Summary: More than 50 people dead at the gay nightclub terrorist attack
Last night massacre left people, especially Muslims, speechless. The Federal authorities identified the shooter as Omar Mateen, 29 New York born resident who opened fire at the people at Pulse gay nightclub.
Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity issued a statement condemning Orlando’s terrorist attack. :
There is no religious justification or precedent in Islam for mass shootings targeting any population, regardless of identity, nor is there justification in American law or values. This tragedy is a reminder of the terrible harm that can result from the wide availability of guns and explosives. The proliferation of guns facilitates acts of violence by individuals whose own values conflict with those of most Muslims and most Americans which hold human life to be sacred. With that in mind, we call for a renewal of the national conversation around strengthening gun control.
This tragedy cannot be neatly categorized as a fight between the LGBTQ community and the Muslim community. As LGBTQ Muslims, we know that there are many of us who are living at the intersections of LGBTQ identities and Islam. At moments like this, we are doubly affected. We reject attempts to perpetuate hatred against our LGBTQ communities as well as our Muslim communities. We ask all Americans to resist the forces of division and hatred, and to stand against homophobia as well as against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry. Let us remember that the actions of a single individual cannot speak for all Muslims. Let us also remember that there are many straight Muslims who have been strong allies to the Muslim LGBTQ community. We see the beauty in our cultures and our faith traditions, and we have experienced love, acceptance and support from many in our Muslim communities.
Tragedies like this often lead people to look for someone or something to blame, but we ask our friends to resist this temptation. Let us instead recommit ourselves to working toward a world without hatred and prejudice. To our straight Muslim allies, we ask you to join us in continuing to build support for LGBTQ people. To our non-Muslim allies, we ask you to join us in standing against Islamophobia and anti-Muslim bigotry. And to all peace-loving people everywhere, we ask for your compassion and your support at this very difficult time for our community.