It Starts With You - Stand Up Against LGBTQ+ Violence

Tragedies occur daily. That's a fact. Orlando isn't an isolated incident.
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Tragedies occur daily. That's a fact. Orlando isn't an isolated incident. If you really think what happened in Orlando is gut-wrenching, take in a single episode of VICELAND's Gaycation. The large majority of the world is still rejecting LGBTQ+ rights for religious or political reasons.

It has now been revealed that the Orlando gunman, Omar Mateen may have been gay himself. It seems he was motivated by a combination of religiously fueled homophobia and a last minute devotion to the Islamic state. Mateen's despicable actions are now riddled with troubling contradictions. Mateen frequented Pulse, but never felt comfortable with his identity. He used gay dating apps but he never felt empowered to stand up as who he truly was.

We all have strong opinions on gun control, pride, gay rights, or religion. Today is to think about the people who lost their lives for living openly and standing proud with their sexual identity. Mateen was someone who couldn't cope with proud sexual identities of LGBTQ+ people and it's also possible he couldn't face his own identity. The good news is we can. We can face the reality of the LGBTQ+ community and do something to prevent further attacks like this.

Let's not let this mess of confusion and contradiction slow us down. We can face reality together. We should all be proud of our LGBTQ+ community. This an opportunity to start a conversation with the community in your area. Create a culture of acceptance and education. Make an enduring commitment to love.

The sad truth is violence against LGBTQ+ people in America is incredibly common. In fact, they are more than twice as likely to be the target of a violent hate-crime than Jews or black people. That's astounding.

We owe it to each other to create a culture of acceptance and empowerment. We need to help each other stand up against discrimination and violence. North America cannot keep perpetuating this kind of hatred. We have to be an example for the rest of the world.

Travis Bryant identifies as a LGBTQ+ person, recounting in the video what it's like to stand up and look aggression in the eyes. His anecdote is now more relevant than ever. Watch the video and stand with Travis, stand with your community, and reach out someone who may need your support today.

For more of Travis Bryant, find his videos on YouTube and follow him on Twitter.

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