“Bermuda Grieves With The Orlando Community”
“Such an unimaginable and senseless tragedy,” Premier Michael Dunkley said this evening [June 12], as he joined the global community in condemning Sunday morning’s mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.
The Orlando nightclub shooting is the deadliest shooting in U.S. history, with present news reports indicating there are 50 people dead and a further 53 people seriously injured.
Video of President Obama’s statement today:
Premier Dunkley said, “Our hearts are heavy today and our immediate thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the those killed and injured.
“Bermuda grieves with the Orlando community and stands in solidarity with them. And we join in the global condemnation of this act of hate and intolerance. These will undoubtedly be extremely difficult days and weeks ahead.
“And as we struggle to come to grips with this unthinkable tragedy, let us all pray for peace, respect, tolerance and understanding for one another.”
AP video report on the mass shooting:
Premier Dunkley will send formal correspondence expressing condolences on behalf of Bermuda to the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott and the Mayor of Orlando, Buddy Dyer, early this week.
Love is right and hate is wrong!
Very sad.
But not de worst Mass shooting in America’s History.
by one person! you need to leave the past in the past! I can’t believe you have the audacity to try to a belittle the seriousness of the situation. Its just disgusting and selfish behaviour. If your comments aren’t going to be that your thoughts are with the families who lost loved ones than why the **** are you commenting at all. In the end it doesn’t matter if its the worst or not the worst in history you are deliberately belittling the death of innocent human beings and that it despicable.
What about freedom of speech
What about it? No one is infringing on anyone’s freedom of speech.
The same freedom of speech affords people the right to speak out against hate and discrimination.
Soon as someone say something they don’t like it’s hate and discrimination somepeople so fragile WTF
Um. No.
That’s not infringing on freedom of speech. That IS freedom of speech.
How are you missing this?
And it IS hate and discrimination if you think that LGBT Bermudians are not worth giving equal access to rights. It’s the very definition of discrimination, ESPECIALLY when you offer absolutely no reason to continue denying them this access.
But you’re right. People ARE fragile.
Especially when someone who thinks they’re less than human, less worthy of access to equal rights, like Preserve Marriage does, takes a gun into a club and shoots them.
This is important. This is too important to play games with.
Correction 49
Huh? THAT is your response to me?
Come on. How are we supposed to take you and your position seriously when you post nonsense like this?
Take it as it is
As it is?
As it is is gibberish, completely unrelated to what I said and yet another deflection from actual conversation.
Why can’t you just engage like a decent person?
Meanwhile, in Bermuda, 50 homophobes stand facing a wall with no remorse for the brutaly shot at all.
Actually if you had been there, we specifically prayed for Orlando and the lost lives and grieving families.
Yes. But you also prayed that society and the government would continue denying equal access to rights and privileges to Bermudian citizens for no reason at all.
Or do you finally have one you’ll be willing to defend and discuss?
Black people have been murdered for years by a racist society and still fighting for Equal Rights and Justice.
And ya point is?
What is YOUR point?
I’m for Equal Rights. You are for Equality, but only for your group… Which isn’t equality at all.
I stand with black folks and equal rights. You, however, because of your bigoted, racially biased viewpoint, cannot see past the colour of my skin.
Still living in the past I guess.. so sad
So tell me what year racism ended.
“Black people have been murdered for years by a racist society and still fighting for Equal Rights and Justice.”
LOL, the majority of black people in Bermuda actively fight against equality for all. They are the most vocal homophobes in the world.
And then prayed to prolong the ignorance, thus indirectly contributing to the next “incident”
liar
How do you know how people are feeling at this time?
It’s people like you who are full of hate and you think that by spewing it at others is affecting them but it’s you who is self poisoned.
People have the right to stand up for what they believe whether you like it or not.
Whether it’s civil or religious.
They DO have the right to stand up for what they believe in…
Until that belief starts denying rights to people for no reason at all.
This isn’t about them standing up for what they believe in.
It’s about them supporting the denial of access to rights and privileges to Bermudians for absolutely no reason whatsoever.
Mike do you have kids? ???????
I don’t. Why does that matter?
Should I not get a say because I am childless?
Yes you should keep quiet because you have no one to explain to how sick people are in the world today
Are you even REMOTELY serious? You are actually saying that I should be silent because I don’t have children?
