I mourn with all of you. I am sending extra love and prayers to the Latino
and LGBT communities in Orlando who were most impacted by yesterday's
tragedy. While words may not be enough, I wanted to make sure you received
GMHC's statement we issued this morning as well as including a few
resources for all of you.
It is important that we take care of ourselves and each other during difficult
times. Such horrific events can dampen our spirits and cause stress, anxiety,
and sadness. If you need assistance or support, please don’t hesitate
to visit GMHC's website, call GMHC's hotline1-800-243-7692 or
call our main number (212) 367-1000.
We encourage everyone in the New York City region to participate in tonight’s
Vigil in Front of Stonewall Inn to Remember Lives Lost at Pulse Orlando, which GMHC and other LGBT leaders in New York helped organize. The vigil
is tonight, Monday, June 13, 7pm–9pm. The Stonewall Inn is located
at 53 Christopher Street, New York, NY 10014.
If you’d like to take additional action, please consider making
a donation to an LGBT center of your choice. Please visit the
Orlando LGBT Center webpage for additional suggestions on how you can help.
In solidarity,
Kelsey Louie
For Immediate Release
Date: June 13, 2016
Contact: Anthony Hayes |
AnthonyH@GMHC.org
STATEMENT
Gay Men’s Health Crisis Condemns Terrorist Attack In Orlando
New York, New York – Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC), the world’s first AIDS service organization, released the following statement on the massacre in Orlando, Florida at Pulse Night Club where at least 50 LGBT people and allies were murdered and over 50 more were injured.
STATEMENT BY GMHC CEO KELSEY LOUIE:
My heart breaks for the victims of the Orlando shootings and the entire
LGBT community. On Sunday, we all saw firsthand that both domestic and
foreign forces still want to attack the freedoms we have fought so hard
to acquire. Terror is a word that sadly LGBT people are far too familiar
with, because the threat of physical violence, even death, is still a
daily part of life for our community, especially transgender Americans.
Yet, Sunday’s massacre particularly strikes at the heart of LGBT
pride because June is the month when we come together from the east to
the west coast and celebrate our diversity, our individuality and above
all, our community.
While we still don't have all the details, it pains me that this attack
in a gay nightclub was the worst mass shooting slaughter in American history.
To add insult to this nightmare, when there was a call for blood donations
from blood banks in Orlando, many gay men were left out because gay and
bisexual men are still banned in America from donating blood. People often
ask why GMHC is fighting for policy changes to help the public, and yesterday's
events are an example of why we do what we do each day. We cannot allow
this mass shooting to pass with no real action from our elected officials.
It is time for our leaders to finally do what is right and put common
sense gun control regulations in place. It is time to create a blood donation
policy that is inclusive and based on science,
not stigma.
At times like this, I am reminded that the LGBT community was built out of unthinkable adversities. The love and pride our community has is an example to all Americans of how we will once again come together and take care of our own. When the world turned its back on us as HIV and AIDS ravaged our community, we defiantly stood up and fought back. When they said you can't marry the one you love, we stood up and won the right to say "I do". The terrorist chose Pulse Night Club for a reason. It is time for us to once again stand up and say you can't scare us back into the closet. We will love proudly, we will dance proudly, and we will march through the streets proudly this month and every month. Our hearts are broken, but our spirits will fight on in honor of those we lost.
Sincerely,
Kelsey Louie, MSW, MBA
Chief Executive Officer