Our mere existence is an act of resistance (in honor of #ClubQ, Colorado Springs)

On Sunday, November 20 - which marks Transgender Day of Remembrance -, the world woke up to the news that a mass shooting had happened the night before at Club Q, a prominent LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs. The shooter, identified as 22-year-old Anderson Lee Aldrich, murdered five people and injured a total of eighteen others.

The five victims have been identified as: Derrick Rump, a bartender at the club; Daniel Aston, transgender, a bar supervisor; Ashley Paugh, considered a loving mother who was attending the club that night; Kelly Loving, transgender, also a member of the audience; and Raymond Vance, who was visiting the club for the first time with his girlfriend.

This is just one of many shootings that take place in the United States every year but became even more tragic by coincidentally taking place during Transgender Awareness Week. Additionally, according to GLAAD, it is now considered the 124th anti-drag attack in the U.S. in 2022 alone, entering a long list of assaults that are known to be openly anti-LGBTQ.

I cannot say I'm surprised there was another mass shooting in the U.S., as this has been a recurring problem in the country for decades. But as a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community myself, this attack hits close to home. There is an entire ocean that separates us but our struggles and our fight for survival are fundamentally the same.

Gun control and hate towards our community have been two massive issues in the U.S. for as long as any of us can remember. Feelings of frustration, despair, heartbreak and hopelessness are reasonable during this time. But let us take a step back and deep dive into how the Colorado Springs attack represents a need for urgent action.

What the f*ck is going on?

This anti-LGBT attack comes around the same time that the World Cup has started in Qatar, where human rights are still very much in dangerous place. The country criminalizes a wide range of same-sex consensual acts, going as far as arresting and investigating people on public streets solely due to their gender expression. As if that wasn't enough, Qatar is known for other issues such as repressing freedom of speech, forced labour, exploitation and legal discrimination against women.

In recent weeks, queer rights have also been put at stake further north. Russia has passed the third and final reading of a law banning “LGBT propaganda”. This means that any attempt to promote the so-called "LGBT agenda" in film, online, advertising or in public?is strictly forbidden, as Russia considers this to be "non-traditional sexual relations". Let us be reminded that Russia is the same country that punishes, imprisons, tortures and executes gay individuals, especially in the menacing region of Chechnya.

It's easy to connect the dots when you look at the concerning rise of far-right movements across the globe and their impact on basic human rights. In 2022 alone, the U.S. records more than 300 anti-LGBT pending bills across state legislatures. Arizona, Alabama and Texas have tried to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth this year, while Florida passed the "Don't Say Gay" bill which restricts schools to teach LGBTQ+ topics.

Europe is no exception. Italy has recently appointed Giorgia Meloni as the first female prime-minister, who promises a hard-right turn for the country. Her main premises include blocking migrant ships and supporting traditional “family values”. Even in Portugal the situation seems to be getting a bit grim. The last legislative elections saw the arrival of 12 congresspeople to Parliament from Chega, known to be the country's new far-right party.

There is still hope

Despite all this, I'm proud to say that I am part of a community that continues to be resilient and fight to be on the right side of history. We recognize the need to celebrate Pride all year round and are ever more concerned to protect our queer brothers and sisters. We understand that our fight is universal and that change can only come from a collective effort.

There is still hope. For example, Brazil recently saw the victory of Luiz “Lula” Inácio da Silva for President, the Workers’ Party candidate. A historical record number included a total of five trans candidates elected in Brazil this year for state representatives (Duda Salabert, Erika Hilton, Dani Balbi, Linda Brasil and Carolina Iara). On the other side of the world, Slovenia finally becomes the first Eastern European country to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption.

These are disturbing times we live in. The world is fresh off a global pandemic, which ravaged the lives of millions of people and showcased the need to ensure basic human rights, namely in terms of healthcare and workplace policies. These last two years were redefining, to say the least, where despite being physically separate, we all understood the necessity to protect each other, to protect human life.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that there will always be people trying to harm others and strip them of their dignity. But if these last few years have taught us anything, is that we can only go so far as long as we go together. If you're feeling stressed, sad or even afraid during this time - please understand that is completely normal. But also know that the fight is far from over and whether it be through this digital screen or your friends and family, rest assure that are people who see you, who love you and who will forever take care of you.