Love is Our Weapon — Tribute to Orlando

This week’s post is dedicated to our brothers and sisters who tragically lost their lives in Orlando, FL on June 12th.

No words could ever express the pain and heartbreak that so many people are feeling, but as a motivational speaker and proud member of the LGBTQ community, I feel it is my right and my responsibility to use every platform possible to express my feelings and keep this conversation going with the world.

My sadness and tears have cracked me wide open this last week. I’m a writer and speaker, so suffice it to say, expressing myself came naturally when I sat down with my computer.

I feel great love for the lost souls and their families and allies, but I have a deep sense of gratitude as well for those beautiful people who sacrificed their lives just trying being who they are, and loving who they wanted at a nightclub one random Saturday night.

Why? Why? Why?

Isn’t that the ultimate question? Maybe. There are hundreds — most of which we will never know the answer to.

But what I do know is that I refuse to hide from what happened. I refuse to stay angry. And I refuse to stay scared. I don’t want that for you either.

We, as a community need to stay strong and stand united. We may be fighting for our rights — even our lives — but we don’t have to be at war.

Love is our weapon. The LGBTQ community are lovers, not fighters. And we WILL win! Love always wins!

I dedicate the following poem to each and every person who died at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, FL on June 12, 2016. [Click to Tweet!]

YOU ARE SOMEONE

You are someone I think about, dream about. Fill my head asking questions about.

I wonder if you know. Know what you have done. Know what you are to me. To me you are brave. Brave and beautiful. A beautiful stranger. A stranger, yet we are family. Yes, family.

Family my brother. Family my sister.

Only family can sacrifice the way you did. Only family can love me like that.

You cried for me, died for me. Gave your life for me. You didn’t even know me.

You dared to be free. Free to be. Be who you are.

You risked it all. All for love and all for life.

A life I get to keep living because you stood tall, loved out loud and danced with pride.

Pride that now ripples across the waters, across the miles.

From where I am to where ever you are and for every brother and sister we have, thank you.

I love you. I am so proud of you.

Let go. Be free. Fly high. Keep dancing.

And, I’ll keep dancing knowing you were someone I never knew, but someone who I will never forget.

— by Tamara Gaudet

R.I.P. our friends. You will forever be remembered in love.

More at tamaraspeaks.com