This past week has been a sobering reminder of how dangerous our world, our society has become. In Orlando, Florida, 49 innocent lives were snuffed out by a man who's hatred of gay men and women pushed him to commit such an atrocity.

Sadly, however, Orlando isn't the only place where gays are being targeted. Across this country it has become fashionable hate gays! From our politicians to government officials, many are refusing to acknowledge our rights to equal treatment under the law. Many are looking at ways to breach our rights in order to take them away from us. Then there are those "Christians" who believe they have the anointed right to deny services to the gay community and are waging war in many state capitals to obtain the right to blatantly discriminate.

For as long as I can remember, we have been fighting for basic rights afforded to our heterosexual counterparts. It has been an uphill battle. But those same rights are now available to us, specially since the Supreme Court affirmed that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to merry. And since this ruling, the gay community has been thrust into the limelight which has created a rift in our society.

Unfortunately, basking in the light of freedom is today overshadowed by violence. Its as though we have stepped back in time when we were forced to live in the shadows of life, where gays were routinely harmed, even murdered. And as I watched the events unfold in Orlando, Florida, where my brother's and sisters were gunned down by a deranged mad man who believed that it was his God given duty to end the lives of so many, all I could do was scratch my head in bewilderment and weep. The taking of so many lives may be miles from my home here in New Jersey, but needless to say their pain has had a ripple affect throughout the country, as well as the world, and today we morn for Orlando's 49.

Is there ever going to be a day when we all live and let live? I certainly hope so! It doesn't matter if one is straight, gay or whatever. Violence against humanity has got to end. This lawlessness and senseless killings must end if we are going to pride ourselves as a civilized, caring and law-abiding society.