The largest massacre in modern US history was committed by a man aligned with ISIS during Ramadan. For true Muslims, this would be heartbreaking at any time, but it's especially tragic now. Ramadan is a time of patience, humility, generosity--it's a time of overflowing love. The attack in Orlando was all hate--hate of freedom, hate of love, hate of the LGBT community.  

Now, more than ever, is a time to reject calls for division and hate, to denounce all forms of violence. Now is a time to remember the common bonds that link all people. Now is the time to avoid all strains of Islamophobia.

For American Muslims, the LGBT community is often viewed as an ally in the fight against bigotry, because all bigotries are drawn from the same well of fear and hate. 

As Nihad Awad, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the largest Muslim civil-rights and advocacy organization in the United States, said on Sunday:

“For many years, members of the L.G.B.T.Q.I. community have stood shoulder to shoulder with the Muslim community against any acts of hate crimes, Islamophobia, marginalization, and discrimination. Today we stand with them shoulder to shoulder. The liberation of the American Muslim community is profoundly linked to the liberation of other minorities—blacks, Latinos, gays, Jews, and every other community. We cannot fight injustice against some groups and not against others. Homophobia, transphobia, Islamophobia—we cannot dismantle one without the other.”  

Throughout the Muslim community, the true meaning of Ramadan was conveyed as Muslims expressed solidarity with the people and victims of Orlando.

Woah, I came out of the cinema and all hell has broken loose on social media. First Beirut then Orlando and now my photograph has gone viral. This is a photo of my beautiful friends that I took on Saturday night expressing themselves openly and freely and not a staged one of them 'posing in solidarity'. I'm dizzy. My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families of the victims. So much hate in people's hearts it makes me sick. 💔 When will the ethnic, religious and sexual hate and prejudice stop? Free yourself from labels whatever your faith, sexuality or skin color. We are one global community and the love should spread between us altogether. . #PrayforPeace #PrayForPulse #PrayForOrlando #LoveIsLove #beirut #orlando #love #peace #acceptance #NoToHate #StopTheViolence #Pray http://scoopempire.com/lgbt-arabs-stand-solidarity-victims-pulsenightclubshooting/#.V13DCmR962w @scoopempire

A photo posted by EMAN إيمان (@emanali__) on

TopicsCurrent eventsISISIslamIslamophobiaRamadanGun ViolenceOrlando

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Demand Equity

Muslim Americans express grief, solidarity with LGBT community

By Joe McCarthy