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In the wake of the shooting at the LGBTQ+ bar Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, writer and podcaster Dan Savage spoke out to shine light on the subtext of the tragedy.
In a lengthy Twitter thread, Savage described what a massacre at a supposed safe space for queer people actually means.
\u201cIt's not just that gay bars are supposed to be a safe space.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
Savage added what queer people and allies must do in response.
Savage began by pointing out what anti-LGBTQ+ people actually want—for queer people to keep their lives and identities out of public view.
He wrote:
"People who hate queer people want us to keep it private. Behind closed doors. Someplace they don't have to see it."
Savage added queer bars provide a necessary space for queer people to be together safely.
"And the doors of a gay bar are doors we keep it behind. A place we can go and be together and not bother *them* with the fact of our existence."
\u201cPeople who hate queer people want us to keep it private. Behind closed doors. Someplace they don't have to see it. And the doors of a gay bar are doors we keep it behind. A place we can go and be together and not bother *them* with the fact of our existence.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
But queer bars provide far more than mere safety.
They provide a place for queer people to forget that this hatred exists.
As Savage described it:
"But behind those doors we can forget — we can suspend our disbelief — and pretend the haters don't exist. Just for a few hours."
The attack at Club Q—like the 2016 Pulse shooting before it—serve as reminders from anti-LGBTQ+ bigots of what they truly want.
For queer people to simply not exist.
\u201cAn attack like this says "not even here." Behind closed doors isn't good enough for *them.* It's not that they want us to exist out of sight. They don't want us to exist at all.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
Citing a rallying cry from the 1969 Stonewall Riots—a trans-led rebellion that spawned the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement—Savage called upon queer people to use Club Q as an incitement to action.
\u201c"Out of the bars and into the streets!"\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
Savage wrote:
"So, if we're not safe in there... behind closed doors... where they say they want us... we have no choice but to fight to make it safe everywhere, for all LGBT people."
"'Out of the bars and into the streets!'"
Savage then positioned the ways in which queer people fought back inside Club Q on Saturday night as part of a long history of queer resistance.
\u201cWe fought back then. We fought back last night.\n \n"The 22-year-old suspect... immediately began shooting at people once he entered Club Q and at least two people 'confronted and fought' with him, stopping him from harming others, officials said."\n\nhttps://t.co/d5gDi9Uqf9\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967957
He finished his thread with a call to action and a commitment to "fight until we're safe everywhere."
\u201cSo we will fight until we're safe everywhere.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668968182
Many on Twitter found Savage's thread inspiring.
\u201c@fakedansavage Damnit, Dan. I'm trying to stay angry and not cry over this and you are making it more difficult\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage It\u2019s not about just the LGBTQ2 community protecting their own anymore. It\u2019s about ALL of us stepping up and protecting the LGBTQ2 community so our loved ones can always feel safe\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@LeftyNavySeal @fakedansavage I was thrown out @ 16 like trash. I had to sort out how to survive from there. I know of two gay bars in my town that fed the street kids after hours. It\u2019s not just the alphabet mafia who find refuge there. They deserve better.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage I feel every word you just wrote. Waking to this news today took me back to the days during the 70\u2019s when we just wanted a safe place to go, to be who we are. Police would harass us as we left the bar. Todays events broke me. These ppl are my tribe. Please support gay rights.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage Thank you for the \ud83e\uddf5 and making it clear that LGBTQ people aren\u2019t safe, but are stronger together. I\u2019m so sorry and angry. I don\u2019t know why we have to keep fighting the same fights. Gay rights, women\u2019s rights, POC, immigrants, etc.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage My birthday gift to myself this was coming out, quietly. I am 38 years old. My biggest achievement this year was holding my boyfriends hand in public, at a restaurant. I am so proud of myself for being able to do that. Now I am afraid again. Not for me. I am fighter, I have been\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage @Biaggi4NY Silence = Death. I don\u2019t want to die anytime soon & I won\u2019t actively seek death out because I love my life. But I love my life, in large part, because I am a proud & openly gay woman & I would rather give my life defending the right to live that way for anyone, than live in fear\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage @carly_dani_ Thank you so much for this, Dan. I needed to read this. I\u2019m having a hard time not crying\u2026from pure rage.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage I hope you know how much I hate that you had to write this thread, while I simultaneously appreciate that you took the time to do so.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
\u201c@fakedansavage You made me cry \u2026 and feel so proud of you. You, my trans grandchild, all members of the LGBTQ+ community deserve to love, to live, to feel safe without fear or prejudice. Keep strong. Those of us who stand beside you will be strong with you.\u201d— Dan Savage (@Dan Savage) 1668967798
Five people died and at least 25 more were injured in the Club Q shooting.
The alleged shooter is currently hospitalized and in custody.