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I Can’t Stop Crying

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Today marks “yet another” sad day in American history…

As many of you already know, just shortly after 2am in the morning on Sunday, June 12th, a gunman opened fire at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Florida.  Claiming the lives of 50 men and women and injuring over 50 more, some will say the gunman did this for his faith.  Fortunately, officials were smart enough to recognize this as a “domestic terrorist attack” hours before they knew of the gunman’s religious background (although I’m sure certain media outlets will tell you otherwise).

But this was more than just an act of terrorism.  As what is now being deemed the largest mass shooting in the U.S. of A., today was also an act of hate; a hate crime that occurred at one of the most popular gay bars in Orlando’s LGBTQ community.

And so, I can’t stop crying…

I am fortunate enough not to know anyone who got hurt.  But, perhaps, I am more unfortunate as I will never have a chance to meet Edward Sotomayor Jr. (34), Stanley Almodovar III (23), Juan Ramon Guerrero (22), Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera (36), Luis S. Vielma (22), Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz (22), Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo (20), Kimberly Morris (37), Eddie Jamoldroy Justice (30), Darryl Roman Burt II (29), Deonka Deidra Drayton (32), Anthony Luis LaureanodiSla (25), Jean Carlos Mendez Perez (35), Franky Jimmy Bejesus Velazquez (50), Amanda Alvear (25), Martin Benitez Torres (33), Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon (37), Mercedez Marisol Flores (26), Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado (35), Gilberto Ramon Silva Melendez (25), Oscar A Aracena-Montero (26), Enrique L. Rios Jr. (25), Miguel Angel Honorato (30), Javier Jorge-Reyes (40), Jason Benjamin Josaphat (19), Cory James Connell (21), Juan P. Rivera Velazquez (37), Luis Daniel Conde (39), Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega (24), Christopher Andrew Leinonen (32), Frank Hernandez (27), Shane Evan Tomlinson (33), Paul Terrell Henry (41), Antonio Davon Brown (29), Christopher Joseph Sanfelciz (24), Alejandro Barrios Martinez (21), Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez (31), Joel Rayon Paniagua (32), Juan Chavez-Martinez (25), Jerald Arthur Wright (31), Leroy Valentin Fernandez (25), Tevin Eugene Crosby (25), Jean C. Nives Rodriguez (27), Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala (33), Brenda Lee Marquez McCool (49), Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan (24), Angel L. Candelario-Padro (28).

My heart ache’s for the friends and family of those who did know Edward Sotomayor Jr. (34), Stanley Almodovar III (23), Juan Ramon Guerrero (22), Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera (36), Luis S. Vielma (22), Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz (22), Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo (20), Kimberly Morris (37), Eddie Jamoldroy Justice (30), Darryl Roman Burt II (29), Deonka Deidra Drayton (32), Anthony Luis LaureanodiSla (25), Jean Carlos Mendez Perez (35), Franky Jimmy Bejesus Velazquez (50), Amanda Alvear (25), Martin Benitez Torres (33), Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon (37), Mercedez Marisol Flores (26), Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado (35), Gilberto Ramon Silva Melendez (25), Oscar A Aracena-Montero (26), Enrique L. Rios Jr. (25), Miguel Angel Honorato (30), Javier Jorge-Reyes (40), Jason Benjamin Josaphat (19), Cory James Connell (21), Juan P. Rivera Velazquez (37), Luis Daniel Conde (39), Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega (24), Christopher Andrew Leinonen (32), Frank Hernandez (27), Shane Evan Tomlinson (33), Paul Terrell Henry (41), Antonio Davon Brown (29), Christopher Joseph Sanfelciz (24), Alejandro Barrios Martinez (21), Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez (31), Joel Rayon Paniagua (32), Juan Chavez-Martinez (25), Jerald Arthur Wright (31), Leroy Valentin Fernandez (25), Tevin Eugene Crosby (25), Jean C. Nives Rodriguez (27), Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala (33), Brenda Lee Marquez McCool (49), Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan (24), Angel L. Candelario-Padro (28).

My sadness also extends to those who have also lost loved ones during the multitude of mass shootings here in America, particularly those in Connecticut, California, and everywhere else in between our country’s two coasts.

The question is: when will this stop?

Some will blame President Obama for this tragedy.  Others will call upon Drumpf or Hillary Clinton to solve this issue during either of their Presidencies (here’s hoping for the latter).  But gun control isn’t something that can be solved single-handedly.  Gun control must be fixed in the House and Senate, and that, my friends, starts with YOU!

We MUST call our Senators and tell them to PASS gun control laws NOW!

We MUST call our Governors and tell them to PASS gun control laws NOW!

We MUST vote for Representatives who promise to PASS gun control laws whenever we have the chance!

Point is, change starts with US!  And if you don’t believe that, then you have no right to complain when change doesn’t happen. If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain when gun control laws don’t get passed.  You think your vote doesn’t count because you’re just one person in a ballot box of millions?

Tell that to Edward Sotomayor Jr. (34), Stanley Almodovar III (23), Juan Ramon Guerrero (22), Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera (36), Luis S. Vielma (22), Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz (22), Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo (20), Kimberly Morris (37), Eddie Jamoldroy Justice (30), Darryl Roman Burt II (29), Deonka Deidra Drayton (32), Anthony Luis LaureanodiSla (25), Jean Carlos Mendez Perez (35), Franky Jimmy Bejesus Velazquez (50), Amanda Alvear (25), Martin Benitez Torres (33), Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon (37), Mercedez Marisol Flores (26), Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado (35), Gilberto Ramon Silva Melendez (25), Oscar A Aracena-Montero (26), Enrique L. Rios Jr. (25), Miguel Angel Honorato (30), Javier Jorge-Reyes (40), Jason Benjamin Josaphat (19), Cory James Connell (21), Juan P. Rivera Velazquez (37), Luis Daniel Conde (39), Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega (24), Christopher Andrew Leinonen (32), Frank Hernandez (27), Shane Evan Tomlinson (33), Paul Terrell Henry (41), Antonio Davon Brown (29), Christopher Joseph Sanfelciz (24), Alejandro Barrios Martinez (21), Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez (31), Joel Rayon Paniagua (32), Juan Chavez-Martinez (25), Jerald Arthur Wright (31), Leroy Valentin Fernandez (25), Tevin Eugene Crosby (25), Jean C. Nives Rodriguez (27), Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala (33), Brenda Lee Marquez McCool (49), Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan (24), Angel L. Candelario-Padro (28).

Were they just another vote like the rest of us?

Let me tell you what I see…

I see a travel agent.  I see a pharmacy technician.  I see an interior designer.  I see a Harry Potter fan.  I see a dancer.  I see a bouncer.  I see an accountant.  I see a financial aid officer.  I see a photographer.  I see a drag performer.  I see a choreographer.  I see a bartender.  I see a comedian.  I see a salesman.  I see a techie.  I see a firefighter.  I see an actor.  I see a singer.  I see countless friends and cousins.  I see too many sons and daughters.  I see brothers and sisters.  I see fathers.  I see teenagers.  I see students.  I see fiancés.  I see partners.  I see dreamers.  I see “the life of the party.”

But more importantly, I see PEOPLE.  People who make up a COMMUNITY.  A community that will not back down in this moment of fear and hate.  The LGBTQ community is strong, and these events in Orlando have only made us STRONGER!

Stay strong, Orlando.  We are ALL with you!  And for those of us who aren’t, they will never know the LOVE this community does.  Because after all…

#LoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLoveIsLove!

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8 Responses so far.

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