In the wake of the shootings in Orlando, Florida last weekend, many of us were stunned at the magnitude of violence that occurred in a place where people were gathered to have fun dancing and hanging with friends. Many of us wondered how someone could be so deliberately heinous and discriminatory to attack members of the LGBT community without provocation.
While most people have been very sympathetic and compassionate toward the victims of the nightclub shooting, there are a few sad souls who have expressed satisfaction with the deaths of the 49 innocent people believing because of their lifestyle, they got what they deserved! How cruel.
Members of the LGBT community are entitled the same unalienable rights as everyone else--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. They have a right to live how they choose to live and to love who they choose to love without fear of judgment or the threat of death. In fact, no one should have to live in fear because of who they are whether they were born that way or choose to be a particular way; it doesn't matter.
"I don't know how I feel about the shooting because hate is hate. I don't think it is just a gay thing, but a hate thing," said Sylvia McAfee of Atlanta and a member of the LGBT community.
In addition, to being shocked and outraged at the deaths of 49 people in one night, what disturbed me just as much was hearing those who were spared lament over the fact that Pulse nightclub was the one place where members of their community could go and feel safe and free to be themselves. Now that is gone. Surely, an unprovoked attack like this has a disturbing effect on the LGBT community just law enforcement often over the top attacks on Black men disturbs the Black community.
Everyone is subject to some biases and prejudices that we may not be proud of, but it doesn't give us a pass to be violent or hateful. What right did the shooter have to snuff out lives because he had a chip on his shoulder? What right did he have to leave so many loved ones in pain over losing their family or friends in his vicious attack? None!
"It's an unfortunate situation but you can't stop living your life. I don't think this will set our community back, but will strengthen it instead. The LGBT community is a resilient group of people," McAfee added.
Hence, it matters not if you agree with the lifestyles of LGBT community, we all have a duty to be advocates for what is right and what is fair. We have a duty to help another human being who needs help and to treat that person with decency and respect. It doesn't cost you a thing to treat someone the way you want to be treated. After all, we all bleed red.
Angela Greene is the author of Unnecessary Roughness-The Story of a Mother's Fight for Justice coming in 2016. She is also an advocacy expert and media professional. She is the founder of, Change Agents Advocacy Group, a social justice advocacy group that seeks to educate and empower people about social injustices. They specialize in helping clients with conflict resolutions.