When I was in my 20s, I occasionally went to gay clubs. It was a safe place for girls who wanted to dance, drink, and party. A wild night at Rage in West Hollywood resulted in zero damage (well, minus a hangover the next day). We always felt welcomed. Dancing with gay men was fun – if they grinded up against you, they were showing off their dance moves; not getting a cheap thrill. If they bought us drinks, it was because they were being friendly; not because they were hoping to get any of us drunk and separated from our friends.
I can’t believe what happened this weekend. Well, I guess I can. It seems like a natural progression of anti-LGBTQ legislation, ridiculously lax gun laws, and increasing religious fundamentalism. But I can’t stop thinking of the club’s patrons – Orlando is a top tourist destination, it was Pride weekend, and summer…so the crowds were out, probably even more than usual. Bless the families of those young victims.
