This past weekend an armed man walked into Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando Florida, and opened fire, reigning terror down on over 300 people, killing 49 people in three hours before being killed himself.

I’ve struggled with what I wanted to say about this horrible tragedy and how to say it. Then I realized that it doesn’t matter that I’m a straight white woman… what I have to say is so much more than sexual orientation, color, and gender.

I’m so sorry.

I’m sorry that being a member of the LGBTQ community made you a target. I’m sorry that being yourself made you a target. I’m sorry you couldn’t go out for a fun night of Latin dancing without being murdered or maimed. I’m sorry that we as a nation have not done more to protect you.

I am sorry that our country has taken an event such as this and used it for political purposes. Regardless of your stance on gun control or your political party, I think it’s more important to remember that this is about HUMAN BEINGS. They ate breakfast that morning, just like you. They had hopes and dreams, just like you. They leave behind grieving mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and lovers.

This is not about religion and it’s not about guns. It’s about hatred toward another living being. And it has to stop.

Whenever something like this happens, I feel like I want to help. I know it’s insignificant, but I’m going to do what I did just after the Sandy Hook killings – one random act of kindness for each person who died. That’s 49 small acts that will hopefully inspire the recipients to pay it forward. I’ll share them along the way with a little bit about each victim. Here’s to putting some good back out in the world!