“With Love and Courage” Community Comes Together to Mourn Orlando

“With Love and Courage” Community Comes Together to Mourn Orlando
(Crystal A. Proxmire, June 13, 2016)
Ferndale, MI – “It is not only an act of love but of courage this evening that we decide that in the face of the savage hatred in Orlando that we are going to come together as a people.”
The words of Mayor Dave Coulter welcomed a crowd of LGBTQ people and allies that filled the frown lawn of Ferndale City Hall Sunday evening.  Gatherings took place across the county as the nation mourns the loss of 50 people who were murdered in the shooting at Orlando’s Pulse Night Club.  An estimated 53 others were injured including one police officer.
“It would be easy with our hearts broken to feel rage this evening and especially to the members of the LGBT community I wanted to say that I understand the fear, and the anger and that rage that may be in your hearts this evening.  It’s understandable.  But I also want to say I believe that the majority of Americans believe in love and they believe in peace and they are not the kind of people that would do the things [like] in Orlando this morning,” Mayor Coulter said.  “Peace is possible.  It begins with use individually and it begins with us collectively.  It’s why we have come together tonight.”
For attorney Erica Moise of the Queer Legal Project, the shooting took her back to the tough time in youth when simply being around friends and forgetting the troubles of the world for a couple of hours was an essential part of growing up.  “I came of age in the LGBT bar scene:  Stillettos, Rainbow Room, Menjos, Back Street and Boys Town in Chicago just to name a few.  They were places that I could fully be myself. Where I could dance until all hours of the night without judgment. And where I met so many of my friends.  When for a few hours I felt free with the sounds of Madonna mixed with a techno beat. And in a world that did not feel safe or welcoming, I felt my community embrace me with open arms.  I felt love, and I felt part of something.  I felt at home,” Moise told the crowd.
“When I woke up to the tragic news this morning, I cried my eyes out…  It breaks my heart but it will not break my spirit.”
Julia Music, Event Chair for Ferndale Pride and one of the organizers of the rally, said “I didn’t think a week ago when I spoke to you with enthusiasm about how far we’ve come in the movement towards equality in our community that I would be addressing a tragic setback…. The people in the clubs were doing what we all should be free to do. They were celebrating life, freedom and happiness.  They were celebrating this month, dedicated to our people, Ferndale Pride.”
Mike Durrant was among the hundreds that gathered.  “I’ve been a bartender for 20 years, and have worked in multiple gay clubs, Male Box, Menjos, Pronto 1 and 2, and I immediately put myself in the shoes of the bartenders at Pulse,” Durrant said. “I couldn’t help it, and it startled me to the bone. What would have happened if this happened at MY bar?  And as a community, I don’t know how it couldn’t be so impactful. We’ve taken so many strides in the fight for equality this year.  Then something like this happens, and it reminds us that we can’t rest. We’re not done yet as a community.  There are still fights that need to be won.”
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard also spoke at the rally, stating that “We stand united to the vision of hate and evil that exists in the world.”  He talked about ongoing SWAT Team training gave assurances that “if anyone is attacked by evil or hate in this county, they attack us all.”
He said that after tragedies, “people have an innate goodness and want to be involved,” and commended the community for coming together.
Speakers from the faith community shared messages of hope and love, and an ally from the National Lawyers Guild also shared ally support.
The key point Music and other organizers wanted to drive home is the importance of standing up, coming together, supporting each other and being visible.  “It’s up to us to set examples of what strong, powerful queer people look like, and act like, and are like,” she said. “Please don’t perpetuate that hate.  It will do no good in the world.”

   

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