LOVE IS LOUDER

Today I was able to do something that I’ve wanted to do since the massacre happened, which is pay my respects at Pulse nightclub in Orlando. I don’t need to tell you about what happened there.

It was … in a word, hard. And that’s so stupidly simple, but I don’t really know what to say, or how to say it. It was extremely difficult and overwhelming and a jumble of other scary emotions that I’ll probably need some quiet time to try and sort out.

There are a million things that I could say about what it felt like to be there, like how tiny it actually is compared to the way the TV made it seem, how surreal it was to kneel and light a candle, to sign the banner, to see their faces – but maybe some things are just better left unsaid.

I took these photos for the people who maybe want to go pay their respects but can’t yet, for either physical or emotional reasons. And I also wanted to share them with the world so that every single person who has hate in their heart and opposes a group of people for no reason other than ignorance can see in beautiful, brilliant colors: your violence doesn’t make us forget.

To my sisters and brothers who were taken that day, we will keep fighting. For you and with you, for the rest of our lives. And you will never be forgotten.