I know I’m supposed to be posting a creative piece today, but this is just so much more important. I’m so saddened by the attack in Orlando and confused by some reactions to this that I couldn’t just carry on like normal today – creative piece will happen later on in the week.
As I’m sure you’re all aware, last night 50 people were killed and 53 injured in a mass shooting at a gay club in Orlando. A place that was considered “safe” for LGBT+ people to embrace and celebrate who they are was attacked. My heart is so heavy and while I started writing this angrily, it’s just turned into more sadness over the loss of life.
In a situation like this, you expect people to mourn. You expect Facebook news feeds, Twitter feeds, WordPress readers to be full of people paying their respects. Of course I saw many of these sorts of posts – there’s an awful lot of sadness and an awful lot of anger, as there should be. I also unfortunately keep seeing people making the comment that it “doesn’t matter” that these people were LGBT+, and that “all lives matter”. A lot of people are comparing it to the Paris shootings.
This attack was not just a terror attack. This was a hate crime – as Owen Jones so rightfully put it, it’s comparable to someone walking into a religious building and open firing. This wasn’t an attack on anyone who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time as in the Paris shootings. The victims of this attack didn’t happen to be LGBT+. The attacker knew most if not all people in there would be LGBT+. It cannot be denied that this was a homophobic attack.
It matters that the attacker targeted a certain group of people. It should be a no-brainer that this matters. It doesn’t mean that these peoples’ lives are any more or less important than any others, nor does it mean that the Paris shootings are any more or less tragic. It matters because the LGBT+ community have fought for so long just for the right to exist, and this has been taken away by one man with a gun. It matters because no one should have to fight for the right to stay alive and safe, especially in their own communities.
I could go on and on about how oppression works and what the impact of this attack will be etc, etc, but this isn’t the time. This isn’t the time to tell people to calm down. This isn’t the time to pick fights. This is the time to support the LGBT community and appreciate that people all over the world are grieving. Don’t make it worse.
Ro x
Always in the Write 
Sometimes the aftermath of a tragedy only begets more tragedy – that simply being put that rather than reacting with their hearts, people react with their agendas to perpetuate the hate and hysteria. I am sure that you will see another surge of “Muslims are evil” because this man (from what I understand, correct me if I’m wrong) had a name that denotes of the Middle East and therefore, even if he was not Muslim, will be associated as such. And of course, as you mentioned there will be the surge of those like you mentioned, and I’m sure another surge of the Hillsboro Baptist Church type sloganry. (I don’t think sloganry is a word, but it is now!). You will also see another surge of firearm rights issues. If I could have one wish for this world, would be for people to react to these awful hateful actions with love, compassion, and a want to do whatever necessary to try and make sure it never happens again.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Unfortunately you’re so right. People seem to be more angry that this man was Muslim and did this than that he did this to lgbt people – labels are important here but people have it upside down. This was a politically charged attack and it would be naive to think we should keep politics out of it, but for now it’s time to take care of the grieving and rally around the LGBT+ community above anything else.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely, and I couldn’t have said that better, myself!
LikeLiked by 1 person