#GaysBreakTheInternet Unites The LGBT Community After Orlando Homophobic Terrorist Attack

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The world still reels from the events of yesterday, the senseless murder of 50 members of the LGBT community at gay nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida.

But it is paramount to acknowledge this was a terrorist attack motivated by homophobia, and that’s why #GaysBreakTheInternet is so important.

LGBT people are rightfully claiming the Orlando tragedy as an attack against their identities and their community, despite a large chunk of media reports omitting the fact that the attack was on a gay venue.

But this wasn’t any old terrorist act.

What we know is the terrorist committed his massacre in a gay club. He chose to murder innocent club goers during Pride month, and the killer has expressed homophobic sentiment before.

It’s pretty damn obvious what kind of message his barbarity was sending- and it’s not an attack on ‘us all’. It’s an attack on LGBT people and their safe spaces.

Politicians were quick to use the tragedy as political fodder- to further reinforce the need to get tougher on terrorism.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull initially in his first address regarding the tragedy was reluctant to even mention the homophobic nature of the attack.

While on Sky News, Guardian columnist Owen Jones was forced to storm off the set, after fellow panellists refused to acknowledge that the attack was a blatant gay hate crime.

It might be the worst terror attack on American soil since 9/11, but what also needs to stick is this is the worst massacre against the LGBT community in recent memory within a western democratic country.

As the LGBT community grieve and pay their respects to those needlessly killed for simply living as their true selves, a hashtag has emerged today on Twitter #GaysBreakTheInternet, with queer users posting images of themselves to silence the hate and show solidarity with one another.

https://twitter.com/nahnahchill/status/742204528640950272

https://twitter.com/Jacei_/status/742279981946916869

https://twitter.com/marihaarajarvi/status/742279669928562688

Some Twitter users even seized the chance to come out for the first time, using the hashtag- finding solace in the support offered from the online LGBT community.

https://twitter.com/halsxyafi/status/742278683025670144

https://twitter.com/Didyoucamdallas/status/742255383788564480