Categories
Press Releases

Trikone Mourns Orlando Shooting Incident, Worries Of Islamophobia

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: June 12, 2016

Media Contact: Monish, Communications Director, communications@trikone.org, (844) 90-3-KONE ext. 4

TRIKONE MOURNS ORLANDO SHOOTING INCIDENT, WORRIES OF ISLAMOPHOBIA

Trikone is in mourning as we send our heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families and friends; and endless get-well wishes to those recovering from the tragedy.

In a month when we proudly acclaim the achievements of our LGBTQ community, it pains to listen to the news of yet another mass shooting. A hate filled action with no basis in cultured and common sense society. The deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. history also reminds us of still prevailing hatred towards our LGBTQ community and reminds us that there is so much work to be done.

We wonder, how many more lives need to be lost before any action is taken to curb the senseless gun violence.

Queer people have been victims for years. Being South Asians affects us as a whole whenever there’s a rise in islamophobia. And those who are Muslims amongst us, are always questioned both from within and outside the community.

We join our many allies and their voices in urging our community and our straight allies to refrain from rhetoric that lays responsibility on any one community. Individual behaviour is not a representation of any one faith, race, ethnicity or gender. We need to be mindful of the narrations we choose to showcase for they may have a rippling effect. Giving in to emotions will only lead to uncontrolled backlash which affects all of us.

Trikone comprises of not just South Asian LGBTQ people but many of us are Muslim by faith. Actions like these make our many identities worry about their coexistence and fuel disbeliefs. We urge everyone to inculcate compassion and empathy in these times. Time and again there has been clear contradiction against the popular narrative of Islam and Homosexuality being at odds. Trikone stands firm with all our community members irrespective of the faith they identify and follow as such.

There will be attempts to fuel this into a fire. There will be attempts to divide our community with ideologies and dialogues. We urge you to use caution and refuse to participate in such unnecessary backlash. It will only delay the healing process.

Let’s stand united against bigotry, racism, and homophobia; and strive to uphold the right of every human being to a right to live irrespective of race, religion, creed, gender, orientation, ethnicity or colour. Let’s create a safe space for our fellow community members.