Today, I woke up to the news that 49 people had been killed in a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. On the day this publishes, I will be attending Portland’s Pride Parade.

I just want to hold all the people I love as close as I can right now. I don’t want any of us to be afraid to be who we are or love who we please.

I am horrified at the loss of life. I’m ready to fight for the rights of the LGBTQIA+ community because it’s the right thing to do.

But if you’re a person who can’t make that leap, then fight because of the way it might affect those you care about. I am a person who struggles to define his gender and sexuality sometimes, who tends to live outside of heteronormative spaces. I could have been in that club. The people closest to me could have been in that club. If you can’t fight for a stranger, then I guarantee you don’t have to look far to find someone who you can fight for.