Another Horrific Hate Crime

My heart and prayers go out to all the people injured and murdered Saturday night in Orlando, FL. Friends, partners, husbands and husbands, wives and wives, family — all of us grieve for your lost loved ones and those that were injured beyond repair. All of us condemn such evil and hate.

It amazes me how evil people have such easy access to deadly weapons. 

Rita and I were traveling in the Middle East last year and we had a number of friends who told us they were nervous about our travels there. “What about all the violence?” they asked. “Aren’t you afraid you might get shot or kidnapped?” No, we were not afraid. Citizens in the Middle East can’t purchase guns and weapons like people can here in the U.S. WE ARE THE MOST VIOLENT COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! This isn’t a scare tactic this is unfortunately the truth. Just look at the list of states where there have been mass shootings — and now Florida leads them all with 49 dead and more wounded. I stand with the LGBT community as we grieve for our lost loved ones and friends.

I continue to refuse to live in fear and I hope you’ll join me.

Please don’t give up — never ever give up!