June 13, 2016 | Sex & Society

Mass shooter targets gay club in Orlando, Florida

Yesterday, many of us were in shock over the masacre that took place in an Orlando, Florida gay club. It is the worst mass shooting in US history.

The night was just ending at the packed club -- named Pulse in recognition of the owner's brother who had passed away from AIDS. That's when Omar Mateen entered, armed with an AR-15 assault rifle. He opened fire, and survivors say he was relentless.

When it was over, 50 people were dead. Another 53 were wounded, most of them critically.

Mateen was eventually shot, and killed, by police.

Mateen's father claimed the act was not religiously motivated, even though he then explained his son may have been incited to act after seeing two men kissing in public a few months earlier. "We are saying we are apologizing for the whole incident," Mir Seddique said. "We are in shock like the whole country."

The FBI admitted that Mateen had been on their radar as an ISIS sympathiser, but there was never enough evidence to hold him. Authorities say Mateen called 911 while in the club and claimed to be acting on behalf of the terrorist group.

People across the US and the world spoke out against the shooting.

President Barack Obama called the incident an "act of terror" and an "act of hate" targeting a place of "solidarity and empowerment" for gays and lesbians. He asked Americans to decide whether this is the kind of "country we want to be."

The president of the Human Rights Campaign, Chad Griffin, was joined by other civil rights leaders outside the HRC headquarters in Washington, D.C., to respond to the horrible act. "While today is a day of mourning in the wake of this tragedy, I say to LGBTQ people living in every corner in this country and around this globe: Continue to be bold, be loved, and be proud,” Griffin said.

During last night's Tony Awards, host James Corden, his back to the audience, dedicated the night to celebrate the diversity of Broadway. "Hate will never win. Together we have to make sure of that. Tonight's show stands as a symbol and a celebration of that principle," he said.