How is… how can… That’s just…
SERIOUSLY?
You want to know what’s sick? Telling someone that they should keep quiet because they don’t have children.
You know what else is sick? Supporting the denial of access to rights to Bermudians for ABSOLUTELY no reason.
Or do you have a reason? Will you be providing us with an argument, one that will stand up to even simple questions, as to why we should continue denying people, Bermudians, equal access to rights?
Or will you continue posting ridiculous, sick and evil things like demanding silence based on childlessness, while hiding like a coward behind a fake name.
“Thinking”? You very obviously aren’t.
As for “no one to tell”? I am a godfather. I am an uncle. I am a friend of the family.
I have plenty of people to explain to how sick people are in the world today.
People like you who think that others are somehow less worthy of rights than you are.
Mike you will never understand you just going on and on about equal rights what more rights you and your sick friends want you still never answer me when 2 male get married where is our beautiful children going to come from are you going to make them
SERIOUSLY?
Are you THIS ignorant?
YES, I’m going on about equal rights… BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE BEING DENIED EQUAL RIGHTS? It’s important!
“What more rights you and your sick friends want”?
Um. I thought this was clear. WE WANT EQUAL RIGHTS!
Currently, our LGBT friends are denied access to these rights.
We’re fighting for that access. Was I not clear the other 400 times I wrote that?
As for children, marriage equality will not have any effect on people having children. I’m not sure you understand how this works. Giving gay folks the right to get married will in no way affect heterosexual – or as you lot call it “traditional” – marriage.
Not in any way. It won’t affect childbirth or the birth rate or anything else.
If two males get married (interesting and telling that you focused on ONLY that), the children will come from a number of places – adoption, surrogates, previous relationships.
Do you not know that hetero marriages can’t always have babies together and sometimes have to go elsewhere to get their children? Were you not aware of that?
Oh, and, in closing… and apologies for the all caps, but I’m not sure you’re getting it any other way…
YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE KIDS IN ORDER TO GET MARRIED! IT’S NOT A REQUIREMENT!
Got it?
Peace out
This is your response?
And I’m supposed to respect you? I’m supposed to take you seriously when you pull this kind of nonsense?
And none of the people wagging their finger at me for “not respecting other people’s opinion” will say anything about this.
You are a joke.
THIS is the level of discourse we get from the anti-equality side.
And we’re supposed to listen to them when they say nothing. We’re supposed to believe them when they lie. We’re supposed to vote with them when they offer no reason to do so.
But it’s me that’s the problem.
This is so sad. And so bad for Bermuda.
When you have kids of your own mike you can talk to me if that would ever happen need to put my kids bed
Again with the “You aren’t allowed to talk because you don’t have kids” nonsense?
Come on.
You’re being ridiculous.
What kills me is you don’t even have the courage to say why!
What is it that having kids does to change you on this issue?
Why is having kids so important to understanding?
Sick people like you? Thinking? You’ve never had a thought in your pathetic life.
Honestly do they have to show remorse?
In africa, the middle east, south east asia killings like this happen everyday where is the remorse for those killings?
If this had happened anywhere else but Europe or America you wouldnt have known let alone cared.
Meanwhile there is a prayer vigil happening right now in Bermuda that’s trying to deny rights to the gay people in this country… But sure, go ahead and say how sad you are this happened when you’re allowing the same sentiments to grow here.
And all around the world Christians are being hunted and murdered by ISIS and other extremist groups. Does that make them comparable to people like you who clearly have a dislike for Christians? Of course not. making such inflammatory accusations doesn’t help anybody and only serves to take away from this horrible tragedy committed by a crazed, evil madman.
And in Orlando last night, gay folks were hunted and murdered by someone who thought that his dislike for them and his religion’s taboos against them were more important than their lives, spurred on by lies and misinformation about gay people, very similar to the lies and misinformation you try to spread in an attempt to keep them from sharing the same rights as the rest of us.
You’re on the same side as this crazed, evil madman. I know it’s hard to admit, but you are.
Lots of people on his side you should too
Are you actually saying that you are happily on his side?
Seriously?
Read between the line mate and careful what you wish for
Huh? What does THIS mean?
And “careful what you wish for”?
That sounds like a thinly veiled threat.
What I wish for is for my brothers and sisters, my nieces and nephews, my friends, my family, to be allowed to live happily and safely in their own country, sharing the same rights, privileges and freedoms that I have.
