against, and don't forget the significance of this to the LGBT+ community, and people of colour in the LGBT+ community.
I hope the victims rest in peace, and thoughts and prayers to their family and friends, and to everyone impacted by this. My thoughts also go out to LGBT+ people everywhere, whether you're out or not, whether you can/want to talk about this or not. It's an extremely difficult time but we're here for each other.
My two cents. I needed to talk about this, even if my thoughts have already been expressed by many already.
Meanwhile -
A helpful post with some positivity if anyone needs it: http://sportslesbian.tumblr.com/post/145837852703
The LGBT Centre of Florida/Orlando is raising money for those affected: https://www.gofundme.com/29bubytq
Remember the victims: https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/orlando-shooting-victims?bftwnews&utm_term=.diXkBxABd#.utNQJ52Jb