Remembering Pulse, One Year Later

It’s been one year since the tragedy at Pulse.

I can’t even begin to know the pain of those who were there, and those who are or were close to them.  But I can and do know the pain I felt as a member of the community and as a friend of someone who made a last minute decision not to go to Pulse that night.  I attended a vigil a few days after, and I still have my candle on my desk.  I attached a rainbow flag to it as well.  It hurt.  And it still hurts.  But we came together, and that’s always remarkable.

A few weeks ago, the band Linkin Park released a new album, and in the song One More Light the chorus goes:

Who cares if one more light goes out
In the sky of a million stars
It flickers, flickers
Who cares when someone’s time runs out
If a moment is all we are
Or quicker, quicker
Who cares if one more light goes out
Well I do

I do.  And I think you do too.  We all came together to grieve and feel together after this happened.  We showed each other and the world just how much love can come out of an act of hate.  In the words of Lin-Manuel Miranda, “love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside.”  We proved that, and we continue to prove that every day, worldwide.

If you are still hurting, you are not alone.  If you are still scared, you are not alone.  If you are still on the receiving end of hate for who you are, you are not alone.  No matter who you are or how you feel, you are not alone.  The world hurts.  The world is scary.  The world is full of hate.  But the world is also full of love.  We have the power to help others see that.  If you can, try to take a moment today to appreciate the people in your life who help remind you that there is love in the world.

If you want to help take it a step further, the HRC is collecting messages of support for survivors and families, and you can submit a message here to help remind others that there is love in the world.

If you would like to pass this message on, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter, or even write your own post (you should tag us if you do!).  And you are always more than welcome to leave a comment below or contact us directly if you have anything to add or just need to talk to someone right now who gets it.

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