this is different from out usual posts here but feel it needs sharing to. This is a very heartfelt note from my nephew written about the hate crime shootings in Orlando......
I have been at a loss for words the past few days. Feeling very shaken and deeply impacted by this extreme hate crime that was committed in Orlando.
It is a scary reminder that by just being myself and loving my husband there are people out there who want to hurt me. Holding my husbands hand can literally be a trigger for someone to want to hurt us. It's is a reminder that I have gotten use to never really being able to show strong affection to the person I love most in this world in public without wondering who is looking. That while I feel safe most of the time, I still always have to watch my back. I could kiss my husband and literally inspire someone to want to kill and injure 100 people in a place that is suppose to be safe. This is the reality I live in. This is a reality that was before this shooting and will continue to be after this shooting. While the LGBTQ2 community has lots of love and support, there are still those out there who hate us just for simply existing.
But that said. I refuse to let hate win. We are far stronger then hate because we have love on our side. It is a stark reminder to me that this is why we need Pride. Not to watch a bunch of advertisements parade down a street with rainbow flags and sexy people (as fun as that is), but to know that we are a community that loves and supports each other. That we are Phoenixes that rise from the ashes.
I am proud to be who I am, and love the man I love. And no amount of hate can ever change that.
All of the LGBTQ community need support and prayer at this time and regardless where you stand on the issue we are all brothers and sisters and deserve love and respect.
Thank you for sharing. We are all humans and deserve love and the right to live full lives. I pray we can all work together to help make this a safer place for every person who feels afraid and who is treated as less than.

















