Hillary Pens Poignant Letter For Orlando’s LGBT Paper

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Letter available via Watermark

We know their names.

Stanley. Amanda. Oscar. Rodolfo. Antonio. Darryl. Angel. Juan. Luis. Cory. Tevin. Deonka. Simon. Leroy. Mercedez. Peter. Juan. Paul. Frank. Miguel. Javier. Jason. Eddie. Anthony. Drew. Alejandro. Brenda. Gilberto. Kimberly. Akyra. Luis. Geraldo. Eric. Joel. Jean. Enrique. Jean. Xavier. Christopher. Yilmary. Edward. Shane. Martin. Jonathan. Juan. Luis. Franky. Luis. Jerald.

We know where and when and how they died. And we know that every one of their stories represents someone who won’t get the chance to live out the future they deserved.

Our hearts are broken, and our thoughts are with the survivors still fighting for their lives. And to the LGBT community – in Orlando and across America – know this: I see you. I hear you. I’m with you. And I will do everything in my power to prevent future tragedies like this act of terror and hate.

That means acknowledging who was targeted in this attack. From the raids on the Stonewall Inn in New York, to the arson attack on UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, to the detonation of a bomb at the Otherside Lounge in Atlanta – too often, places that should be safe for the LGBT community have instead been targets for violence. For all the progress we’ve made, it’s still far too dangerous to be gay in America.

LGBT people are now more likely than any other group to be the target of a hate crime. LGBT people of color face intersectional pressures and dangers. And a full 70 percent of victims of anti-LGBT murders in the United States are people of color – and the statistics are particularly striking for transgender people of color. So there’s a reason so many people seek out safe spaces.

In Orlando, that sense of security was shattered. The gunman specifically targeted the Latino LGBT community. In fact, it was “Latin Night” during Pride Month, a time that should have been a joyous celebration. When that feeling of safety comes under attack, all Americans must stand in solidarity with our LGBT brothers and sisters.

After the massacre, LGBT people from all over the country came forward to share how much this hit home. That’s because so many communities in America have somewhere like Pulse, where people can find a community and feel free to be themselves.

Yes, this is a time for reflection. But more importantly, this is a time for action. We need real plans to prevent future attacks and ensure the safety of the LGBT community and all Americans. Here’s mine.

First, we need to take on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Prohibiting suspected terrorists from buying guns – and expanding background checks so that terrorists can’t easily avoid that prohibition – should not be controversial. We can’t legislate hate away, but we can make it less deadly. That’s why I was so proud to see Democrats staging a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives, demanding a vote on commonsense gun reforms that the vast majority of Americans support.

Second, since we know that the gunman in Orlando was radicalized by terrorist propaganda, we need to disrupt and dismantle the global online network that groups like ISIS use to communicate and to inspire these horrible acts. As president, I’ll set up a task force to track and counter the threat of lone wolf attacks like these.

And third, let’s continue to fight for the ideal this attack intended to target: that no matter who you are, or who you love, you are equal in America. Let’s fight to enshrine that ideal in our laws—by passing the Equality Act. And let’s call out hateful rhetoric whenever and wherever we see it in our daily lives.

The attack at Pulse shook so many of us to our core. But in the weeks since, we have seen moving demonstrations of support – from the thousands of people attending vigils across the country, to the Council on American-Islamic Relations calling for donating blood, to the people and groups on the ground in Orlando who have come together to support their LGBT friends, neighbors, colleagues, and loved ones.

So know that you have allies who are looking out for you. People like Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, whose leadership and support during this crisis ought to be a model for other local leaders. And you have millions of Americans celebrating Pride Month alongside you.

I’m one of them. And I’ll never stop fighting for your right to live freely, openly, and without fear.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

Heartfelt but strong.

Compassionate yet meaningful.

Call to action with concrete plans not just empty rhetoric.

This is leadership folks. 

[Coop 15,393]

[nickziza 228]

The end actually made me cry a little. God I love her.

[The Child 18,997]

When will Trump? 

[ItsTommyBitch 12,640]

18 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Heartfelt but strong.

Compassionate yet meaningful.

Call to action with concrete plans not just empty rhetoric.

This is leadership folks. 

This

Spoiler

Also, your avi   

 

[Princess Die 1,864]

33 minutes ago, CrazyMonster said:

When will Trump? 

He'll take a picture with a Cosmo from Trump Tower. 

[Goosey 3,017]

"First, we need to take on the epidemic of gun violence in America. Prohibiting suspected terrorists from buying guns – and expanding background checks so that terrorists can’t easily avoid that prohibition – should not be controversial. We can’t legislate hate away, but we can make it less deadly. That’s why I was so proud to see Democrats staging a sit-in on the floor of the House of Representatives, demanding a vote on commonsense gun reforms that the vast majority of Americans support."

 

What utter nonsense!

 

1. Omar Mateen was not a suspected terrorist and he was not on any watch lists at the time of the shooting.

2. "Universal background checks" don't work and can't be enforced when you already have 300,000,000 unregistered guns floating around the country.

3. Americans on the terrorist watch list who haven't been convicted of any crimes should not be barred from exercising their constitutional rights. Owning a gun is a constitutional right (2nd Amendment, DC v. Heller, 2008). Fair treatment under the law and due process is a constitutional right (5th, 14th Amendments). You can't take away constitutional rights without due process. Mere "suspicions" (which include people placed on the list for snapping photos on planes or by sheer mistake) do not count as due process.

