#LoveIsLove: PH LGBT community in grief over Orlando attack

Adrian Jimenea

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#LoveIsLove: PH LGBT community in grief over Orlando attack
'Let’s not allow hate to fill our hearts and minds no matter how painful and scared we all are. Let’s let love in,' says organizers of the Metro Manila Pride

MANILA, Philippines – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) communities and individuals in the Philippines on Monday, June 13, expressed their solidarity and anger over the Orlando, Florida shooting incident inside a gay nightclub that killed at least 50 people.

The terror attack on Sunday night, June 12, has been reported as the worst shooting incident in the history of the United States, and is now considered a “hate attack” against the LGBT community.

Filipino LGBT groups and individuals denounced the incident and pointed the finger at the culture of bigotry and prejudice.

“The massacre in Orlando is a living proof that bigotry still exists. It’s heartbreaking to know that as we celebrate our pride, one man has to senselessly end the lives of these beautiful butterflies,” said Earl Valdehuesa, a UP Visayas faculty member and LGBT rights advocate.

LGBT artist Tokwa Peñaflorida expressed his sadness over the incident through some artworks.  

GRIEF. Artist Tokwa Peñaflorida draws two images after the Orlando shooting. Photos courtesy of Tokwa Peñaflorida

The 26-year-old artist told Rappler that the event rendered him speechless, sad, and heartbroken.

“I (was) celebrating last Saturday night, but on the other side of the planet, 50+ people who were also doing the same thing got shot. They died because of that senseless act. It was clearly a hate crime,” he said.

On Saturday, June 11, Love Yourself, held Pride Night 2016 to welcome the annual Pride Month. The event included an exhibit that showcased the works of LGBT artists in Manila. (READ: Will you support the Metro Manila Pride 2016?)

Meanwhile, the Metro Manila Pride Festival organizers cited the Jennifer Laude case in 2014 and the 103 reported cases of hate-crime deaths in the country from 1998-2011 as reminders that hate attacks are a reality in the Philippines.

“What is alarming (is) that these are only the reported deaths. So many more go undocumented,” the group said in a statement. “Let’s not allow hate to fill our hearts and minds no matter how painful and scared we all are. Let’s let love in.” 

Ladlad Party-list changed their Facebook profile picture to an inverted rainbow flag on a plain black background to show their condemnation of the “senseless attack.” The partylist also extended their grief over the lost lives of the victims.

The owner of the Pulse nightclub, Barbara Poma, also issued a statement saying that the nightclub was supposed to serve as a “place of love and acceptance for the LGBTQ community. She extended her condolences to the families of the victims: “Please know that my grief and heart are with you.”

#LoveIsLove

On social media, the hashtag #LoveIsLove gathered over 1.8 million mentions and has been in the trending topic list since Monday morning. (READ: Tony Awards dedicates ceremony to Orlando victims

Famous Twitter accounts like that of US President Barack Obama and Google expressed their shock and grief towards the incident via the hashtag.

 

Tweets with the hashtag include messages of support, pictures of cities where LGBT rights are upheld, and photos of LGBT couples showing affection.

HIV awareness group The Red Whistle encouraged the public to make the issue “their own” so that one day, “everyone is free to love whoever he chooses to. Free from judgment, free from harm.”

Suspect identified

Reports identified the shooter as Omar Mateen, who allegedly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) moments before the attack. The 29-year-old Muslim American is said to adhere to the “anti-gay view” and regularly assaulted his wife.

Mateen’s father also revealed that his son was offended after seeing two men kissing in front of his wife and kid.

Despite the attack, advocates still remain hopeful and urge the public to continue to “respect, protect, and love us for who and what we are.” – Rappler.com

Adrian Jimenea is a Rappler Intern from UP Visayas.

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