LETTER – Thousands are victims of hate crimes based on sexuality

I was a little shocked to read Jim Harrison’s opinion piece on the pride parade. In response, I have written an open letter:

Jim, do you remember when a shooter walked into a straight nightclub and open fired at the crowd on the basis of those people’s heterosexuality? No? Probably because that has literally never happened. Ever.

Do you remember the non-fictitious Pulse nightclub shooting? I’ll jog your memory: It was the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. Forty-nine people were killed and 53 more were injured. I’d be willing to bet that the hundreds of people directly connected to the victims remember that event, and so does the entire LGBTQ+ community and their allies. It’s hard to forget an event that so starkly demonstrates that LGBTQ+ folk are not safe, not free to love who they love, and certainly must still “hide in a closet somewhere,” to use your words.

For many, that safe space is a gay nightclub or pride parades, where a dangerous part of their identity is actually celebrated instead of targeted.

Thousands of people are the victims of hate crimes every year on the basis of their sexuality.

That’s why I’m struggling to wrap my head around what you said: “Our society has reached the point where their sexual orientation no longer is frowned upon, and is accepted as part of our diversity.”

The friends, family and allies of those targeted in the Pulse shooting would disagree. Not only are LGBTQ+’s folks’ orientation frowned upon, but their personal lives often a loud, dangerous political act. The consequences of their sexuality are literally life and death.

I’m guessing you’re a straight, white male (just based purely on the degree of ignorance in your opinion piece) who has the privilege of loving apolitically, quietly, and safely. You keep making the choice to ignore the immense pain that the people around you must carry for something as innocent as sexuality.

You can condemn pride parades and celebration of queer identity and sexuality and you can continue writing articles about how pride parades are no longer needed, but you will be objectively, demonstrably wrong.

MACKENZIE ERLANK

Kamloops