That’s what I wish for.
Why should I be careful about that?
It’s means you’re a disgusting terrorist, “thinking”
I guess you believe the initial reports, but what if he was a jilted homosexual who went nuts after being rejected or cheated on? Then what? Your narrative would be way off base, no?
Not really… Please reread what I wrote.
I guess we have to talk on what the report said on the news huh pretty sure he cannot tell his story maybe you can read DEAD people mind
More gibberish from you.
Why can’t you even try to have a conversation?
Grow what grow, you’re trying to grow the gay life in Bermuda. Why do you think the government is not helping the cause. They will not risk the next election for this crazy act.It is what it is.
If I arrived at work and saw a male and female work mates kissing I wouldn’t think much about it. On the other hand if I saw 2 male work mates kissing I would turn around and call in sick.
so you admit it’s your problem and not theirs then
I sure hope the report of a “prayer” vigil is happening to support those people whose lives were taken from them as a result of a hate filled tirade.
If it was to make a point for the upcoming referendum then Bermuda we should hang our heads in shame at the callousness if some to do this on the back of a major atrocity.
I have to believe these folks are praying for the those lost at the hands of that hideous murderer.
And where is the usual PLP letter of condolence…..they comment on everything else
I do find it very very strange that while the PLP comment on virtually everything they have chosen to remain silent on this issue.
This is what happens when you encourage people to discriminate against anyone “not like them”. Bermuda’s LGBT community deserves better or we’re heading to the same scenario.
Outrageous and dishonest. To use this horrible tragedy in that way is deplorable
No, what is deplorable is your cowardly refusal to offer even a single reason we should continue to treat Bermudians as second-class citizens, unworthy of equal rights.
What is deplorable is your continued campaign of lies and misinformation, treating LGBT people as less that you.
You want to talk “dishonest”? Start with yourself.
You notice how no church leaders have made an announcement about it.
Crying shame many religious leaders here have come together to support the families and residents of this GREAT city.
They have condoned this act of violence!!!
Wake up Bermuda these are your sons and daughters whose lives are at risk
This post is facepalmingly illogical.
It was so “random” it could be a lighting bolt.
You obviously were not there. Because we specifically prayed for this. We also prayed for the gun violence here and a whole host of other issues.
But prayed against people like these being able to lead a life with the same freedoms you have
the cognitive dissonance is astounding
So silence is the same as condoning it?
Today in somalia three girls where kidnapped and raped and are being held for ransom.
Your silence on this matter shows that you condone their rape and abduction.
Thats your logic.
Mr Dunkley…. you are a hypocrite
No he is not. The church leaders are. Go protest them.
Yes he is……. he has stated he is against SSM but pro Civil Union. Yet he talks of tolerance and understanding and respect. He is homophobic just like the church leaders. That makes him a hypocrite!
I find it interesting that the Christian community is being criticized here in Bermuda in light of the tragedy in Orlando. We know it was a gay club that was attacked, but yet it wasn’t a Christian who killed those people. It was an adherent to Islam. There are about eleven Islamic nations of the Middle East that execute homosexuals for their lifestyle. Protestant Christians merely pray against the lifeatlye, which, in and of itself, is not considered “hate”. This man acted on what he believed is a basic command according to Islamic law – as do many others in Islam. This certainly does not include ALL Muslims, but blowing away 50 people in cold blood is the clearest demonstration of hate than prayer marches will ever be. So, why is Christianity still being attacked in this forum, but no one speaks against Islam, as it was a professing Muslim who was clearly responsible for this heinous act?
It’s less the religion of Christianity (in my case anyway, I can’t speak for others) and more about those who continue to spread lies, misinformation and hate with regards to the LGBT community.
This has a dehumanizing effect, as does this message that members of the LGBT community that wish to get married should be denied access to the rights and privileges that marriage give… it’s a message of “You aren’t equal to us. You are less than us. You don’t deserve access to rights.”
This dehumanizing effect… this treatment… this view that they are bad and wrong and sinners and are going to hell…
The messages are the same from both religions.
Well, it’s a very short step from “They don’t deserve to live in Bermuda” to “They don’t deserve to live” for some people.
It’s not about the religion. It’s about the people who use their religion to oppress other people.
