Charlie Kirk's murder proves America has crossed a bridge to hell, with the road to peace not on the horizon

"Charlie Kirk was no friend to the LGBTQ+ community. At. All. He mocked our identities, belittled our struggles, and repeatedly stoked fear about transgender people. He opposed marriage equality and railed against Pride events, Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. He weaponized the language of "protecting children" He had the that I, a gay man, want to corrupt children."

"And yet, at this time, I find myself grieving. Not for his ideas. Not for the movement he helped build. Not for the unmitigated hate he directed at me and all those in my community. But for the fact that his life was ended with a gun. For his family. For his friends. For the undeniable fact that no one in this country should have to fear being shot for what they say or believe."

"We can't pretend to be shocked. Political violence in the United States is no longer an outlier. It is embedded in our DNA in 2025. Last summer, Donald Trump survived an assassin's bullet. This year, two state legislators in Minnesota were shot; one didn't survive. On January 6, 2021, violence erupted at the U.S. Capitol, leaving bodies and broken bones in its wake. More than 1,500 rioters were set free without consequence, their violence essentially normalized."

Charlie Kirk opposed marriage equality, railed against Pride events, mocked LGBTQ+ identities, and amplified fear about transgender people by weaponizing the language of "protecting children." The narrator felt loathing for Kirk's politics and their toxic effect on young followers, yet still grieves the fact that his life was ended with a gun and mourns his family and friends. The piece frames political violence as normalized in the United States, citing an assassination attempt on Donald Trump, shootings of Minnesota legislators, the January 6 Capitol violence, and recurring school shootings. The debate often pivots to blaming transgender people instead of addressing victims or meaningful gun reform.

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