Makeshift memorials are emerging near Club Q in Colorado Springs as a community mourns the deadly attack on Saturday night. Five people were killed and 25 injured when a lone gunman opened fire on the LGBTQ nightclub. Police said they have the attacker in custody. Several LGBTQ advocates speak out about how the violence is affecting the queer community in the Granite State. “It’s not enough to just look at my own community and say, okay, we’ve come this far, but realizing that sense of security and freedom takes real work,” said Emmett Soldieri, owner of multiple LGBTQ spaces in New Hampshire. Located in both Concord and Somersworth, The Teatotaller has become a popular destination for queer youth and adults, hosting events such as drag shows and storytelling sessions. “It’s just like a place where everyone can come together and meet and just have a safe space to be free to be who they are,” said Liam Maga, general manager of the Teatotaller. But with the rise in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric across the country,Soldi said there’s a lot more to consider when it comes to planning events. “And now, as a business owner, I’m not just thinking about inventory and payroll, but also about security,” Soldieri said. News 9 spoke to several attorneys in Granite State about Saturday’s mass shooting in Colorado. Many remembered the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, which killed nearly 50 people, and said more needed to be done. said Palana Belkin with 603 Equality. Supporters also said it was important to be there for one another. “Don’t lose your community now because we have to stay together,” Belkin told Live and just checked in and said, “How are you? How can we, you know, spend a moment together and then figure out what our actual steps forward are,” Magan said. “Vote – get out there and support the things that will make the changes happen.” Sunday also marked International Transgender Remembrance Day, and advocates say it’s so heartbreaking that such a tragedy happened just before.
Makeshift memorials are emerging near Club Q in Colorado Springs as a community mourns the deadly attack on Saturday night.
Five people were killed and 25 injured when a lone gunman opened fire on the LGBTQ nightclub. Police said they have the attacker in custody.
Several LGBTQ advocates speak out about how the violence is affecting the queer community in the Granite State.
“It’s not enough to just look at my own community and say, okay, we’ve come this far, but realizing that sense of security and freedom takes real work,” said Emmett Soldieri, owner of multiple LGBTQ spaces in New Hampshire.
Located in both Concord and Somersworth, The Teatotaller has become a popular destination for queer youth and adults, hosting events such as drag shows and storytelling sessions.
“It’s kind of like a place where everyone can come together and meet and just have a safe space to be free to be who they are,” said Liam Maga, general manager of the Teatotaller.
But with the rise of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric across the country,Soldi said, there’s a lot more to think about when it comes to planning events.
“And now, as a business owner, I’m not just thinking about inventory and payroll, but also about security,” Soldieri said.
News 9 spoke to several attorneys in Granite State about Saturday’s mass shooting in Colorado. Many remembered the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando that killed nearly 50 people and say there is more work to be done.
“Meanwhile, no meaningful progress has been made to address both gun violence and violence against LGBTQ people,” said Palana Belkin of 603 Equality.
Supporters also said it was important to be there for one another.
“Don’t lose your fellowship now, because we have to stay together,” Belkin said.
“Reach out to the people in your life and just reach out and say, ‘How are you? How can we, you know, spend a moment together and then figure out what our actual steps forward are,” Magan said. “Vote – get out there and support the things that will make the changes happen.”
Sunday also marked International Transgender Remembrance Day, and advocates say it’s so heartbreaking that such a tragedy happened just before.