I just got back to Toronto after a weeklong trip, and what a wild way to return. My flight was set to land at Pearson Airport on Monday, but before mine, a plane crashed and flipped on the runway. Miraculously, no one was killed, and survivors have called it a “miracle.”

It was a surreal experience being so close to something so terrifying. It brought back memories of a tragic crash that happened just last month—a plane collided with a helicopter and went down in Washington, D.C., killing 67 people.

That crash hit me hard for three reasons. First, as a figure skating fan, it was devastating to learn that so many young, talented skaters, along with their families and coaches, lost their lives. They were returning from a national development camp in Kansas, and it felt like such a tremendous loss.

Second, it marked the first major U.S. commercial passenger flight crash in nearly 16 years. As someone who lived in the U.S. for a time, I could relate. I’d flown American Airlines several times, and one flight from Michigan to Washington, D.C., stands out. It was a decade ago. I woke up at 3 AM to line up for the historic Windsor v. United States case at the SCOTUS. While I didn’t make history that day, being in that small room with the nine Justices, witnessing a pivotal moment for gay marriage in the States, was a life-changing experience.

But the third reason this crash is still weighing on me is the ugly wave of hate that followed. After the crash, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives came under vicious attack. The current powers in the United States blamed DEI for the tragedy, and some right-wing accounts spread a false rumor that a transgender pilot was involved in the crash. It’s heartbreaking to see people turn grief into hatred, especially against queer people. The lives lost in that crash should be honored, not used as a political punching bag.

This attack on DEI feels reckless and unfair. Having come so close to an air crash myself, I know there are countless factors that contribute to these events. If we’re going to talk about airplane accidents, we could mention the numerous crashes involving so-called straight/white/male pilots. Or we could look at historical tragedies like the Titanic sinking 700 nautical miles east of Halifax—was anyone blaming DEI in 1912?

To close this piece, I want to share a quote from Jo Ellis, a transgender pilot who was viciously attacked online after the crash: “It is insulting to the families to try to tie this to some sort of political agenda.”

In times like these, we here in Toronto must stand firm in our commitment to DEI initiatives. It’s more important than ever to support each other and push back against the hate and discrimination.