PITTSBURGH — Local LGBTQ+ groups already had plans to get together for a Transgender Day of Remembrance event, but after a mass shooting in Colorado Springs, they spent the evening also honoring those victims.
“We’re praying for the people in Colorado. This is a sad day for us,” said Dena Stanley, executive director of TransYOUniting.
Five people were killed and at least 25 others were injured when police say a gunman opened fire in an LGBTQ+-friendly nightclub late Saturday.
“The hatred, the bigotry, it has to stop. It has to stop,” Stanley said.
Less than 24 hours later, members of Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community are calling for change. They also commemorated those who died locally in the past year.
Police have not yet released what they believe the suspect’s motive behind the mass shooting was at this time, but members of the community say they feel targeted.
“We want to remember now five more LGBTQ folks who were killed in Colorado Springs,” Pennsylvania state Rep.-elect Latasha Mayes said. “We’ve lost five more from our community.”
Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey also called attention to the shooting in a series of tweets. He wrote in part:
“This year at least 32 Transgender and Gender non-conforming people have been taken from us due to vile Transphobia and discrimination. Just last night, that hate manifested in the horrific mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs.”
Meanwhile, Mayes left the local LGBTQ community with a message Sunday.
“You are valuable, you are worthy, you work the fight. I’m willing to fight when I get to Harrisburg,” Mayes said.
One local organizer said they plan to find a way to help the families affected by the mass shooting in Colorado.
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