The Aftermath of Orlando: a few Positives That Came From Tragedy
It’s been a few weeks since a terroristic madman massacred 49 innocent partygoers in cold blood and injured 53 others at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. And though the pain of the largest mass shooting in US history is still fresh for many of us, some of the smoke has cleared, giving way to reflection time.
It Lit A Fire Under Our Asses to Pursue More Aggressive Gun Control Measures
Every time a notable mass shooting takes place, social media erupts in a spectacular mushroom cloud of pro- and anti-gun rhetoric from both sides of the political fence. For days after the Orlando killings, your friends and family weighed in with their opinions on gun control, primarily focused on the infringement of Second Amendment rights, more stringent background checks, banning military-style weapons altogether, and how to keep guns out of the hands of those who are already suspected terrorists.
It Humanized Us to Some of Those Who Previously Demonized Us
While those ridiculous, radical Baptist pastors of the Internet were foaming at the mouth at the thought of our slaughter, the early-morning events of June 12 gave people we didn’t think were our allies, who opposed our “lifestyle,” or were otherwise indifferent to our plight cause for pause. I can’t promise you that those who previously demonized us or disagreed with our sexual orientation have done a complete 180, but I can tell you, at least in my personal experience, that hearing about sons, daughters, mothers, brothers, and sisters being hunted down like animals simply because they’re LGBT or our supporters did serve to humanized us to some of those who didn’t quite understand us.
Our Communities Came Together to Support Our Own
There’s arguably been no other single tragedy that has devastated us so much as this one, which is why it was comforting to see, in the aftermath of Orlando, that the title of “LGBT community” lived up to what that’s supposed to mean.
In my area of New York City and the Jersey Shore, candlelight vigils were hosted hours after news of the killings broke; fundraisers and benefits were underway; and our bars and clubs were open for business, serving as safe havens — as they always have been — to convene and mourn with “family.”
Our Allies Came Out in Full Force to Support Us
Along with our LGBT brothers and sisters, our straight allies were right beside us mourning death and celebrating life as each passing day exposed new information and greater pain. That support was most visible on social media, through messages of condolence and the alteration of profile photos to signify that they stand with us.
We Finally Told the World We’re Not Gonna Take It – Anymore
If the Orlando tragedy did anything for our community, it made us mad. So mad that we’re not going to take it — anymore. We’re not taking anymore guff or discrimination or bullying or conversation therapy or religious domination from anybody, ever again. Enough is enough. Forty-nine of us were mowed down for being who we are, and that isn’t and never will be acceptable. We must always remember that, and you must always keep being you. Stay loud, stay proud, and stay vigilant. The Pulse victims did not die in vain, and it’s our duty now to prove that until we live in a society where we’re treated as equals and no less.
Mikey Rox is an award-winning journalist and LGBT lifestyle expert whose work has been published in more than 100 outlets across the world. Connect with Mikey on Twitter @mikeyrox.
