Around 2 am this morning, a gunman opened fire on clubgoers of Pulse, a queer nightclub in Orlando, Florida. The hate crime resulted in the loss of 50 lives and 53 more injured and hospitalized. This tragic and horrific event marks the largest mass shooting in U.S. history. With so many mourning the loss of innocent lives at the hands of hatred, the shootings are a jarring reminder of the ever present danger that the LGBTQ+ community lives in every day. Even in what is supposed to be a safe space, during Pride month, a time in which the diversity of the queer community is to be celebrated, it is not possible for LGBTQ+ people to be at peace. However, despite the tragedy of these recent events, we must move forward and recognize the need to cultivate and protect the queer community now more than ever in honor of those who no longer have the opportunity to. Regardless of your gender or orientation, there are several things you can do to assist those in need in Orlando:
FIND PEOPLE AND LET OTHERS KNOW YOU ARE SAFE
If you are in Orlando or have friends and loved ones located there, use the Facebook check-in page to help people locate those who may have suffered injuries at Pulse. The Orlando Shooting Family Hotline at 407-246-4357 can also be utilized to find loved ones who may be missing. However, these services should only be used if you have previously have been unable to make contact with someone who you suspect may have been present at Pulse during the incident in order to ensure efficiency and a proper use of resources.
DONATE BLOOD AND PLASMA
Unfortunately, despite varied rumours, the dated FDA ban on gay, bi, or trans people giving blood has not been lifted, and many members of the queer community are unable to donate much needed blood to their peers and loved ones due to the FDA’s concerns of transmitting STI’s through donations.
However, most others in the Orlando area are welcome to donate (dependent on their blood type and certain cautionary regulations), just not necessarily today as most blood donation centers are already at capacity. If you would like to make a blood donation, you can call 1-888-936-6283, or visit oneblood.org, to receive the most current information regarding where you can make a donation as more sites open up. One Blood is currently in need of O negative and O positive type blood as well as AB plasma.
TALK TO SOMEONE AND STAY POSITIVE
Although everyone requires time to grieve and absorb this terrible incident, once you are ready to it is also important to move forward and focus on cultivating and encouraging those in the queer community. It is pride month after all and fear should not stand in the way of celebrating diversity and the LGBTQ+ community. Think of what is best for you and others, and rally support and positivity to help move past this event, creating a stronger foundation for the queer community.
Several places are also organizing counseling services. Even if you weren’t necessarily at the event, if you know of someone who was or even if you just feel deeply affected by what occurred, people are available to speak to you and I highly encourage you to seek support if you need it:
The Trevor Project Hotline is always available for LGBTQ+ youth and can be reached at 1-866-488-7386.
Zebra Coalition’s hotline is available at 407-228-1446 if you need to speak with someone immediately.
For locals, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida has counselors on site for anyone who is in need of support and is located at 946 N Mills Avenue, Orlando, Florida 32803.
The Calgary Sexual Health Center can also always be contacted at 403-283-5580.
DONATE MONEY AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT
If you do not reside in the Orlando area, don’t worry you can still help! You can make a donation on the GoFundMe page set up by Equality Florida to support the victims and their families. $722,489 have been raised in just 8 hours!
You can also show your support by honoring the victims of the shooting and setting up a memorial or similar event where people can come out and discuss their feelings on the traumatic event. Honoring the people who lost their lives and giving people an opportunity to share their emotions, thoughts, and fears can be a great way to rally support and come to a place of acceptance that will allow you to continue advocating for change without fear or doubt. In fact, a candlelight vigil will be held tonight at 9pm right here in Calgary at the Olympic Plaza. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own candles and matches.
ADVOCATE FOR CHANGE
Overall, it is important that we honour those who suffered from this tragic event by recognizing the reasons why it occurred. Despite however many news outlets try to hide behind the fact that the shooter happened to be of Afghan descent or that he had previously been accused of abuse against his wife, what happened at Pulse was the result of a toxic hatred of a community as a whole and virtually unregulated gun distribution. If we are to move forward from this occurrence we cannot succumb to the same hateful ways that brought this about in the first place and should refrain from shifting the blame on religion or mental illness. Instead, we should try and institute change on gun legislation and focus on educating others on the ins and outs of the LGBTQ+ community. This will allow for a difference to be brought about, hopefully preventing events like this in the future. With time, advocacy, and support, we will recover and we will prevail.
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