Pulse. A name fitting for a club that wasn’t just known as one of the “hottest gay bars” in Miami, but also for a place that was at the heart of the LGBT community in Orlando, Florida. On Sunday, June 12, the rhythm of Pulse was broken. From what authorities have confirmed, Omar Mateen walked into Pulse nightclub at 2 a.m. and opened fire into the crowd killing 50 people and wounding at least 53. This tragedy has been labeled as one of the most tragic mass shootings in the history of the U.S. In the wake of this, we as the American people must understand something: We can’t use this instance of violence to perpetuate hate.
All over Facebook we see photos, posts and events all in support for the LGBT community, a community that I am proudly part of. But mixed in with all of this we can also see a swell in posts and tweets vilifying Muslims. Even just today we saw a tweet from presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump saying, “Appreciate the congrats for being right on radical Islamic terrorism, I don't want congrats, I want toughness & vigilance. We must be smart!” These are the things we need to stay away from, blanket statements that show we want to hold an entire faith accountable for the actions of one individual.
It is in situations like these when we are too quick to point out the fact that homosexuality is criminalized in seven Muslim-majority countries, and that only 20 of the 57 Muslim-majority countries have legalized same-sex marriage. But I ask you this: If we are fast to get on our high horses and point fingers at the lack of LGBT rights in other countries, why did it take us until just this past year to legalize same-sex marriage? Why is it still legal to evict people on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity? Why did it take a mass shooting to allow members of the LGBT community to donate blood? Why are we so fast to blame an entire faith, when in reality we should be looking at the oppressive and transphobic environment that we cultivate here in the U.S.?
With a jump in support of the LGBT community on social media right now, it begs the question, why did it take a tragedy in the LGBT community for you to stand with us? This is the kind of support that we should be showing for the LGBT community in our everyday lives. In our workplace, our homes, our schools, our bathrooms and even in our military. We can’t use this event to capitalize on political points, or our need to get a couple of “likes” on a Facebook status. Instead, we need to build support other ways.
We need to show not just our nation, but also the international community that we aren’t going to stand for this. We aren’t going to stand for the fact that, bypassing a categorization of their identity, 50 people were shot and killed in a night club. Fifty people were victims of the enduring problem of gun violence. Fifty people are not dead because of a religion. The deaths of these 50 people can, however, inspire serious consideration of the hateful social environment that we foster.
I hate to use something so simple as a phrase I was taught in elementary school, but I think it fits in this situation. The simple idiom states, “When you are pointing a finger at someone else, you always have three fingers pointing back at you.” We are pointing our fingers at other people and religions, when in reality maybe we should be looking at ourselves.
These are the things that should make us angry. These are the things that should make us want to change the homophobic and transphobic environment we live in, not just “show our support.” It should make us want to change the way we address gun laws in the U.S., not blame a religion for the work of an individual. Most importantly, it should make us realize that as an American people, whether you are Muslim, Christian, heterosexual or homosexual, we are in this together and we need to create change together. It’s up to us to figure out how our country got to where we are in the first place, and what as a community we can do from here.
As a gay man, I am glad people are showing support for my community. I am grateful for the supportive messages that I have received today. But, I will be more grateful if we don’t let this support fizzle out. I will be grateful If we don’t ignore the emotions and pain we are feeling right now. I will be grateful if instead of posting a Facebook status or changing your cover photo, you think about the direction our country is currently heading in. I would be grateful if you join the rest of the people in the U.S. who are working to stop not only homophobia and transphobia but also gun violence and Islamophobia. I’m not suggesting that you need to drastically change the way you live your life on a national scale. Instead, think smaller. Even just this past semester we saw a rise in student activism that addressed incidents of hate and bias on our campus. Start there. Learn to first respect your friends, family and fellow Badgers, because even from there we can make a difference.
Cal is a Junior planning on majoring in political science and journalism. Let us know what you think. Send any comments, questions or concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
