Utah Pride Center hosts vigil to honor Colorado Springs shooting victims

SALT LAKE CITY — The LGBTQ+ group in Salt Lake Metropolis gathered Monday evening to honor the 5 individuals who died within the mass capturing at Membership Q in Colorado Springs over the weekend.

The night was additionally an opportunity for these in the neighborhood and allies to share uncooked ideas and feelings within the wake of the violent assault.

Dozens of individuals stood outdoors the again of the Utah Pleasure Heart Monday evening, holding candles and standing in a second of silence.

Tears rolled down cheeks as Jonathan Foulk, co-CEO of Utah Pleasure Heart, then learn the 5 names aloud.

“Their lives have been misplaced too quickly,” he started. “Ashley Paugh, Kelly Loving, Raymond Inexperienced Vance, Daniel Aston, and Derrick Rump.”

Group mourning 5 killed, 19 injured in lethal Colorado Springs rampage

The Utah Pleasure Heart then turned the vigil over to all of the contributors, inviting folks to say what was on their thoughts to the entire crowd.  Some talked about feeling anger and worry, and others expressed the need to face up and share love.

Salt Lake Metropolis resident Izzy emotionally shared how the capturing is a horrible reminder that they should hold one another secure. In an interview with KSL TV, Izzy talked about how bars and golf equipment like Membership Q are sometimes the place many queer folks discover group. It’s in these areas, Izzy mentioned, that buddies develop into the household that they get to decide on for themselves.

“Each time these areas ever are beneath assault… continually, more and more — it’s actually vital that we’re all right here collectively, displaying that we’re nonetheless right here for one another,” they mentioned.

Earlier than the vigil, folks spent an hour speaking with one another contained in the Utah Pleasure Heart. Foulk mentioned the middle needed to carry the group collectively to examine in with one another and chat.

“My message to everybody out there may be that you simply’re not alone and that you simply’re liked,” he mentioned. “As a result of life is just too brief, and you must attain out to people who you care about and love.”

Foulk mentioned he has been feeling heartbreak, ache, disappointment, and anger for the reason that capturing. 

Addressing the group on the vigil, he mentioned as disgusting and tragic because the capturing was, it introduced everybody collectively.

“Have a look at us all, we’re all collectively. You’re all a heartbeat on this group,” he mentioned, wanting round. “We’ll combat. We is not going to quit. We is not going to let anybody take us.”

Alex del Rosario got here to the vigil with their accomplice and accomplice’s kids. Del Rosario is from Denver and occurred to be visiting their accomplice in Salt Lake Metropolis when the capturing happened near their hometown. 

“I’m not in Colorado with my group,” del Rosario mentioned. “I nonetheless needed to search out house and be with group, be with people who share this id, this expertise, and rise up in solidarity.”

They’re the nationwide organizer for the Nationwide Heart for Transgender Equality. Del Rosario mentioned it was actually transferring and therapeutic to attend the vigil, and that it’s what everybody wants and needs proper now.

“At present we’ll mourn and be a group and tomorrow we’ll proceed to work,” they mentioned. “I’m wanting ahead to simply holding house for folk at the moment after which having conversations on what we are able to do to stop this from taking place once more.”

Utah’s LGBTQ group mourns on Transgender Day of Remembrance, made heavier by Colorado capturing