5 had been killed and round 20 injured after a gunman opened fireplace within the Colorado Springs LGBTQ nightclub Membership Q on Saturday.
Ellen DeGeneres, Steven Canals, Hayley Kiyoko, Andy Cohen, George Takei and extra in Hollywood had been among the many leisure trade members voicing their condolences and frustration for the LGBTQ neighborhood following a mass capturing Saturday night time in Colorado Springs.
At the least 5 had been killed and round 20 injured after a 22-year-old gunman opened fireplace within the LGBTQ nightclub Membership Q earlier than the shooter was subdued by patrons and finally arrested by police. Native investigators had but to find out a motive Sunday, however the El Paso County District Lawyer Michael Allen mentioned the assault was being investigated to see if it ought to be prosecuted as a hate crime.
In accordance with native police chief, Adrian Vasquez, at the very least two individuals confronted the gunman and stopped the capturing, which happened solely a day earlier than this yr’s Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual day that honors the reminiscence of transgender individuals whose lives have been misplaced in acts of anti-trans violence. (It additionally got here on the tail finish of Transgender Consciousness Week.)
The sixth mass killing this month, the Saturday capturing follows the 2016 Orlando Pulse capturing that killed 49 individuals and comes amid rising anti-LGBTQ laws and political speech within the U.S.
In an announcement on Sunday, President Joe Biden acknowledged that the motive for the shootings was not clear, however that “we all know that the LGBTQI+ neighborhood has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent times.”
“Locations which are presupposed to be secure areas of acceptance and celebration ought to by no means be became locations of terror and violence. But it occurs far too usually,” he continued. “We should drive out the inequities that contribute to violence towards LGBTQI+ individuals. We can't and should not tolerate hate.”
Hollywood figures and members of the bigger leisure neighborhood shared their heartbreak on social media, together with host and comic Ellen DeGeneres, who wrote that her “coronary heart breaks for the victims and LGBTQ+ neighborhood” in Colorado Springs. “Hate speech results in misplaced lives,” she added. “Nobody ought to must concern who they're.”
Pose creator Steven Canals additionally spoke out on social media Sunday, expressing his exhaustion with having to see headlines about violence towards the LGBTQ neighborhood. “I’m bored with providing ideas, prayers, & condolences. I’m pissed that we are able to’t occasion or pray or store or be entertained in peace,” he wrote, earlier than asking when “are we goin to begin to take gun management” critically within the U.S.?
Singer and actress Hayley Kiyoko thanked the “heroes who helped carry the shooter down” however shared that her “coronary heart is so heavy for my LGBTQ neighborhood in Colorado Springs and the lives and family members taken from us.”
Star actress and mannequin Amiyah Scott, who acknowledged Sunday as Trans Day of Remembrance, known as the incident “evil” whereas Star Trek star George Takei pointed to political leaders and their unfold of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
“Name them out once they promote hate and bigotry. Remind them of the violence of Colorado Springs. Of the bloodbath at Pulse Nightclub. Of what almost occurred at Coeur D’Alene,” he mentioned. “Don’t allow them to unfold hate. Don’t let it go unanswered.”
Comic and actress Fortune Femster additionally known as out politicians, who “have been spewing hate and intolerance in direction of the LGBTQ neighborhood after which act shocked that somebody would go kill members of the neighborhood. You don’t assume your rhetoric evokes individuals to behave? Cease spreading hate. Individuals misplaced their lives due to it.”
Bravo host Andy Cohen acknowledge that Sunday was a “unhappy morning in America” and questioned whether or not the “sick assault in Colorado” would make politicians assume twice earlier than fanning flames of homophobia.” He added, “Let individuals be who they're for as soon as and for all.”
Learn under for extra responses from members of Hollywood’s LGBTQ neighborhood and allies.