Yesterday we awoke to the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S.history.  The shooter targeted a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida and ended the lives of 50 people.  

The Body is Not An Apology does the work of fostering radical self-love because we believe that through making peace with our bodies we create the capacity to make true peace with the bodies of others. This attack was an attack on the bodies of the LGBTQIAA community.  This was an attack on bodies of color. It was at its core a violence meted out on bodies because of their difference.  

We also know that when these attacks are connected either factually or through media sensationalism to Islamic terrorism, the Muslim community faces violence and abuse as if Muslims are not queer. As if Muslims are not American. A world unable to see the intersections of homophobia and Islamaphobia, a world that cannot identify all of these violences as acts of Body Terrorism and work to end them both, is a world destined to destroy itself.

In the coming days and weeks, we will hear about the shooter endlessly, but will learn so little about the 50 lives he snatched nor the ripple each of them made in the world.

Today, The Body is Not An Apology will begin to share the names of each person lost to this unthinkable tragedy.  We also acknowledge that the names listed may not be the chosen names of the victims.

We will continue to update the list.  

We ask you to read and say their names aloud. Tell others to do the same.  

Let’s say their names and in doing so create a chorus of love.

It is the only thing that will drown out the hate.

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Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old

Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old

Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old

Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old

Kimberly Morris, 37 years old

Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old

Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old

Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old

Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old

Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old

Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old

Amanda Alvear, 25 years old

Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old

Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old

Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old

Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old

Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old

Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old

Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old

Cory James Connell, 21 years old

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old

Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old

Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old

Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old

Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old

Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old

Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old

Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old

Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, 24 years old

Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old

Frank Hernandez, 27 years old

Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old

Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old

Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old

More Radical Reads: Simple But Not Easy: 25 Steps to Justice

Are you struggling to make peace with your own embodiment in the wake of this attack on Pulse?  Join us for our free webinar 10 Tools for Radical Self Love.

[Feature Image: two people stand on a sidewalk beside a street at nigh time. The person on the left is wearing shorts and a grey and white tank top. They are embracing the person on the right whose back is facing the camera.  This person is wearing jeans and a blue, black and white checkered shirt with dark jeans.   Source: Orlando Sentinel.]