As the nation's LGBT community reels from the June 12 shooting at the Pulse nightclub, Chicago-area individuals, organizations and businesses continued to respond to the Florida tragedy, especially those in the Latinx community.
Gay Liberation Network announced that it would be changing the theme of its Pride parade entry June 26 and asked supporters to join its Chicago 4 Orlando Against ALL Hate group in this year's Pride Parade "to help us say: NO to anti-LGBTQ hate! NO to anti-Muslim hate! NO to anti-immigrant hate! NO to the wars, drone bombs & support of dictators that breed terrorism!
"As a community which has recently suffered a hate crime, we have an obligation to make sure that the tragedy of the attack on the Pulse nightclub in Orlando is not compounded by even more hate and violence."
Those interested should meet GLN's representatives at 11 a.m. June 26 in front of the Uptown Target Store, 4466 N. Broadway. Email LGBTliberation@aol.com .
Windy City Times and ChicagoPride.com are producing signs of each of those killed in Orlando, and they are looking for volunteers, especially Latinx LGBTs, to pick up signs at the media checkin located at the southwest corner of Montrose and Broadway by 11 a.m. Pride Sunday. The continent will be right behind the front banner of the parade.
There were more than a dozen area vigils and commemorations held after the Orlando shootings, two the first day, and several other the first week. Two South Side events were held, one by Southsiders for Peace and the Unitarian Church, another by Affinity, Care Plan and University of Chicago. The suburbs of Berwyn, Oak Park, Waukegan and Elgin also hosted vigils, as did many religious groups, including St. James Cathedral, Unity Church, AChurchForMe MCC, Dignity Chicago and AGLO.
Latinx LGBTQs also planned events including June 17 at Union Park, an LGBTQ Contingent in Puerto Rican People's Parade, and an LGBTQ Latinx Spaces for Healing, Celebration, & Remembrance Vigil in Humboldt Park, California at Division, Wed., June 22, 6:30 p.m. On June 16 a Pilsen/Little Village vigil for Orlando was held at Lincoln United Methodist Church.
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus, Artemis Singers and Windy City Performing Arts all used their pride concerts to call attention and memorialize those lost in Orlando.
Area schools also hosted vigils, including John Marshall Law School June 15.
Local fundraisers
The Closet, 3325 N. Broadway St., will hold a benefit raffle for victims and their families on Thursday, June 23, at 7 p.m. They have lots of special prizes.
Links Taproom is hosting a fundraiser honoring the victims and all those affected by the Pulse nightclub massacre Sunday, June 26, 11:30 p.m.-2 a.m., 1559 N Milwaukee Ave. It will benefit Chicago House and Social Service Agency and the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida. Links owner/beer director Mike Quinlan, a proud member of LGBTQ+ community, will match 100 percent of all craft beer, liquor, wine and food sales.
Big Chick's raised $31,400 at a June 17 benefit to assist the Pulse Orlando Fund. "We came together. We talked, we hugged, we laughed, we ate, we drank, we danced. We are a family," wrote owner Michelle Fire on Facebook. "You make me so PROUD!"
Sidetrack also raised funds during their anniversary celebration last week.
Organizational responses
AIDS Foundation of Chicago said that gun violence continues to be a key public health issue in a June 17 statement.
"We are in the midst of a public health epidemic of gun violence, not just in Orlando and Chicago. Gun violence across this country, from the mass shootings that garner press attention to the violence that occurs every day in cities across the country, finds its roots in larger systemic issues including policies that disproportionally effect black and brown communities," said the statement. "We pledge to lend our support and voices to the growing chorus demanding that we enact smarter and better laws to combat gun violence in our community—and to enforce those laws already on the books. The status quo is untenable; our elected leaders need to lead.
"AFC believes we as Americans have the capacity and the will to enact positive change, especially in moments such as this where the alternative is to stand by as more Americans become victims of gun violence. Doing nothing is no longer a viable solution, and we look forward to being a part of the movement for smart, common-sense gun laws that will improve community health in Illinois and throughout the country."
Chicago House and Social Services Agency, on June 14, said it "stands with the victims of the Orlando massacre and opens its heart and lifts its arms to all those who have been impacted by this atrocity. We will continue to stand strongly behind our entire community, especially those who have been and continue to be marginalized by hatred, bigotry, discrimination and violence. Chicago House is and always will be part of the love and hope and goodness that makes our community great. … As an organization, we are prepared to do what it takes to ensure that love will continue to triumph over hate."
On June 13, Congregation Or Chadash said, "On [June 12], we gathered together with the other Kehilla partner congregations and the larger Jewish community for Shavuot. On Shavuot, we celebrate revelation and God's giving of the Ten Commandments. Many of us stayed up studying late into the night or even all night.
"Last night was Shavuot—our celebration of covenantal love. Horrifically, it also turned into a night of terrible shattering—a terrorist gunned down 50 lives at the Pulse nightclub, a gay bar in Orlando, Florida. At least fifty more people were wounded, many of them critically.
"The Talmud teaches that whoever saves a single life is as if s/he has saved an entire world. Whoever destroys a single life is as if s/he has destroyed an entire world. Many lives and many worlds were destroyed last night through hateful gun violence. We mourn with our LGBTQ brothers and sisters in Orlando. We mourn with all people who cherish freedom and safety throughout the world. We mourn—and we renew our commitment not to stand by idly while the blood of innocent lives flows from shootings."
