“It could have been us.”
I kept hearing that Sunday from friends at the Capital Pride Festival and on Facebook.
“It could have been us.”
We know that when we identify as LGBT, we become targets. Whether it’s bullies in schools, politicians who use us to score political points, or those who will go to violent extremes, we know that there are those out there who hate us and are willing to make their hate known.
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
And we deal with that. We keep in in the backs of our minds at all times. We all know people who have been harassed or the victims of violence – or we’ve experienced it directly ourselves.
We surround ourselves with friends and then we watch out for each other. We live in neighborhoods and cities where we feel safe. And we gather at places with other LGBT people to feel that sense of community and safety.
That’s why this event has shaken my community to its core today. It struck at a place that had become a place where they felt secure and safe and could be themselves. It sets off all of our fears of what could happen to us just because we exist.
So what do we do now?
First, we grieve for our LGBT family in Orlando: those who died or were injured and their loved ones and the entire Orlando LGBT community who have been devastated by this.
Second, we keep doing what we’ve been doing for decades now: be out and proud.
We need to keep coming out to our family, friends, and co-workers. We need to be affectionate with our significant others in public by holding hands or kissing. We need continue to push our elected officials – and those who want to be elected – to support full equality for LGBT Americans and to stop using our community as a punching bag to score points.
And we need to stand up to hatred and bigotry whenever and wherever we encounter it.
There will come a day when this kind of hatred and violence is history. We may not see it in our lifetimes, but it will come. And it’s our job to do all we can to help bring that day closer.
I’m closing this with one of my favorite songs, “O-O-H Child” by The Five Stairsteps. It’s my go-to song when I need to be reminded that there is still hope for the future.
That kind of hope for a brighter future has motivated the LGBTQ community for nearly half a century. That’s the hope we need to continue to hold onto even on dark days like this.
Chip Lewis is a DC-based writer and communications consultant. He’s also happy to share his numerous opinions on everything from politics to pop culture.
Photo: GMF Berlin
jonasalden
OMG, Queerty! non-White coverboys. That’s not like you at all…
Brian
Oh, please, stop pretending that gays want to live out and proud. Gays want to be segregated. Just look at the gay scene. It’s a segrgated scene. Gays want segregation, not integration.
zooby
@Brian: Says the guy that advocates for closet-cases? You are clearly an unhappy person, like most self-hating closet cases.
Alistair Wiseman
What a bunch of pie-in-the-sky, liberal bullshit from Chip Lewis and Queerty.
“There will come a day when this kind of hatred and violence is history.”
No, it won’t. It’s called humanity and it is not always pretty. That is our reality.
In typical leftist naivete, keep those blinders on and don’t confront the evil that man has engaged in and will continue to engage in.
Fortunately, there are still adults among us who know what man is capable of and know that man must be diligent to destroy the evil that wants to destroy the majority of peaceful people of the world.
Dave in Northridge
@Brian – no, we’d really like to move around our communities in peace.
I marched in the LA Pride parade yesterday for mostly the same reasons that Chip mentions, and yes, I knew very well how MUCH it could have been me and my fellow marchers, because early Sunday morning the Santa Monica police found a car with a cache of weapons that somebody was planning to drive to the parade later that day.
as for the pie-in-the-sky comment, I don’t have anything to do with the Log Cabin set.
Alistair Wiseman
@Dave in Northridge:
“…I don’t have anything to do with the Log Cabin set.”
That’s unfortunate, but neither do I.
Bob LaBlah
@Alistair Wiseman: I couldn’t agree more with your comment. Too many of these young folks in gay America have no grasp on reality. An invasion by religious fanatics has ALREADY taken place and they are singing an early 1970’s song “Ohh Child, Things Are Going To Get Easier.” I thought it pathetic (but not surprising) the media showed the gang sing We Shall Overcome, that was to be expected. I won’t go into the pics of the young femme crowd featured on the pages of the NY tabloids.
Its scary and disgusting. I am also not surprised at the crowds yesterday (a Sunday, mind you) in Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops here. What next? A Fourth of July celebration five minutes into the show? Seriously, I do not recommend going to a gay pride parade anywhere this year. Do so at your own risk.
Kangol
Beautiful photo and this is so important, to live as self-affirming and community-affirming lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer people.
To love ourselves and love each other.
To not bow to fear, or to engage in other kinds of hatreds, like r@cism, misogyny, classism, and so forth.
We have fought too hard and come too far to turn back.
As I and many others have chanted many times during marches for LGBTIQ rights, “We’re here, we’re clear, we will not live in fear!”
Be out, be proud, be LGBTIQ!
GC1985
@Bob LaBlah: You are a paranoid delusional liar. And like Brian you are a sad miserable person.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: Yet you support a political party that wants to destroy freedom. And your views are repulsive and repugnant to democracy. you don’t want freedom. You want a culture of fear and paranoia. I am sorry but you live in a parallel reality.
Unlike a coward like you, I would rather standing up than live on my knees. Quoting Emilano Zapata. You are subjugating yourself in a prison of manufactured fear. Bob Bigmac has gone delusional and think all Muslims need to put in concentration c@mps or lined up against the wall.
Shame on you two! You are the antithesis of democracy. You are the greatest danger along with the terrorists themselves.
GC1985
The quote from Zapata was not totally included (sorry):
“I would rather die standing up, then living on my knees!”
Kangol
More about the closeted terrorist: according to the Palm Beach Post, he asked a male classmate out, was on Jack’d, and clearly could not deal with his sexual orientation or desires.
