No clever title for this blog post

It has taken me a couple of days to really get my head around what happened at the Orlando nightclub last weekend. I have made a conscious decision to not watch any talking heads report it, instead choosing NPR and some hand picked news agencies via the interwebs.

 I thought about the community that was struck by this horrific tragedy. For some, this space could have been the only place they felt free to be themselves. Someone mentioned to me that Orlando is urban, but the surrounding areas are not and there could have been people coming there who traveled quite a  distance because it was the only place around where they felt safe. I couldn't bare to listen to what the politicians had to say, because they don't understand. The last time I checked there were no LGBT people of color running for president or sitting in wait, Takano. I will check out if he has said anything. Anyway the MO of many elected officials  is of making sure all Americans are safe, yeah, well why don't we work on making it less terrifying for trans people to leave their house. Just saying.

I have been remembering all the times I had been at the Lexington or the Cafe, Ginger's, Wild West, the Stud, or El Rio  with my friends and friends of friends who welcomed me to share their space with them. How I walked side by side with my friends at Dyke March year after year, and always trying to convince one of my lady friends with a bike to let me ride on the back during the parade. 

I thought about how I brought my young daughter to PRIDE parades. 

Yes, I donated money to Equality Florida and I am gathering monies to donate to the Orlando Center directly. 

The same friend I was talking to said that it is important to support those in our own backyard too. 

I agree. This was a hate crime and giving support (volunteering, donating, whatever) to make safe spaces. 

If we have to call it something bland like public safety, then be it. I am all for public safety. 

I typically don't like air my politics in information superhighway and my next post will probably be music related.

In my house we don't use the word hate. Hate is a bad word.  If we don't like something, we say "I don't care for it." If she says she doesn't like someone I ask why (lucky for me it usually because they didn't share and it only lasts for a few minutes), because I don't want things to go unchecked. She understands to be gracious and that everyone is deserving. Even if they sometimes cut in line. To me, I would rather my daughter say the word fuck than hate.