LGBT Community, Supporters United in One Hate-Filled Sunday.

We think it’s important to provide some inspiration on this tragic day.

In the early morning hours of Sunday, June 12, 2016 50 persons in a LGBT night club in Orlando, Florida lost their lives in what is being called the worst mass shooting in American history. The shooter was a 29-year-old Afghani-American named Omar Mateen, who despite being born in America reportedly had Islamic extremist leanings. He was killed at the scene.

Just hours after that tragic shooting, a man was arrested when he was found with weapons and explosives in his car. The man, who at press time, has only been identified as a White man with Indiana plates on his car, said he was in town for the LA Pride event.

Meanwhile in Kiev, Ukraine, the first major LGBT event in that city saw thousands of participants despite threats from neo-Nazis and other far right groups that threatened “rivers of blood” running through the streets should it take place. In years past, LGBT events had to be called off because of similar threats and police refusing to protect the participants. Last year, the event was attacked by far-rightists, leaving several people injured, including police officers.

In just the few hours since these events, the LGBT community have grown increasingly concerned about safety and of a climate that would allow such violence directed towards their community. Indeed, there has been several messages by hatemongers on social networks cheering on such attacks. However, the LGBT community and those who support the community have also been firing back with their own messages of inspiration. In response to Texas Lt. Gov Dan Patrick’s tweet where he told the LGBT community in the wake of the Orlando shooting, “You reap what you sow,” The Walking Dead’s Michael Cudlitz responded with a tweet of his own:

. @DanPatrick Yes, you do reap what you sow. You have sown the seeds of resignation or impeachment……. Good luck with that.

— Michael Cudlitz (@Cudlitz) June 12, 2016

And there were more Tweets of support:

As a community we are strong, we are united, and we will never be broken. #Orlando #LGBTPrideMonth #LoveisLove pic.twitter.com/zsPjLtpFCR

— (((Elisa Hategan))) (@elisahategan) June 12, 2016

My love, prayers and support goes out to all LGBT everywhere. You don’t stand alone. #prayfororlando #stophate pic.twitter.com/zEN1cyBuYj

— Tyler Blackburn (@tylerjblackburn) June 12, 2016

Straight people, LGBT folks have been saying this for a while now: visibility is not freedom. Tolerance is not safety. The fight isn’t over.

— Chloe Angyal (@ChloeAngyal) June 12, 2016

I am filled with horror,anger and sadness. I know the LGBT community will not be intimidated. They have been too brave for too long. #Love

— Dave Foley (@DaveSFoley) June 12, 2016

Stonewall 1969: cops rush into gay bar to arrest patrons.

Pulse 2016: cops rush into gay bar to save patrons.

— Dan Savage (@fakedansavage) June 12, 2016

My lesbian and gay, queer, genderqueer, bi or trans brothers and sisters: I see you. I love you all. And I’m sorry.

— Greg Greene (@ggreeneva) June 12, 2016

Don’t use gay pain as an excuse for more war, islamophobia, or domestic policies that harm people of faith. #NotYourExcuseforRacism

— ready 4 december (@onekade) June 12, 2016

2025 is a milestone year and we want to give a huge THANK YOU to all of our supporters who have been in the trenches with us for the past 25 years. A lot of groups and people we have dealt with since we started are long gone: Richard Barrett, Matt Hale, the Minutemen and others! But we are still here fighting the good fight, contending with the new generation's version of hate politics. There are trying times ahead, but we believe our reality would be even worse if we did not come together to do this work. If you value the research and reporting that we have done at One People’s Project and Idavox- and you want to see it continue- we hope you will consider helping to keep our mission fired up.