49 Celebrities Urge Everyone to Stop The Hate with a Beautiful Tribute to 49 Lives Taken in Orlando
On June 12th of 2016, the lives of 49 bright and unique individuals were lost at the hands of a gunman in an Orlando Nightclub, Pulse. In addition to the 49 killed, 53 more were physically wounded, and everyone will carry around an emotional scar. It has been marked the deadliest incident of violence against the LGBTQ community and also the deadliest mass shooting of a single gunman in U.S History. The cry of heartbreak was heard all around the world in the hours, days, and weeks following the shooting as victims’ families and friends struggled with finding their loved ones or learning of their lives being lost and the realization was unavoidable that intolerance still exists and takes innocent lives daily.
The massacre was a hate crime, and the hate must be stopped.
Ryan Murphy gathered some of Hollywood’s biggest names to compile one of the most beautiful memorial videos for the victims and at the same time ask for help, compassion, and most important – change.
Their stories ranged from to an aspiring firefighter, who after his death was made an honorary one, a young man who stood between his friend (who had recently given birth) and died trying to save her, and even an 18-year-old recent high school graduate – the youngest victim of the tragedy.
One young man’s mother, through a humanitarian visa, came to the US to claim his body while another’s grandmother flew via Jet Blue to be with family after their loss and upon exiting the place, each person offered her their condolences, messages of hope and love, and even cash donations for the family.
Just as acts of kindness and hope for change have come from all of us, celebrities have used their platform and circumstance to voice the need for change and to help the world recognize that there is no time left to waste
The celebrities who got involved like Sophia Bush and Gerard Butler, Evan Peters and Laverne Cox held back tears as they recited each name of the victim and a bit of information about them as well – making the situation more human, giving the victims the respect and honor that they deserve. In the wake of such a terrible tragedy, it’s nice to see people who are idolized come together to let the world know that staying silent is no longer an option.
The Human Rights Campaign is trying to conquer hate and require common sense laws that protect not only the LGBTQ community but all Americans against crimes founded in hate. Since June 12th, four instances of common sense gun laws were voted down but there are still states that allow bills to take away basic rights from the LGBTQ community, the time for change is now.
To join this movement and stand beside some of your favorite celebrities, please visit Stop The Hate and see how you can pledge your own involvement.
love conquers hate
‘…but I knew him’
