Dear LGBTQIA+ friends...

Dear LGBTQIA+ friends and readers,

I haven't been saying much after the heartbreaking murder of 49 people at a gay bar in Orlando last weekend.  I don't know what to say.  I don't want to be another straight, white cis gender man trying to make this tragedy about himself.  It's about you, and we should all listen (see some resources below, and please feel free to suggest others).  As horrifying as this has been for me, I realize that I can't imagine what this has been like for you.

There are many disturbing, heart-wrenching things about this brutal murder of 49 human beings.  One of these is the thought that that could have been you, any one of you.  This was an attack on LGBTQIA+ people, most of whom were people of color, mostly Latinx.  Wherever the national conversation takes us on terrorism and guns, we can't forget who was attacked and what this means.

You deserve to live on this planet (or any other) as much as anyone.  You matter.  I've always admired the courage you have just to be who you are.  Especially in a world that demands that you be somebody you're not.  I hope that your courage will inspire everyone to create the world that you deserve.

In love and solidarity,
Ethan Mills

PS:  Here are a few of the online resources I've found to be worth reading.  Please feel free to add more in the comments.

• "The Long, Tragic History of Violence at LGBTQ Clubs and Bars in America"
• "Remembering the Victims of the Pulse Gay Nightclub Massacre in Orlando"
• "8 Ways Allies Can Show Up for the Queer Community After Orlando"
• "Dear White, Hetero Cis People, Please Don't Co-Opt This Tragedy"
• "What Queer Muslims are Saying About the Orlando Shooting"
• "George Takei: How the LGBT Community Can Lead America to a Sane Gun Policy"