It’s so tragic that 49 people were slaughtered because he did and would not get psychological help to deal with his sexuality and sexual desires. Homophobia and transphobia kill, and ideologies and policies that support them are complicit.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/orlando-shooter-omar-mateen-was-gay-former-classma/nrfwW/?ecmp=pbp_social_twitter_2015_sfp
gayhope1990
I would rather live my life for myself.Being gay is just another features.To be happy let’s live hidden
GC1985
@gayhope1990: Nobody asked you anything. I know you are making stupid swipes at my quote. You are just a coward.
Billy Budd
@Alistair Wiseman: You are completely wrong. There are examples of societies in the past where gay people and gay sex were seen as totally normal things. In ancient Athenian society it was more normal to be bisexual than to be heterosexual. In ancient Polynesian society the Mahu was totally accepted. Society can and will change. We must be out and proud. This post is absolutely correct and spot on.
gayhope1990
@Gc1985:And you a self indulgent,self-centered and arrogant leftist.
Alistair Wiseman
@Billy Budd:
You entirely missed the scope of my post.
This may come as a shock to you, but there is evil outside the insular world of gay and lesbians and their claimed ownership of victimhood.
GC1985
@gayhope1990: And you are a self hating scared right eing extremist. It won’t surprise me if they investigate you.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: Yea evil is everywhere. Trump included.
Masc Pride
“It could have been us.” I kept hearing that Sunday from friends at the Capital Pride Festival and on Facebook. “It could have been us.”
————————–
How totally narcissistic! You can totally mourn a tragedy like this without making it all about yourself. People are making this even more sad and disgusting by using Orlando for their own arguing points and melodrama.
joeyty
Unfortunately we’re probably entering a new point in history where this will only have been the first of many mass murders of gays by Muslims. I knew it would come but this is faster than I expected.
Alistair Wiseman
@joeyty:
Especially when we have a president and an administration that are not thoroughly vetting all of the Muslim refugees that they want to come here.
The Democratic left has made their choice clear, they have chosen Islam over the safety and security our of country.
Sorry gays, the Democratic left is just not that into you.
psionicomniverse
@jonasalden: Yeah really, this is the first time I’m not being forced to believe that “I have to look this certain way” because the people who make these articles have been brainwashed to believe in some false standard of what people have to look like.
Sluggo2007
@Alistair Wiseman: Well said and completely true, Alistair.
GC1985
@Alistair Wiseman: Actually the democrats are vetting them and the last time the Republicans had control, 9/11 happened. You are a convenient thinker who is suffering from amnesia.
You have no evidence for anything you say. Who says they aren’t being vetted? Oh that’s right. Republican politicians and Fox News.
You are a liar. The democrats care more about gay people then the psychotic Republican and conservative right. Sorry to burst your bubble but they still won’t accept you.
GC1985
@joeyty: This was a lone wolf attack and one done by a closeted bigot. Mass murder? Keep on living in fantasy land.
Daniel-Reader
I agree with the article writer. Anyone who has lived out and proud knows there are always risks to being authentic. Straight people know this too – the many allies who are brave enough to stand up for human rights around the world.
onthemark
@Brian: “Oh, please, stop pretending that gays want to live out and proud. Gays want to be segregated. Just look at the gay scene. It’s a segrgated scene. Gays want segregation, not integration.”
Yes, I’m sure the truck stops you hang out at are very diverse and inclusive!
jdboston617
@Masc Pride: I understand your sentiment, but I don’t think that’s the case for most people. Most people weep for the lives lost. I do not know a simple person personally, yet I have wept for them. I’m sick inside over it. Yes, the emotion does strike home for many people in this chat/website because a gay club was targeted and that is part of their community as it is mine and seemingly yours as well. There is nothing narcissistic about feeling something more keenly when the violence is so close to home whether that it literal or figurative. That makes us human. I’m guessing you are very disappointed, angry and disgusted with the violence and hatred focus on us. I am. I could explode! …But don’t let that eat you up. Don’t let it take away the love within you. We have to be here for each other. Sending you a hug.
jdboston617
@GC1985: GC… I won’t sweat over crazy comments. It’s not worth your time. They are afraid, angry, disheartened. I don’t believe they know what they say because of the crippling fear. Don’t humor them. Love is the answer, sadly, love is seemingly hard to embrace in times like this. HUG
Berkleyguy
@zooby: Thank you Zooby
GC1985
@jdboston617: I try but it hurts me so bad when they use people who died in this attack as political pawns.
I am trying to be better and trying to love… but some are just so cold.
scotshot
@GC1985: @GC1985: There are two AWs on Facebook. Both live in Great Britain. I think the younger man may be the AW who posts here. Check it out and be happy he doesn’t live next door to you.
scotshot
@Brian: Many gays do not go to gay bars exclusively, many go to clubs that are mixed, if at all. Once again a sweeping generalization that has no basis in reality.
scotshot
@Bob LaBlah: There areca lot of differences between 20 year olds and older men. Has it been that long since you were young?
I’m thankful I didn’t turn into a fossil as you have.
scotshot
@GC1985: You just need a good pair of kneepads. I wouldn’t mind dying on my knees doing one of my favorite things.
GC1985
That quote was discussing freedom or being subjugated. I would rather die being free, then living being oppressed.
@scotshot: Brian has never been to a gay bar or club.
@scotshot: I will look into it.
GayEGO
@Brian: I guess you have not met us married gay guys. My lifetime partner of 54 years, married 12 years, are both retired and living the American dream and we are very happy! Get a life!
BriBri
Just don’t be sucking dick in public.