I keep reading and hearing that Orlando is now "home to the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history." Forgive me for being pedantic, but words do matter and I would like to propose a small correction to that statement.
Orlando is home to many things. It's home to Orlando City Soccer, Orlando Pride, the Orlando Magic, the Solar Bears. It's home to the University of Central Florida, second-largest university in the United States. It's where life-changing concepts, like 3-D printed prosthetics, become reality. Orlando is home to Knight-Thon, which raised over a million dollars last year for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. It's home to Arnold Palmer Hospital, one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. It's home to Universal Studios and Walt Disney World, where every year thousands of children with life-threatening illnesses choose to make their most magical memories with their families. Orlando is home to some of my dearest friends, the experiences that have made me who I am today, and a large piece of my own heart and soul. It is home to an incredibly diverse array of people, places, and opportunities. And it is home to a vibrant and tenacious LGBT+ community, which deserves more love and support than ever in the wake of this tragedy.
The City Beautiful is home to so many amazing things. This kind of hatred is not allowed to call my city home.