In the Wake of the Orlando Nightclub Shooting, the LGBT Community Won't Be Intimidated
In the June heat of LGBT pride month, a gunman walked into Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, and opened fire. He was strapped with an assault rifle, a handgun and was possibly armed with an explosive device. The casualties of the attack number at least 50; the number of wounded is estimated at 53.
And yet, even in the face of deadly violence, the gay community has already begun to vocalize that it won't be intimidated — and its refusal to let hate win.
It's #Pride Month. March. Show up. Wear a black #OrlandoPride armband for those who can't. They can't take our pridehttps://twitter.com/tlrd/status/741962219190128640 ...
You're celebrating #LGBT #pride month. You're dancing and laughing A man arrives to kill you. Murder your friends. Hate cannot win. #Pulse
The shooting happened on "Upscale Latin Saturday", the weekly celebration of the club's Latino clientele.
You have just energized the LGBT community to work for #gunsense. We passed gay marriage. We ARE change. #Pulse
According to Orlando Police Chief John Mina, at 5 a.m., Orlando police "[detonated] two explosives to distract the gunman and help clear the club."
We will overcome this tragedy! #prayfororlando #prayforpulse #lgbt #pride @ Pulse Orlando https://www.instagram.com/p/BGjfuYpiQW2/
In the early hours of Sunday morning, the nightclub took to its Facebook page to post that everyone currently inside the club needed to "get out of Pulse and keep running."
This club is a place of love & acceptance Don't let fear make you think you don't have the right to live the life God gave U #Pulse #PRIDE
Authorities are currently investigating the shooting as a "domestic terror incident," the Associated Press reported.
And remember: if you don't act even gayer because of this, the terrorists win.