The tragic event which occurred in Orlando, Fla., this past weekend reminds us of the monumental task yet to be accomplished.

That monumental task is the teaching of tolerance, of love, of respect, of understanding, of compassion and of the right to choose who to be with.

Choosing to be a heterosexual or a same sex couple should be the decision of those involved.

Whether we choose to be a couple from the same ethnic origin or different ethnic origins should also be the decision of those involved.

Changing a person's heart, mind, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, et al. will never be accomplished with force, coercion, intimidation, threats or death.

We, the Lake County Unit of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, offer our sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of all affected by the tragic events that occurred in Orlando.

Let us take a lesson from this event – all life is precious, is important, and all life matters!

Rick Mayo is a member of the NAACP's Lake County Unit. He lives in Clearlake, Calif.