And it’s wrong, no matter WHO does it.
Judging by some of the comments here, this is a case of ‘damned if you do and damned if you don’t'!! As someone said, if the Premier never said anything, there would still be criticism. Regardless of where anyone stands on the issues of same sex marriage or gay rights or whatever, they can still have compassion for those affected by this tragedy. Loss of life, especially in such horrific circumstances and of this magnitude, is sad, regardless of the individuals involved.
For the record, before anyone comments, I personally oppose same sex marriage. I am not homophobic!! I do not fear anyone who is gay!! I do feel sad that this tragedy has happened and pray for comfort and peace for everyone who mourns today.
Um… if you think that people don’t deserve equal access to rights… that they are somehow less worthy citizens than you?
Yeah. You’re homophobic.
Unless you’d like to explain your non-homophobic reasons that we should continue to deny equal access to these rights and then defend them?
A phobia is described as an irrational, persistent FEAR of someone or something. Because I do not agree with someone’s lifestyle does not mean that I fear that person!! I have several friends and acquaintances who are gay and have never felt that I had any reason to be afraid of them, just as I do not expect that anyone should be afraid of me because of my beliefs or lifestyle. The use of the word ‘homophobia’ is ridiculous!
Oh, yes. Let’s play semantics. That always helps.
The “my gay friends think I’m cool” argument is pathetic.
You are against allowing them equal access for rights, but let’s not dare call you homophobic!
Come on. If the shoe fits, lace it up.
Take a good look in your mirror! There you will find a picture of pathetic!!
Ooh! Good one! When do you turn 14?
And you’re obviously scared of something.
Why else would you irrationally want to treat LGBT folks as though they weren’t equal?
Why are you scared of them gaining equal access to rights?
And people SHOULD be afraid of you! You think that your opinion regarding gay people should have some effect on their lives. You think that you should have a say in whether people should be afforded access to rights.
That is scary.
Sorry to tell you, but if you oppose it, you’re anti gay
Keep praying out one side of your mouth and hating with the other, God will love you for it
So much hate in the world. What a shame.
We are all ONE!
No we not
Sadly, we are not. Because of people like you who choose to hate and discriminate for no reason.
You say yes I say no so because I said no now I’m hating and discriminate smh
Yes. You are. That’s exactly right.
You know why?
Because no/no hurts people by discriminating against them based on gender and sexual orientation and denies them equal access to rights.
That’s why you are “hating and discriminate”.
I know it’s a hard pill to swallow, but if you’re honest, you’ll admit that you are, at the very least, unfairly discriminating.
The LGBTQ community in Bermuda will never be the target of violence on the scale which has occurred in Orlando . Still , they remain the target of local violence , and multiple forms of discrimination , including the denial of equal marriage rights . We Bermudians join in the grief and outrage at the worst mass shooting in American history . We should turn that outrage into resolve that at long last ALL our fellow Bermudians with enjoy equal rights and respect under the law . It is right , and it is time .
“It’s terrible that they were killed! A horrible tragedy. Let’s stand with the LGBT community.”
“Ok. How about letting them have equal access to rights and privileges afforded by marriage?”
“Wellllll… let’s not be hasty.”
To the Premier,
You are NOT a bold and courageous man like President Obama of the US. You hide behind the hateful people of this community who only look to oppress a minority group with the likes of a referendum. How dare you act concerned when you too hurt people of the LGBTQ Community everyday. You allow these religious hypocrites to put our love life on display and vote like its nothing. You are NOT my premier and no matter which way this referendum goes just know that you have lost EVERYONE in this community as a supporter.
I SURE CANT WAIT TO VOTE ON YOU!!! BRING ON THE ELECTION!!!!!
You’re being little too dramatic. Yes the referendum is a colossal waste of time and money but in fact, the Premier has said publicly he is voting yes/yes so I don’t know how this can be oppression of the LGBTQ community.
If you are so concerned about the rights of the LGBTQ community, you will vote yes/yes too and demonstrate to the Govt this is of importance to you. This may not come around again. Please don’t squander it.
Did he not say he is voting for civil unions not marriage?
Rush to judgement … No one really knows exactly WHY he choose the Pulse night club . The authorities are trying to build a case of gay hate , but was it really ? Or did he want to kill as many people as possible in any popular nightclub ? We will never know , but he was a racist , he only killed whites , he spared the blacks and apparently he hated Americans , although he was born in America , he was confused .
