After Orlando
As a gay man I look at the tragedy that has occurred in Orlando and am struck dumb with grief. This was a pre-meditated attack, an act of unbridled hatred, against people simply because, like me, they were born different. This is as stupid as killing people for being left-handed or having green eyes. I’ve been trying to understand why it has shaken me and so many of my friends so deeply. It is because we are so used to living with fear, we are so used to the little put-downs so often described as “jokes”. So many of us were bullied at school and rejected by our families that we don’t trust the world around us easily. We know that we are inviting verbal abuse and the danger of physical attack if we walk around holding our loved one’s hand or kissing in public. We know to check and not behave in a way that is “too gay” if we’re out on the street at night, especially if you’re on your own. We know we are at risk, and what this foul act of terror in Orlando has done is ...