Muslim-LGBTQ Unity Statement in Response to Divisive Rhetoric After Orlando Shooting

Muslim-LGBTQ Unity Statement in Response to Divisive Rhetoric After Orlando Shooting

June 21, 2016

As members of the LGBTQ and Muslim communities in America, we are joined in solidarity, grief and outrage at the horrific attack that unfolded in Orlando on June 12. Our hearts, our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims, their families and the LGBTQ communities, particularly LGBTQ Latino communities.

In this moment of immense sadness and outrage, we stand together united against fear, hate and violence. We will not lose hope in the people and communities around us because we know we are stronger together.

In standing together, hand in hand, across every faith, we send a powerful message to those who seek to divide us using hatred and violence: love is stronger than hate and hope will defeat fear.

We draw our hope and our inspiration by the example set by hundreds of inspiring Floridians who lined up around city blocks in Orlando, answering the call to donate blood.

We draw our hope and our inspiration in the example set by brave first responders who ran into – not away from – harm to help the wounded and prevent further violence.

We draw our hope and our inspiration from the hundreds of interfaith vigils that have sprung up across the world with a clear message: love is stronger than hate.

In the days ahead there will be more calls to define an enemy. There will be cynical efforts to pit groups of Americans – many of whom share a history of being victims of suspicion and discrimination – against one another and to increase surveillance of entire communities, based solely on how they look or how they pray.

We stand united against these efforts to divide us. We are reminded that as our communities stand together, we are in fact one community – which includes LGBTQ Latinos and LGBTQ Muslims, who are targeted both as Muslims and as members of the LGBTQ community.

Now is the time for people of all faiths, sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds, to come together and refuse to allow this tragic act of violence and hate to divide us.

We are stronger together, and together, we will move forward with love and acceptance for all.

Signed,

American Civil Liberties Union LGBT Project

American Muslim Advisory Council (AMAC)

American Muslim Health Professionals

Arcus Foundation

Bisexual Resource Center

Center for Black Equity

Center for LGBTQ and Gender Studies in Religion

Centerlink: The Community of LGBT Centers

Coalition of South Florida Muslim Organizations (COSMOS)

Courage Campaign

Emerge USA

Equality Federation

Equality Florida

Faith Matters Network

Family Equality Council

Garden State Equality

Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC)

Georgia Association of Muslim Lawyers

GetEQUAL

Gill Foundation

GLAAD

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality

GLSEN

GSA Network – Genders & Sexualities Alliance Network

Human Rights Campaign

interACT: Advocates for Intersex Youth

Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati

Islamic Networks Group (ING)

Islamic Society of Central Jersey

Lambda Legal

Marriage Equality USA

Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Former President, Islamic Society of North America; Chair of Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Theology at Huron College at Western University

MECCA Institute

Movement Advancement Project

Muslim Advocates

Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity (MASGD)

Muslim Bar Association of New York

Muslim Community Network

Muslim Justice League

Muslim Legal Fund of America

Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC)

Muslim Wellness Foundation

Muslims for Progressive Values

Muslims for Social Justice

Muslims Make it Plain

Muslims4peace.org

National Black Justice Coalition

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

National LGBTQ Task Force

New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association

New Ways Ministry

New York City Anti-Violence Project

NMAC

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Outright Action International

PFLAG National

Pride at Work

Religious Institute

Services & Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE)

The National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce

The Trevor Project

Trans People of Color Coalition

Trans United Fund

Transgender Law Center (TLC)

Universal Muslim Association of America

Evan Wolfson, Former President, Freedom to Marry

Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)