By Sidney Drmay
June 12, 2016, will forever be an important date in LGBTQ history. Sadly, it’s a day marked by violence. Violence shapes several parts of our lives — there a very few members of the community that don’t have trauma related to some kind of violence. We often try and find places where we can be together and be ourselves without fear. For some people, that place is a bar.
The Pulse nightclub shooting is a violent reminder that even in our own spaces we are not safe. We were never safe. This act just reinforces those fears and legitimizes them.
The Orlando shooting is tied to many of the overarching systems that put LGBTQ at risk. The club was hosting a Latin night, which means the main victims are racialized LGBTQ folks — specifically trans women of colour. This was a calculated act of violence against people who experience oppression in a multitude of ways and many of whom were murdered because of this.
In this time it is important to stand by one another, to show support and solidarity with Orlando and with each other in Toronto. This happened in a city not unlike ours. It can happen. It has. It might happen again. Stand with each other and make our spaces safe for our racialized siblings.
Rest in power
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34
Stanley Almodovar III, 23
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22
Luis S. Vielma, 22
Kimberly Morris, 37
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30
Anthony Luis Laureano Disla, 25
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35
Franky Jimmy Dejesus 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 Menendez, 25
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19
Cory James Connell, 21
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37
Luis Daniel Conde, 39
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28
Frank Hernandez, 27
Paul Terrell Henry, 41
Akyra Monet Murray, 18
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24
Antonio Davon Brown, 29
If you need someone to talk to, The Trevor Project is always open for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386, along with the YouthLine, the Trans Lifeline for transgender people (877-330-6366) and Scarleteen (text 206-866-2279).
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