Commentary on violence at Club Q

We mourn the loss of the five victims and the wounding of 18 others at the LGBTQ nightclub, Club Q, in Colorado Springs on Saturday, November 19th. We are grateful that more lives were spared by at least two courageous individuals who intervened to subdue the shooter until the police could arrive.  The terror, fear, sadness, sense of loss and violation will be with that community for a very long time.  

This is yet another painful reminder that the threat of discrimination and violence directed at the LGBTQ+ community is ever present even as we observed Transgender Day of Remembrance in Belmont the day after this tragedy occurred.

We are also once again reminded of the devastating loss of life in 2016 at Pulse, a LGBTQ gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.

Our hearts go out to the victims' families and friends and those who were lost and wounded, as well as those who were present during this terrifying rampage.

The Belmont LGBTQ+ Alliance strongly condemns this violence and the hate that fuels it and will continue to do work every day to ensure that our LGBTQ+ community feels safe and embraced in Belmont.

Veteran helped disarm gunman at gay club: 'It's the reflex' : NPR

Police identify Colorado shooting victims using proper pronouns, names - The Washington Post