Today is the one year anniversary of the shooting that took place in Orlando at the Pulse nightclub.  Forty-nine of my LGBTQ community were just wiped away for nothing more than being in a nightclub and having a good time. The most horrific quote I read was from one of the survivors who said he had danced to the beat of someone’s death.

My heart breaks for all of us as a community but especially for those that were there that night and the family members of those that were hurt or killed.  I cried when I read about the one body not claimed by the family because he was gay.  I cannot even fucking imagine how you can leave your son there for someone else to deal with like a throwaway.  Who do you have to be to do that?  What do you have to believe in?  What do you have to worship?  I hope whatever God they believe in forgives them for that and also eases their pain as surely they can never forget what they had done.

Im one of the lucky ones  my parents love me and they tell me nearly every day they can.  I’m grateful for my mom and dad, but mostly I’m grateful for life, itself. I’m grateful for who I get to be every day and I’m grateful for the life I’ve been given. I don’t always take the best care of myself or my life but I sure am glad I got the chance.

To everyone out there who loves and celebrates life on their own terms, I wish you a Happy Pride Month!  May our lives continue to make a visible difference for those that can’t yet or who have yet to come to know who they are.  We are here for you and we’ll celebrate you and love you until you can love yourself.

🌈🦄💛💚💙❤️💜🖤👨🏻‍🎤👨‍👨‍👦👩‍👩‍👦👨‍👦🐻🐼🐷⬆️⬇️↔️🔀🔂♿️🚹🚺💟🖤💜❤️💙💚💛🦄🌈

“The first three shots: I thought it was music.

I felt the bass in my body on the floor against that wall. I felt it. I saw it.

I thought it was the music.

Then glass shattering, the air filling with smoke. The flashing of the gun looked like a strobe light.  I danced to the beat of someone’s death.

Everyone getting down.”

Chris Hansen, a survivor.