Keep going back to love: Second Look

Letter to the editor:

I’ve struggled a lot in my life. For 10 years I struggled in silence, as I coped with my own sexuality. But what I’ve struggled with most recently is trying to make sense of the death of my 49 brothers and sisters in Orlando. The weekend of the shooting, I spent Friday night celebrating the kick off Pride weekend. Saturday was spent with my boyfriend and friends cheering on the organizations walking in the Pride parade and at a dance party celebrating how proud we are to be a part of a strong community. My heart was so full — my boyfriend and my best friends with me dancing in pure bliss. And then Sunday morning. My heart sank and my eyes filled with tears, and my knees felt weak when I learned of the attack. I immediately felt sick thinking it could’ve been me.

Gay bars and clubs are sanctuaries for us. With not very many places to go that allow us to truly be ourselves, gay nightlife is a haven that some coward tried to take away. And now, here I stand, still struggling to make sense of it all.

But what I keep coming back to is love. Love for a community that has kept fighting even though it’s constantly knocked down. Love for my straight friends, family and allies who, despite not knowing what to say or do, still try. Love knowing that the world is feeling our hurt and that there is hope.

So as my struggle transforms into hope, I’ll keep fighting for my community. Standing up for our rights and for our safety. We are all Orlando.

Justin Golding; Arlington, Va.