PHOTOS: Candlelight vigil for Club Q Shooting

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In solidarity with the LGBTQ community in wake of the mass shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs, the City of West Hollywood and LGBTQ community members and organizations hosted a candlelight vigil Sunday night in front of Rocco’s.

Mayor Pro Tem Sepi Shyne and Councilmember John Erickson, both next in line for the council’s top two leadership roles, and Public Safety Commissioner Jackie Steele breathed fire into the megaphone when they addressed the crowd, angrily denouncing this and other recent assaults on LGBTQ life, liberty and happiness.

The city has lowered its flags to half-staff in remembrance of the lives lost in the mass shooting and is working with the West Hollywood Station of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Block by Block Security Ambassadors program to expand patrols in the Rainbow District. 

“I’m horrified by the news of the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs,” said Mayor Lauren Meister. “The LGBTQ community, is, once again, being targeted. West Hollywood is a safe haven for LGBTQ people and we are committed to protecting our residents, businesses, and visitors. Sadly, mass shootings have become a reality in this country and we are working with our law enforcement and our businesses to heighten awareness and increase preparedness to ensure the safety of our community. Public safety must be our number-one priority. With haters emboldened by national politics and antiquated gun policies, the City must remain steadfast in its commitment to protect its LGBTQ community and LGBTQ rights. My thoughts today turn to the families, friends, and loved ones of the victims.”

“I woke up to the awful news of another mass shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub,” said Mayor Pro Tempore Sepi Shyne. “Five members of our community were killed and others were injured in Colorado Springs at Club Q. My heart goes out to their families. I feel so sad for the hate that our community continues to endure. West Hollywood stands united against hate and gun violence.”

“As Americans, we are all sickened by this attack,” said Councilmember John D’Amico. “And instinctively we know that until sensible gun legislation and gun ownership regulations are in place these acts of domestic terror will not end.”

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“My heart is broken for the victims and their families of the horrific attack in Colorado Springs on the eve Transgender Day of Remembrance,” said Erickson. “We can draw direct lines from the growing hatred and vile rhetoric about #LGBTQ people spread by extremists as the direct cause for this attack. I’m sending all my love to those individuals that put their bodies on the line to subdue the gunman and praying for everyone involved.”

“My heart breaks at the news of another senseless shooting, once again targeting our LGBTQ family, this time in Colorado Springs,” said Councilmember Lindsey P. Horvath. “We must act boldly and with courage to root out hate and protect our community members, and to take on a culture that allows gun violence to ravage our country. The City of West Hollywood is taking action to evaluate whether any credible threats exist as a result of this senseless shooting, and to protect our community members at all times. Please contact the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station to report any concerns.”

News of the Club Q mass shooting came as the City of West Hollywood and its Transgender Advisory Board recognize November as Transgender Awareness Month, and as the City prepared to host an in-person Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony today featuring a reading of names to memorialize people who have been murdered as a result of anti-transgender violence.

This weekend’s mass shooting, for many in the LGBTQ community, carries echoes of the June 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida that left 49 people dead, 68 people injured, and countless other lives affected. That shooting became known as the site of the deadliest mass shooting in US history, as well as the deadliest incident of violence against LGBTQ people in the nation.

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Jake Lee
Jake Lee
2 years ago

This is not about “gun violence”. This is about a scorned non-binary whacko who was not only allowed into a nightclub without being checked but also about why he/she/they was walking free after being arrested for a bomb threat. Also, why was there no security at the club? I see the media was not only quick to bury the story because it didn’t fit their narrative but they blame “Republicans”, “Guns” and everything else that doesn’t warrant blame. There’s a patten and a common denominator with these incidents and that is the fact that there were TONS of red flags… Read more »

Benjamin Story
Benjamin Story
2 years ago

Two gays in the Colorado bar subdued the shooter with a gun. Unarmed queer folks rushed an active shooter and pistol whipped him with his own gun.

The shooter in Colorado Springs was previously arrested for making a bomb threat, but was released. Why?

SeeMe
SeeMe
2 years ago
Reply to  Benjamin Story

There are reports that his grandfather, a former Republican representative, was granted a favor by having his record sealed. If that is true, then I hope all involved are charged with accessory.

Rose
Rose
2 years ago

“The City of West Hollywood is taking action to evaluate whether any credible threats exist as a result of this senseless shooting” How is that tract record coming fruition from WeHo’s “evaluate serious issues” I think they hired someone with a salary of $250,000 a year to help elievate the HOMELESS CRISIS?? How many nights in a nearby motel could have been made available for $250,000 a year, compared to what seems to have done nothing done f rom the WeHo Homeless Advisor? What is the general plan for gun safety in WeHo when there seems a total loss of… Read more »

Moss Growing
Moss Growing
2 years ago
Reply to  Rose

You are correct. The City hires endless consultants and creates a well paid figurehead to deliver word salad speak at City Council meetings after endless study groups and subcommittees. Te trappings of government that never accomplishes any real progress. Few things are really accomplished because they are always in the “study and reports phase”. Watching moss grow and reporting about it seems their specialty, never a task defined, action implemented and an actual solution resulting in real time. The city prefers the appearance of action, onerous meetings of every stripe, special days and weeks to honor moss growing and then… Read more »

TomSmart
TomSmart
2 years ago

Such a tragedy. I cannot help but be cynical about the city saying they are looking at protecting the community. Please don’t let these be hallow sound bites and actually announce and implement these detailed plans. We will be watching and waiting.

John Arnold
John Arnold
2 years ago

Happy to see Sheriff-elect Robert Luna in attendance as well.

:dpb
:dpb
2 years ago

It’s very hard to accept Lindsey Horvath’s empathy and condolences + her words on public safety here given her recent campaign rhetoric and the scrubbing of West Hollywood and LBGTQ community from her website. To me these are just more of her lies and attention seeking garbage.

Last edited 2 years ago by :dpb
Blindness
Blindness
2 years ago
Reply to  :dpb

Apparently Horvath was noticeably absent from the vigil. Some of these council members don’t recognize that extreme views and visible actions stoke the very hate and divisiveness they proclaim to advocate against. They are not considered fair minded or ethical.

Rose
Rose
2 years ago
Reply to  Blindness

Confused – are you saying..

“Lindsey Horvath PULLED A DONALD TRUMP JAN 6TH” ON WEHO by not showing up?

Because if you are NOT saying that means ….

THEN I GET TO BE THE FIRST ONE TO SAY IT AND MAKE IT AN OFFICIAL “THING” WHEN A LEADER CALLS A CROWD TO MARCH FOR SAFETY’but ducks out of going because she doesn’t really give “A BLEEP” about it since being comfortable re-elected

Blindness
Blindness
2 years ago
Reply to  Rose

Not 100% certain. I was not there. Photos and tv footage did not show her present.

Rose
Rose
2 years ago
Reply to  :dpb

THAT’S WHY I DIDN’T VOTE FOR HER. BUT NAME RECOGNITION DECIDES WEHO’S ELECTIONS

A Mirage
A Mirage
2 years ago
Reply to  Rose

Name recognition of that “sweet faced impressive sounding person” endorsed by the LA Times and Planned Parenthood personnel after she “talked about her success” in West Hollywood. People are unable to understanding the allure of a mirage.