Political science professor Alison Gash believes the road to equality just got longer. In an op-ed article for Washington Monthly, Gash says the Orlando shooting and the “lingering homophobic responses” are signs that the country needs to make significant changes before the LGBTQ community achieves full equality.

“The massacre at Pulse and the (increasingly vitriolic) debate over transgender bathrooms betrays a continued hostility towards members of the LGBTQ community and highlights just how far we need to go,” Gash writes.

She expresses concern that the Orlando crime was fostered by a political climate that allows LGBTQ individuals to be “routinely vilified.” She outlines many examples of discrimination based on gender identity, anti-gay legislative efforts and homophobic rhetoric uttered by public officials to support the claim as she calls for change.

“The fact is, this occurred on our watch, under our roof, against our community and with the encouragement of those charged with protecting our rights. Our only hope of stopping the violence is to acknowledge the nature of the crime, root out its causes and demand change.”

For Gash’s full piece, read “After Orlando, the Road to Equality Just Got Longer” .