It happened in Orlando

It happened in Orlando, Florida.  It could have been anywhere.  It happened at the Pulse nightclub there.  It happened one year ago today - an act of hate claiming 49 innocent lives.  There were another 53 people injured.  It was the deadliest mass shooting in modern US history.  It happened, and we should learn from it.  It happened and we should never forget.

Since that horrible night a year ago, how much have we done to see that violence like this never again happens?  How many have stood up and said "Enough!"  How many have walked in solidarity with their lgbtq sisters and brothers and taken a stand against hate?

One year later, is the massacre in Orlando still on people's minds?  One year ago do you remember much about that night?  One year later do you care about this hateful act?  I wrote here day after day last year, because I thought it was important.  I still think it is so important that at the very top of my blog page, there is a constant reminder of that night in Orlando.  Remember that night.

Remember each of the people too.  These were human beings.  Their lives were snatched from them by hate.  Remember their names.  Remember Stanley Almodovar III, Amanda Alvear, Oscar A Aracena-Montero, Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, Antonio Davon Brown, Darryl Roman Burt II, Angel L. Candelario-Padro, Juan Chevez-Martinez, Luis Daniel Conde, Cory James Connell, Tevin Eugene Crosby, Deonka Deidra Drayton, Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, Leroy Valentin Fernandez, Mercedez Marisol Flores, Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, Juan Ramon Guerrero, Paul Terrell Henry, Frank Hernandez, Miguel Angel Honorato, Javier Jorge-Reyes, Jason Benjamin Josaphat, Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, Christopher Andrew Leinonen, Alejandro Barrios Martinez, Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, Kimberly Morris, Akyra Monet Murray, Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, Joel Rayon Paniagua, Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, Enrique L. Rios, Jr., Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, Edward Sotomayor Jr., Shane Evan Tomlinson, Martin Benitez Torres, Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, Luis S. Vielma, Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, Jerald Arthur Wright.

Yesterday's Resist March and Equality March was a good step, but we need to do more.  There have been some backward steps in the past months, and we can't afford that.  We should all stand up together and say no to hate - ALL hate.  It happened before.  It can happen again.  Let's say no more!  Let us resist the negativity and remind everyone of the power of love!  Those 49 in Orlando had their lived cut short.  Let us hold them on our hearts, and honor them with action.