The pain and anger being felt in families and communities across our country is palpable. It is justified. It is being felt most acutely in Black families and Black communities.

There is also confusion and fear.

For those who are grieving, are afraid, are exhausted, are fed up, I hope you have the space to take care of yourself in this heartbreaking time.

For those who are organizing, speaking out, and supporting those doing this work – thank you.

One Black life taken by racist violence would be too many. Over the past several weeks we have learned the names, heard the pleas, and witnessed the killing of several: George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade.

The pain and anger arising from the brutal oppression of Black and Brown people in the United States won’t be healed without deep, long-term work from all of us.

We owe it to one another and to ourselves to keep doing that work.

There are no easy answers. But there are simple truths:

Black lives matter.

Police brutality must stop.

We cannot turn away in denial of the racism and white supremacy that are embedded in our institutions of power and that damage all of us, though in uneven ways.

We each must examine our own biases and privileges.

Last week I signed GLAD onto a joint letter from LGBTQ organizations uniting to combat racist violence. I invite you to read the letter, to join me in committing to the work of anti-racism, and to hold one another, our organizations, and our LGBTQ community accountable to the work of racial justice.

Thank you for your commitment to engaging in this work. I am grateful to be in community with you.