The attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine last week was an assault on freedom of press, freedom of religion and freedom in general — but, rightfully so, the publication is not allowing fear to forego freedom.
Islamist extremists seemingly carried out the bloody attack — that ultimately left 17 people dead — because of the publication’s depictions of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. Instead of shirking controversy, however, the French magazine, which has a lengthy history of nonconformist content, returned to the presses after the attack with a caricature of Muhammad shedding a tear on its cover — a fitting tribute and statement.
The same courage in the face of oppression has been evinced for decades in the LGBT community.
From the picketers who marched outside of Independence Hall calling for LGBT reforms in 1965 to the crowds that refused to back down to police at the Stonewall Inn in 1969 to the demonstrators who risked arrest, attack and stigma calling for action on the HIV/AIDS crisis in 1980s and ’90s to the protesters who mobilized through the streets for marriage equality in recent years, our community knows how to respond to those who want to silence us.
That same spirit is integral to the continued progression of our community and society at large, yet perhaps the most effective way to continue moving forward is by embracing this principle on a microcosmic level — coming out to family, friends and co-workers; owning one’s HIV status; speaking out against restrictive policies and laws. Facing fears relating to our identity on a day-to-day basis alleviates stigma in our own perception and can also help us make strides toward lessening institutionalized discrimination. The more we as a community refuse to allow others who fear our identity to control our actions and attitudes, the freer we become — and the more freely those outside of our community can understand who we are.
The world stood with Charlie Hebdo this past week, and that solidarity will hopefully not be short-lived. Tragedy cuts across all barriers, making it a unifying force and one that ideally will build the foundation to continue fighting for freedom from fear.