As a teacher, I witnessed the grim reality of gun violence in schools.
In 2007, 33 college students were massacred at Virginia Tech. In 2012, 26 were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary - 20 of the victims were 6- and 7-year-old children. In 2018, 17 were slaughtered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. All were murdered with AR-15s, weapons designed for war but now favored by mass shooters.
Gays Against Guns (GAG) was formed on June 13, 2016, the day after 49 people were killed at Pulse nightclub in Orlando — most of them young, queer, and Latinx.
Those 49 lives were 49 more reasons to stand against guns. GAG entered the Gun Violence Prevention (GVP) movement at NYC Pride on June 26, where over 750 people marched with GAG and The Human Beings — figures in white carrying photos of loved ones lost to gun violence.
Since then, GAG has been strong, pressuring politicians, pushing companies to cut ties with the NRA, and protesting at gun shows. Now, we've brought the fight to South Florida as GAGSFL, choosing Gays Over Guns.
We are Gays Against Gun Violence. We are gays against children being massacred; rising queer youth suicides; domestic abusers with guns; transgender people being murdered; police brutality, open carry laws; and assault weapons.
Our mission is clear: GAG is an inclusive, direct-action group of LGBTQ+ people and allies, committed to nonviolently breaking the gun industry's chain of death — investors, manufacturers, the NRA, and politicians blocking safer gun laws.
Some ask why a minority group wouldn’t arm itself against the rise in homophobia and hate crimes.
"They say a gun will keep you safer,” but the facts show otherwise. States with higher gun ownership have more firearm crime and even more burglaries (Los Angeles Times). An assault victim is 4.5 times more likely to be shot if a gun is present (National Institutes of Health). Firearms are now the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America.
Think about that. Firearms.
More than cancer. More than car accidents.
It’s shocking that children in America are safer joining the military and being deployed to war zones than they are in their own classrooms.
Republican lawmakers like Gov. Ron DeSantis are weakening gun laws, making it easier for anyone to carry an AR-15.
Why? Follow the money.
The NRA has donated millions to the GOP, convincing their base that owning assault weapons is a constitutional right. Marco Rubio, ranked #4 on the NRA donation list, has received over $3 million from them.
Shocker, right?
I’m tired of running 5k races in memory of teachers and students murdered in schools.
Richard Aspinwall, the 39-year-old math teacher killed in the Apalachee High School shooting, deserves more. Scott Biegel, the 35-year-old hero teacher killed at Parkland while saving his students, deserves more. His open classroom door saved countless lives. These victims deserve more than thoughts, prayers, and a few miles of sweat.
We must honor them with action!
I will march on Washington for as long as it takes to ban assault weapons again. I will protest until we achieve common sense gun reform. We don’t have to live like this. You don’t have to live like this.
Join the fight in Florida and make your voice heard — loud and proud.
The first GAGSFL meeting will be in early October at The Pride Center.
Until then, follow GAGSFL on all social platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Threads) and GaysAgainstGunsNY on Instagram.
As Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has."
