Being a married gay woman living in London, it is easy to think that the world has moved on in its understanding of love and sexuality. Yet the horrendous events in Orlando show how little things have really changed.

How very disappointing, depressing & shocking this feels.

What has been highlighted to me is the need for our gay family to meet, to know we have each other's backs. To feel the love, understanding and acceptance that it is so important for all humans to feel.

The truly upsetting thing to me is that we are still judged, criticised and hated. The progress we have made feels like it has been overwhelmed by this hatred. The Orlando shooter's experiences must have been so damaging that he felt it was better to lash out, to maim and kill, rather than accept himself for who he was.

In this case it seems hateful indoctrination was more powerful than love. How do we explain this to our children? We must ensure that we show them that everyone deserves love. Enabling them to live a life of self-love & empathy for others is the only way to escape the cycle of terror and violence.

I am so sorry to the young men & women of our community that we have not brought the world further in its understanding.

I wish our battle was won but we still have a long way to go and a lot left to fight for.

More work must be done to prove that consensual love is what makes the world go round. No matter what form it takes.

This year, even more than recent years, our community will get together stronger than ever with unity & love that will engulf us all with Pride for who we are and give us the fortitude to stand together and show the world this sort of action is unacceptable.

 Written by Aphra @ Sh!