Chicago LGBTs and supporters gathered at 7 PM yesterday at Halsted and Roscoe Streets in response to the worst mass shooting in U.S. history.
Below is a statement by the Gay Liberation Network, Chicago’s LGBT direct action organization:
STATEMENT ON THE ORLANDO TRAGEDY
The worst thing that we could do right now is compound a horrible act of anti-LGBT hate by promoting anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant hate. To use this tragedy to promote Trump-like behavior would be despicable. It is a race to the bottom, branding all people in a group, regardless of character, as the enemy.
As LGBTs we have recently won so many rights — with the aid of many non-LGBTs of all faiths — and so it would be unworthy of us to become haters towards any other group of people. We have in our LGBT community many Muslims and immigrants who catch it from both sides — racist Islamophobes on one side, anti-LGBT bigots on the other. We especially need to stand with them, and stand against scapegoating, period.
Florida Senator Bill Nelson just a few moments ago said that we need to not be “hyphenated Americans, but stand together as Americans.” Sorry Mr. Senator, but this was an apparent anti-gay attack. Disregarding that fact is to disregard the hate that has been promoted by anti-gay political and religious leaders of both parties, especially in the American South.
With a presidential candidate making it his calling card, Islamophobia is also a huge threat. Until we stand together not as Americans, but as human beings regardless of race, nationality or religion, and confront what our own leaders are doing to perpetuate this cycle of violence, whether scapegoating groups or serial bombings of other countries, it will not end.
Gay Liberation Network, Chicago
For more information: Andy Thayer, co-founder, Gay Liberation Network, LGBTliberation@aol.com, 773.209.1187 (cell)
