LGBTQ+ Americans can’t be hidden or silenced

I exist. I exist along with millions of other LGBTQ+ people in the United States.

You cannot ignore us. You cannot simply say, “We cannot be mentioned in ‘polite company.’ ”

You cannot hide us, like dirty laundry, from your children.

We exist.

We have existed from the beginning of time — and will exist until the end. We exist in every society, every culture. We exist in some of your own families.

Yes, we say gay. Lesbian. Bisexual. Transgender.

We proudly say LGBTQ+!

Many are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender.

Some of your siblings are LGBT, and some of your children are gay.

Our battle is their battle. Our fight is their fight. We will not stop. We will not give up. We are fighting for our very existence. We are fighting for our rights. We are not freaks, its or non-people. We exist. Remember that simple fact. We exist.

Robyn Angelique Harvey, Madera

Christian Murdock/Colorado Springs Gazette Sophie Kamerrer (left) and Torrey Lovett visit a makeshift memorial near Club Q, a Colorado Springs gay bar where five people died Nov. 19 in a mass shooting.