Translator: Justine Whitaker Reviewer: sann tint
Raise your hand if you posted #PrayForOrlando
on your social media account in June of this year.
Many of you will know what it was for, some of you may not.
It came about after 53 people were killed and 49 others were injured
at a shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
Why were they killed?
Because a man with a gun saw two men kissing outside and felt uncomfortable.
As a gay girl I remember this day as if it were yesterday.
I remember finding out while scrolling thru Facebook.
I remember listening to live reports on the radio.
I remember coming across picture and sobbing.
Sobbing because how could someone do that?
[mother-son messages]
Take a life because of who that person loves or what pronouns they use.
As a gay girl, this scared me.
It scared me because I look to the future, and I'm excited.
I'm excited because I want a wife, I want a child, I want a family.
But will I be able to have that family in peace?
Or will some mad man with a gun rip it away from me
because my identity differs to the norm.
One thing that gave me hope for the future was the response.
This is a line of people waiting outside of a blood bank
to donate to the victims of the shooting.
These are three landmarks in countries in which in the past
people were publicly executed for the crime of homosexuality.
On June 13th, 2016, the world came together and stood as one.
Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Atheists,
black people, white people, Arabic people, Asian people,
Latino people, Hispanic people.
We all came together and stood as one.
And in doing so we formed a family.
Consider this.
In most scenarios minorities they have their family.
Muslim people usually have Muslim families.
Black people usually have black families.
But what do gay people have?
My mum doesn't know what it is like to be a lesbian.
My grandpa can't share his experiences from his youth.
So we turn to our LGBT family.
We share our stories at Pride
and tell what happened on that day on social media.
But in times like the Orlando shooting, our family isn't enough.
It isn't strong enough; it isn't big enough; it isn't enough.
We need blood donors from all walks of life.
We need straight people to stand up against prejudice.
We need people to accept us
because if every heterosexual person was part of our extended family,
then Orlando wouldn't have happened.
The answer to the question, "Are we enough?"
No!
We need to form a united front,
and that starts with every single one of us.
Correct people when they use "gay" as a slur.
Use the correct pronouns, even if it makes you uncomfortable.
Speak out for those who are struggling.
Before I finish I would like to share with you
the words of a man who did just that.
While collecting his Tony Award on worldwide television,
speech writer and playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda
spoke out against what happened at Pulse nightclub
and urged the world to come together in mourning.
These are his words.
"We chase the melodies that seem to find us
until they are finished songs and start to play,
when senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised.
Not one day.
Hamilton has proved that history remembers.
We live in times where hate and fear seem stronger.
We rise and fall and light from dying embers,
remembrances that hope and love last longer.
And love is love, is love, is love, is love, is love, is love, is love,
cannot be killed or swept aside.
I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story.
Now fill the world with music, love and pride."
(Applause) (Cheers)