IT’S still difficult to find any form of words to articulate the horror of the homophobic terror attack at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
It’s hard to express properly the stomach-churning anguish that we’ve all felt watching television pictures of distraught families respond to the most tragic of news, the heart-wrenching mobile phone footage taken by victims of this atrocity, and the distressing accounts of that night’s events by the survivors.
As I write, this murderer has so far taken the lives of 49 innocent people, and in doing so has committed a crime against all of humanity. These victims were people’s friends and workmates. Their brothers and sisters.
It is inconceivable how anyone can abuse their religion to such an extent so as to try to justify murder. Any suggestion by purported followers of Islam that such actions are in any way condoned is abhorrent.
The holy month of Ramadan, a month of tolerance, peace and understanding, began last week. I’ve joined with Muslims from around the world to observe fasting. By doing so we’re trying to understand or experience, if that’s even possible, the feelings of hunger and thirst of those who are less fortunate than us.
We are seeking a renewed appreciation of what we have. Each and every day so far I’ve been supported and encouraged by friends and colleagues whose small acts of gentle compassion and consideration have strengthened my commitment.
However difficult it may be to focus at this moment, it’s incumbent on all of us who believe in peace, tolerance, and understanding to address the issues raised by these homicidal and homophobic acts head on. We can’t respond with silence to an act of terror. We must come together and be heard.
While we’ve made great progress towards creating a fairer society, we still have some distance to travel. It remains the case that we must achieve true equality for all of our marginalised communities. No one group is any more deserving or virtuous than another. Equality means equality for all, not just for some, or those groups we feel “comfortable” with.
That’s why I was particularly struck by one of the signs I saw held aloft at the vigil for victims in Orlando outside the Houses of Parliament on Monday, which simply stated: “Islamophobia is not the answer.”
It is to the eternal credit of the LGBTI community here and in the US that in the wake of these heartbreaking events, during this time of grief, they have come together to preach love for all. What a positive message. They have stood by other minority communities in the past, and now we must stand by them, and with them, shoulder to shoulder.
It’s with this in mind that the symbolism of this vigil, the minute’s silence held in the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments and the decision by the Scottish Government to fly the rainbow flag at half-mast on all its buildings yesterday is important. They all demonstrate that we are as one.
As we question this act of barbarism, we must do all we can to build a positive legacy from the affirming scenes we’ve seen in its tragic aftermath. I truly believe that love will win and hope will defeat fear, but only if we harness the solidarity we’ve demonstrated in the last three days in a practical way.
The LBGTI community is hurting. Let’s share in that pain and reach out to it. The power and energy of this positive engagement will be far greater than any forces that seek to divide us.
Unlike demagogues such as Donald Trump, who are using this tragedy to stoke up the hatred and fear he has already sown, President Obama struck the right tone. He called this “a devastating attack on all Americans” and said people in the US should “be looking after each other and protecting each other at all times in the face of this kind of terrible act”.
We will not cower in fear from acts of terrorism or intolerance. Instead we must take further steps towards achieving equality for the LGBTI community in our schools, workplaces and places of worship.
Let’s press on with our efforts to build tolerance and understanding between our rich and diverse communities, and create the structures within our society to bring us closer together on an equal footing. The tragedy that unfolded in Orlando must be a catalyst to further and definitive action, to ensure these victims will not have died in vain.
Wee Ginger Dug: If your god says hate, maybe it’s your demons talking
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