It’s hard to believe that it has almost been two years since that night. June pride celebrations were quickly turned into somber, yet defiant, acts of protest and unity from diverse communities. Despite the death of 49 young members of our community and allies, little has been done to mark any changes: no new measures on gun control, more pieces of legislation attacking us, and an administration who audaciously ignored us during Pride Month—a vile act of disrespect. This year, from Wisconsin and Miami to, of course, Orlando, let’s remember their names.

The undersigned 59 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ), American Muslim, and Latinx organizations released the following statement in advance of the day of rememberance 2016 massacre at the LGBTQ nightclub Pulse in Orlando, Florida. The statement was convened by national civil rights organizations including Muslim Advocates, the National LGBTQ Task Force, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC):

“Two year ago, in the aftermath of the Orlando tragedy, we came together in grief, in unity, and in solidarity with the Orlando community and millions of people everywhere, to condemn this act of hate violence and affirm that love conquers hate. That senseless act struck at the heart of the LGBTQ and Latinx communities, families, and close friends, and at the core of one of our nation’s greatest strengths: our diversity. The ensuing backlash against the American Muslim community led to hate speech and violence, shootings, and mosque vandalism that claimed even more victims.

The acts of kindness that followed also illustrated that, even in our darkest moments, and despite the repeated attempts to use fear to further divide us, time and time again, the people of this country come together to console and support those in need.

As we remember those we lost and their families, we renew our commitment to honor them with action by protecting one another and our country’s ideals of freedom, liberty, and equality under the law for all people.

This day of remembrance comes during LGBTQ Pride Month and the holy month of Ramadan. As we reflect on the past year, we are deeply concerned about the direction of our country including efforts to divide Americans from one another by demonizing and scapegoating many of our communities–but we are also proud of the millions of Americans of all faiths, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, and backgrounds who continue to rebuff those attempts by stepping up to defend our highest ideals.

We have been reminded countless times that a threat against any one community is a threat against all of us, and that we must take notice and action. As our communities resist a massive rollback of civil rights protections at the state and federal level and a rising tide of hate violence, we stand together ever stronger, ever braver, and ever more resolute to resist these attacks and move forward with love and acceptance for all.”

Signed,

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC)

Muslim Advocates

National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

National LGBTQ Task Force

Advocates for Youth

Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum

Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA)

Auburn Seminary

Bend the Arc Jewish Action

BiNet USA

Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network

Center For Black Equity

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers

DignityUSA

Eliminate Hate Campaign

Equality California

Equality Federation

Equality Florida

Farmworker Justice

GLAAD

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD)

GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality

Harvard Islamic Society (and Anti-Islamophobia Network)

Islamic Networks Group (ING)

Lambda Legal

Los Angeles LGBT Center

LPAC

Media Matters for America

Muslim Legal Fund of America (MLFA)

Muslim Public Affairs Council

Muslims for Progressive Values

National Black Justice Coalition

National Center for Lesbian Rights

National Center for Transgender Equality

National Coalition for LGBT Health

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs

National Congress of American Indians

National Council of Jewish Women

National Institute for Latino Policy (NiLP_

National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health

National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA)

National Women’s Law Center

NEAT – National Equality Action Team

New Ways Ministry

NMAC

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

Out2Enroll

OutRight Action International

OutServe – SLDN

People For the American Way

PFLAG

Pride at Work

ReconcilingWorks

SAGE

The Trevor Project

Voto Latino

Whitman-Walker Health

Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER)