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Safe Spaces and Dark Places

It is hard to explain the idea of a SAFE SPACE to some people who may have the luxury of never needing one. For me growing up, a safe space was curling up in my bed and reading the beloved Harry Potter series, family trips away from normalcy, and Disney. These were few of the places, whether it be of physical capacity or just mentally, that I could simply exist - as me. Me in all my glory. Every flaw in every detail. I was accepted and included.

That safe space would extend to those who entered and left my life. I think that most people in my life realize I have a strong connection with Harry Potter, Disney, Star Wars, my family and my friends. I always have.

For our friends and family in the LGBTQ+ community, that safe space included various night clubs and bars that catered to them, a place where they did not have to worry about being judged, or approaching the wrong person that they found attractive. Those safe spaces extended into the various communities in cities around the world. These safe spaces get taken for granted until they no longer feel safe.

Growing up, and even sometimes to this day, my safe spaces that I have had to create are attacked. Whether it be someone mentioned something that questioned my self-worth, or someone attacking my friends and family that I hold close. The walls of protection I have built for myself began to crumble around me. Nothing felt safe anymore for a long time, and normalcy comes very slow, if not at all.

This past weekend, a safe space in Orlando was attacked, and it's going to leave those same feelings around the world. Worse, on a much larger scale.

Do you have a safe space?

People just want to be themselves, and many people who are afforded that privilege by default, may not understand what it feels like for others. To those who rely on safe spaces. To a degree, we all have safe spaces. These places can be physical, or even a state of mind.

Having one of the worst attacks in the past 15 years occur just in the past few days that threatens our safe spaces, we are better off uniting to keep EVERYONE safe. This includes the ones that do not look, act, love, and believe like us.

We are all equal, all loved, and all deserving of that love.

For those of you who may not agree with the LGBTQ community, it is not your life to live. Go on living your life, and respect the fact that others should have the same responsibility to do the same.

Close to one hundred PEOPLE were either killed or injured that night. Hundreds of FAMILIES were impacted by this blow. A city, a country, the world; all shifts due to this attack of hatred.

We are all born.
We are someone's son or daughter, sister or brother.
We all have parents.
We all have loved ones.
Friends.
Jobs.
Responsibilities.
Love.


Why is it so hard to coexist? Why does it impact your definition of normalcy? Why does it impact YOU?


- M

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