More than 190 organizations from China's gay community have expressed their condemnation toward the recent Orlando massacre, which saw at least 49 people killed and 53 wounded.
China-based LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexuals, transgender, queer) groups released a joint letter on Monday, extending their sympathies to the victims' families and denouncing "terrorism based on sexual orientation" that resulted in the worst mass shooting incident in American history.
"We, the members of China's [LGBTQ] community, wish to express our deepest sympathies to the victims and their families, friends, and loved ones, and all those affected by this monstrous act," read the letter obtained by the Global Times.
"Together with them, we grieve the loss of so many innocent lives and strongly condemn terrorism and all forms of violence based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression."
The mass shooting happened in the early morning of June 13 at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
The suspect was identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen, an American-born U.S. citizen.
Several reports suggested that Mateen had shown sympathy for Islamist extremism, while a former co-worker described him as "a very troubled person."
"When I say that he was unstable or unhinged, I mean this is a man who would lose his temper for no reason," Daniel Gilroy, who worked with Mateen as a security guard, said in an interview with ABC News. "He would kick walls, slap desks. I've seen him throw the chair across the room one time."
Many are also tagging the carnage as a hate crime.
"The massacre is a reminder that homophobia and transphobia are still prevalent and causing devastation throughout our world today," Peng Yanhui, campaign organizer and director of the LGBT Rights Advocacy China, told the Global Times.
"Although private ownership of guns is banned in China, other forms of violence, such as conversion therapies, bullying of LGBTQ youth in schools and other discriminatory treatment occur on a daily basis," Peng added.