Thank you @FabHillcrest for lowering the #Hillcrest Pride Flag. San Diego's LGBT community stands with #Orlando. pic.twitter.com/yRIykPyAM1
— Todd Gloria (@ToddGloria) June 12, 2016
Members of San Diego’s LGBTQ community and their supporters are planning events on Sunday and Monday to mark the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida. It is a popular LGBT establishment and was filled with people when a lone gunman opened fire in the club about 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Hillcrest Pride Flag event Sunday night
Hundreds of people at the Hillcrest pride flag for the Orlando vigil. pic.twitter.com/fjUGMmYn1q
— Andrew Bowen (@acbowen) June 13, 2016
A vigil is being organized for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Hillcrest Pride Flag, 1500 University Ave., according to San Diego Councilman Todd Gloria’s office.
Gloria tweeted out a photo on Sunday of the flag flying at half-staff.
North County LGBTQ Resource Center event Sunday
“We are devastated by this horrific act of violence. Our hearts break for all the victims and their families and stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA community in Orlando. Violence will not intimidate us from living our authentic selves, or prevent us from loving one another. We must come together as a nation to affirm the love that conquers hate,” said Carolyn Bolton, board chairwoman of the North County LGBTQ Resource Center.
The center at 510 N. Coast Highway, Suite C, in Oceanside, will be open from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday to “provide a safe place to gather,” Bolton said.
Those gathered will hold a candlelight vigil at 7 p.m. Sunday, she said.
San Diego LGBT Community Center event Monday night
“Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their friends and families. This weekend, and over the coming days, our community around the country will hold vigils and other commemorations of support, solidarity and strength,” said Delores A. Jacobs, chief executive officer of The San Diego LGBT Community Center.
The center and its supporters plan to gather at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, 3909 Centre St., in Hillcrest, for a San Diego United: #OrlandoStrong rally.
A short program will be followed by a candelight vigil that will stop at the Hillcrest Pride Flag, 1500 University Ave., and end at Rich’s nightclub, 1051 University Ave.
Resources
Members of the San Diego County LGBTQ community are offering counseling and ways to help following the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, at an LGBT bar.
• San Diego LGBT Community Center offers counseling services through its Behavioral Health Services program. To speak with an on-duty counselor or request an appointment, email onduty@thecentersd.org or call (619) 692-2077, ext. 208, on Monday.
• For those who want to donate to support the victims, Equality Florida has set up a victims fund at: www.gofundme.com/PulseVictimsFund. For other ways to help, go to: www.eqfl.org/news/pulse. The Orlando LGBT Center website can be found at: www.thecenterorlando.org.
• The North County LGBTQ Resource Center in Oceanside has a list of LGBTQ-friendly mental health providers who can offer counseling services.