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

1 hour ago, ItsTommyBitch said:

This

  Reveal hidden contents

Also, your avi   

 

Natalie  

52 minutes ago, Goosey said:

1. Omar Mateen was not a suspected terrorist and he was not on any watch lists at the time of the shooting.

2. "Universal background checks" don't work and can't be enforced when you already have 300,000,000 unregistered guns floating around the country.

3. Americans on the terrorist watch list who haven't been convicted of any crimes should not be barred from exercising their constitutional rights. Owning a gun is a constitutional right (2nd Amendment, DC v. Heller, 2008). Fair treatment under the law and due process is a constitutional right (5th, 14th Amendments). You can't take away constitutional rights without due process. Mere "suspicions" (which include people placed on the list for snapping photos on planes or by sheer mistake) do not count as due process.

Who's talking about Omar Mateen specifically? Denying those on terrorist watch lists is common sense.

Also the excuse of "the situation is ****ed might as well not fix it" is nonsensical. If from this day forward guns were sold only after the proper background checks are made, the number of incidents will inevitably decline due to less arms being sold easily to people unfit to wield them. While some may still obtain them through other means, that does not justify cutting off the main supply route.

Also this stupid excuse of "not be barred from exercising constitutional rights" is idiotic because at some point your rights are infringing on other people's rights. You don't put society at risk to preserve one person's rights. If one person is unfit to hold a weapon due to a history of violence, then they should not have the ability to wield guns period.

It is far better to err on the side of caution and ban those on security risk lists while later revoking them if an appeal is successful than to allow few people to buy guns irrespective of that and go on shooting sprees. Almost every single mass shooting in the USA was done by people with histories of domestic abuse. 

Stop putting the 2nd amendment on a pedestal. If only you defended people's right to live as much as people's rights to bear arms against nonexistent enemies.

The USA denies people's rights by putting them in prison for risking people's money but it shouldn't deny people's right to buy arms when they risk society?

There is no logic in the NRA. 90% of the USA agrees with these common sense laws. You don't. It's good you're in Canada then. Feel free to hunt all the moose you want.

FFS you talk as if you live in the Middle East. You're in Canada for crying out loud.

[Goosey 3,017]

53 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

Also this stupid excuse of "not be barred from exercising constitutional rights" is idiotic because at some point your rights are infringing on other people's rights.

Nope. Due process is a guaranteed right. You don't "err" when it comes to people's constitutional rights.

55 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

If one person is unfit to hold a weapon due to a history of violence, then they should not have the ability to wield guns period.

If they have a proven history of violence, they're already not allowed to own firearms. Felonies, mental illness and domestic violence are disqualifiers.

56 minutes ago, LebaneseDude said:

It is far better to err on the side of caution and ban those on security risk lists while later revoking them if an appeal is successful than to allow few people to buy guns irrespective of that and go on shooting sprees. Almost every single mass shooting in the USA was done by people with histories of domestic abuse. 

No, no it is not, not with the current state of the lists. There is no satisfactory appeals process. "A right delayed is a right denied", in the words of Doctor King.

The ACLU agrees with me:

The American Civil Liberties Union has voiced opposition to barring weapons sales to individuals listed on the current form of the No-Fly List, stating that: "There is no constitutional bar to reasonable regulation of guns, and the No Fly List could serve as one tool for it, but only with major reform." Specifically, the ACLU's position is that the government's current redress process—the procedure by which listed individuals can petition for removal from the list—does not meet the requirements of the Constitution's Due Process Clause because the process does not "provide meaningful notice of the reasons our clients are blacklisted, the basis for those reasons, and a hearing before a neutral decision-maker."

[Chris90046 3]

She can write as many letters as she wants and pretend to be a warrior on our side. The truth of the matter is that she is the most corrupt candidate ever running for President. She does not fight for gay rights, women's issues or even against radical terrorists when her foundation accepts money from middle Eastern countries who treat women as secondary citizens, gays as outlaws and promote pockets of terrorists. She is in it for herself, for her own enrichment. 

[DogFood 1,649]

1 hour ago, Chris90046 said:

She can write as many letters as she wants and pretend to be a warrior on our side. The truth of the matter is that she is the most corrupt candidate ever running for President. She does not fight for gay rights, women's issues or even against radical terrorists when her foundation accepts money from middle Eastern countries who treat women as secondary citizens, gays as outlaws and promote pockets of terrorists. She is in it for herself, for her own enrichment. 

Money is money

[LebaneseDude 6,146]

2 hours ago, Chris90046 said:

She can write as many letters as she wants and pretend to be a warrior on our side. The truth of the matter is that she is the most corrupt candidate ever running for President. She does not fight for gay rights, women's issues or even against radical terrorists

All this big talk with no actual argument. There are tons of sources that show Hillary has been an advocate of LGBT rights, her entire career is based on women and children's rights, and she was Secretary of State during the presidency that had the most accomplishments against radical terrorism after George Bush's failures.

2 hours ago, Chris90046 said:

her foundation accepts money from middle Eastern countries who treat women as secondary citizens, gays as outlaws and promote pockets of terrorists. She is in it for herself, for her own enrichment. 

What kind of xenophobic **** is this? Considering it was the West that sparked the fire that destabilized the Middle East with its constant imperialist meddling since 1918, and created the constitutions during their occupancy that had laws punishing LGBT people and treating women as second class citizens before withdrawing when previously those laws DID NOT EXIST or were far less impactful, I'd say you need some history lessons so you don't employ revisionism in the name of moral superiority.

You talk about Middle Easterners as if they're the scum of the Earth or something. They're a mixed bag like any other demographic on this planet. What are you some racial supremacist? 

I won't waste my time educating you. Do the research yourself before defiling my thread with your rampant ignorance.