Posted with permission from a friend, and member of the LGBTQ community—
Yes, please pray for Orlando!
Pray with your votes.
Pray with letters to your congresspersons.
Pray with your blood donation.
Pray with your voice; speak out against homophobia, homophobic jokes, the little hurts that perpetuate these crimes of hate.
Pray with your money; give to charitable organizations that fight for LGBTQ rights, give to organizations collecting for victims and their families, like Equality Florida.
Pray with your presence; organize or attend a vigil, let victims and their families know they do not stand alone, be a light in the darkness.
Pray with your services; provide counseling, deliver food, adopt pets, give rides, donate Lyft/Uber rides for victims and their families to get to hospital and later doctors appointments.
Pray by abandoning organizations that condone this kind of hate and violence, be it overtly or covertly, be it chick-fil-a or Pat Robertson, know where you are putting your faith, money, and support. Pray out loud, let your sympathy, hurt, and outrage be heard and lend that momentum to action that is going to make a long term difference for the LGBTQ community, against gun violence, against blatant outright politically supported hate and violence. The time for prayers between myself and God has passed, prayers must be heard, action must be met with action that moves us forward.