Members of Saint Lucia’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-gender community are speaking out on the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which left 49 people dead.

Bennett Charles of United and Strong says the act of terror and hate was not a crime only against Americans or LGBT people, but humanity.

Mr. Charles says gays and lesbians in this region often go to some of these developed countries seeking out freedom to express who they are, but there are pitfalls.

The United and Strong spokesman says this incident should spark action among lawmakers in the region to remove existing laws which discriminate. He says the region must act collectively and remove laws, which promote hate.