What the hell are you talking about? everyone on the confirmed deceased list is of African-American and Latino descent. there isn’t a single white person confirmed deceased as part of his rampage. get your facts straight before spewing nonsense.
Coffee, you prove yourself to be a liar and a disgusting bigot whenever you speak on this topic.
Here is a list with pictures of the victims:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/stephaniemcneal/orlando-shooting-victims?utm_term=.ktAkxvkbvO#.rh8KnRKvR4
You do know that the bizarre garbage that you just make up in your mind isn’t facts and the truth, right?
You can’t just fabricate nonsense like this and then pretend it’s true.
It’s not fair, it’s not honest and it is part of the problem.
Why are you trying this hard to cause more trouble?
Well I guess with the bizarre garbage that passes for national/international news nowadays you right be correct Mike , but I’m sorry your wrong … Again !
No. I’m not.
You just made that nonsense up and are pretending that it’s real.
For YOU to accuse me of being wrong, when you’ve never done anything but troll this site, posting absolutely nothing of value. Ever… is insane.
Why can’t you try being honest for once? Why can’t you try to help instead of causing trouble?
It would appear that Coffee does not have the intenstinal fortitude to admit when he wrote the words, “he was a racist , he only killed whites , he spared the blacks” (his exact words) is completely and absolutely false. It reminds me of Donald Trump denying all of the statements attributed to him by Hillary Clinton. Clinton’s press release quoting Trumps denial and then showing him make each and every statement “word for word” was a stroke of genius and put the lie to Trump’s – well, lies!
I would like to know if Coffee deliberately made his false statement or was it a case of making a statement that suited his purpose – until shown to be completely false as so clearly shown by ‘What’ and ‘aceboy’ who directed us to proof positive about the the ethnic origin of the victims.
“Coffee” isn’t interested in the truth.
He just wants to force his agenda and will stoop to any low to do so.
Then, as usual, runs away when called on it.
It’s pathetic and it’s bad for Bermuda.
Ok , ok … The gunman was selective in who he targeted , he didn’t intentionally kill blacks , he was quoted as saying black people in America have gone through enough , but the first report stated that he targeted white gay man .. I posted what at the time was in the PUBLIC DOMAIN FROM THE RESPECTED NEWS MEDIA … I DID NOT LIE ! I repeated what was reported !
Today’s news , I guess you have already heard is that he himself was one confused sexually confused individual , he liked men ! ….WHO KNEW !
Oh, for… come on. Just stop. Please.
You’d be embarrassing yourself if you had the courage to actually take off your hood.
Slavery was wrong ,and committed by Christians for 400 years, hanging innocent black people was wrong ,and committed by the Ku-Klux Klan. in America, the land of the brave and the free. War on innocents by Superpowers killing thousands and millions of people down through the annals of time was wrong and, is still , to this day being planned. tsk,tsk.tsk.The Jews at the wailing Wall protesting injustice ,and the Bermudians at the wailing wall protesting L.B.G.T marriages is the same to me.Wake up Bermuda .Peace.
I would sincerely like to believe that Takbir has had a change of heart and now supports SSM, and is repulsed by a man claiming to be a follower of Islam who took it upon himself to slaughter dozens of innocent young people (his Immam was interviewed on TV today so I think it is reasonable to describe the killer as a follower of Islam). I certainly agree with Takbir that “Bermudians… protesting LBGT marriages” is wrong just as discrimination based on the colour of a man’s skin, ethnic origin, or religious belief is morally and ethically wrong.
And back in the real world we know that Muslim states carry out the death penalty for gay people. We also know that in the middle of the attack, the gunman called 911 and pledged support for ISIS.
This is what civilized people are up against. Thugs who get their moral guidance from a barbaric stone age warlord.
Yes we do morn…because ALLLLL Bermudians support gay people…take it from me, they do
Bermudians for the most part are poorly educated and ignorant.
Black bermudians will say ‘dont hate me for the color of my skin’
Well i say to them
Dont hate gays……. they cant help being gay any more than you cant help being black.
And before some ignoramos tries to teach me something, ask yourselves; WHY WOULD ANYONE CHOOSE TO BE GAY?????? Ask yourself.
It is a life of pain and you become a social outcast