Unity and solidarity are a couple of words that have been tossed around over the last couple of days. My heart bleeds and aches for our community, but we have to ask ourselves, why does it always take a horrific tragedy to bring us together?
As a community, we are divided most of the time. We have created labels like Fems, Twinks, Bears, and racial discrimination like, ‘No Blacks’ have become acceptable when it’s acknowledged and labeled a ‘preference.’
I am angry and heartbroken that my fellow gay brothers and sisters lost their lives. It’s insane to think that someone could have so much hate for themselves and others to take an assault weapon and take the lives of 49 people and wounding at least 53. It’s unbelievable and unimaginable that this could happen when we’ve fought so hard for equality.
If this is not a wake-up call, I do not know what is! Watching cities around the world come together, show their support and respect for the victims is endearing and warms my heart. It also angers me because we should not have to wait for something so tragic to bring us together. When will we as a community realize, regardless of skin color, sexual origination, or what you might label yourself as; we’re humans first, and when a madman walks into a gay bar, we all are a target and on the same playing field of discrimination and hatred. We are no longer separate; we are one unit under attack.
As an African-American gay man, I know hatred and discrimination very well. The events in Orlando frighten me on so many levels because gun laws in this country are antiquated and leave room for this to continue to happen. Also, because discrimination within the gay community does exist. I want to believe these events are a wake-up call for many of us. I am worried. From past experiences, we mourn, unite but slowly as we go back to a sense of normalcy, we go back to being a divided and non-unified community.
Whether you agree or disagree, we are not a united community. We have become a fragmented part of society. When you look at the faces lost in the Orlando shooting, they come from all backgrounds and the reason we have to stop beating each other down. We have to start sticking together and prove to the world that love does win.
We have come a long way, but I consider this a setback. I am grateful that we can dispel with our differences to honor the victims but maintaining this solidarity is what I sadly doubt will happen. I believe in change and the empowerment of the gay community. We’re not as strong as we should be and that needs to change, starting today, but it’s a work in progress.
As we move forward, although it’s hard to see right now, I hope good comes out of this horrible event and brings us closer together. The sad truth, but I doubt it, but I will say, I am hopeful.
