📣 CTDC Statement on the Mass Shooting of LGBTQ Persons in Orlando
The Centre for Transnational Development and Collaboration (CTDC) expresses its deep sorrow for the tragic mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which claimed the lives of 49 LGBTQ people.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, their communities, and everyone affected by this act of violence.
We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people everywhere — especially queer people of colour, who were most impacted by this attack.
This tragedy exposes the intersecting systems of racism, homophobia, and gender-based violence that continue to threaten queer lives around the world.
🧠 The Message of This Tragedy to the World
The Orlando shooting painfully reminds us that homophobia and hate speech are global phenomena — fuelled by:
• Patriarchy
• Gender binaries
• Racial injustice
• Violent extremism
These issues demand a collective, intersectional response rooted in solidarity and justice.
📢 Our Stance on Harmful Media Narratives
We urge the public and media to refrain from assigning collective blame — especially toward Muslim communities.
Such framing obscures the true causes of violence against LGBTQ people and reinforces divisive, harmful narratives.
Attempts to frame this tragedy as:
A “clash of civilisations” or an “attack on Western values”
erase the struggles of queer people in Western societies and in regions like the Middle East and North Africa.
🌍 Intersecting Identities, Shared Struggles
Our work in the region has shown that queer people:
✔️ Exist
✔️ Resist
✔️ Build community in deeply complex and challenging contexts
We firmly reject the notion that being queer and Muslim — or queer in Muslim-majority societies — are mutually exclusive.
Such narratives erase the lived experiences of those at the intersections of multiple forms of oppression.
🤝 Our Ongoing Commitment
CTDC reaffirms its unwavering commitment to:
• Intersectional advocacy
• Transnational solidarity
We will continue working for a world where:
✔️ Queer lives are visible
✔️ Their dignity is respected
✔️ Their rights are protected
✊ In solidarity,
The CTDC Team
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