People around the world held vigils in solidarity with the tragedy in Orlando, including (clockwise from top left) on the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv's city hall the U.S. Gay Men's Chorus also dedicated a performance to those affected by the attack. The festival itself was more somber than planned, the Washington Post reported, with a moment of silence dedicated to the victims. "We support all #DCPride," the DC Police Department tweeted, while announcing extra police presence during Sunday's Capital Pride festival. Here, too, security efforts were strengthened.
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In Washington, D.C., Sunday was the last day of a nearly two-week-long series of Pride events. De Blasio is expected to attend a vigil Monday night at the Stonewall Inn. He said there was no credible threat against New York, but that police were on high alert. Police had an increased presence at "key LGBT community institutions" across the city, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced. It brings back memories of when violence was regular at gay bars."Ĭounterterrorism police officers stood watch over the vigil. (From left) Rachel Henry, Selene Arciga, Nicolette Gullickson and Joanna Lamstein join others as they gather for a candlelight vigil in front of the White House in Washington on Sunday afternoon.Īnother vigil member, 66-year-old Ron Perry, told the newspaper the Orlando attack "opens up a lot of old wounds. It was a spontaneous reaction, The Associated Press reports: In New York, a massive vigil formed at the Stonewall Inn, the symbolic birthplace of the gay rights movement. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti marched holding a rainbow flag and a sign saying "We love Orlando," the wire service says. Thousands of people marched in the parade, "in grief and defiance," the AFP reports. "Your West Coast friends are all with you, Orlando. This is showing we're still here, we're still going to take a stand."
"I feel like it's all the more reason to come out," 18-year-old Nicki Genco-Kamin told the paper. "Federal and local law enforcement decided against canceling the annual parade, which went forward Sunday morning under tightened security," the Los Angeles Times reports. (Bottom) People wave flags during a vigil in New York in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. (Right) People embrace during a vigil in New York in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. (Left) A man cries during a vigil in New York in reaction to the mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy." "We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. "We make no assumptions on motive," Equality Florida, an LGBT rights group, said in a statement after the attack.
While authorities have not confirmed if the nightclub was targeted specifically because it was a gay club, the attack has been keenly felt by the LGBT community. history, and injured 53 - struck during Pride Month, which commemorates the Stonewall Riots of 1969 and the gay rights movement more broadly. The attack - in which a gunman killed 50 people, making it the deadliest mass shooting in recent U.S. Meanwhile, security has been increased at LGBT landmarks and events in cities across America.
With sorrow, anger and expressions of unity, the LGBT community across the world is mourning Sunday's deadly attack on a gay nightclub in Orlando. A couple hugs as people gather in front of a makeshift memorial in New York to remember the victims of the mass shooting in Orlando, Fla.