Listen to this articleOrganizations across the country and political leaders have released statements regarding the mass shooting at Club Q which left five dead and about 25 injured in Colorado Springs.
LGBTQ Organizations
OnePulse Foundation, founded after the Orlando, Florida shooting at Pulse Night Club:
“We are deeply saddened and horrified by the mass shooting at the Club Q nightclub in Colorado Springs that killed five people and wounded 18 others. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the victims and their families, as well as the wounded and those affected by this tragedy. We are grateful to the brave patrons whose heroic actions undoubtedly saved lives and to the first responders who rushed to the scene. While details will emerge in the coming days, violence directed at members of the LGBTQIA+ community must come to an end.”
A man with the same name as the suspect was arrested in June of 2021 for a bomb threat at a Colorado Springs neighborhood. He had a homemade bomb, multiple weapons, and ammunition at the time of his arrest last year. Police will not confirm that he is the same individual.
Equality Utah:
We are watching the news unfold from Colorado with horror and anger. Our hearts are breaking, once again, as our community is being targeted by a senseless act of hate and violence. We send our love to the victims and their families. This tragedy has unfolded on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance when we honor those who have died by violence around the world. Violence of this magnitude does not arise in a vacuum. For the past two years, we have watched our community face a new wave of anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation designed to generate moral panic. Politicians have given an audience to these fearmongers, and have stoked hysteria throughout the country, falsely asserting that transgender children would “destroy” women’s sports, and that drag queens are “grooming” children. This dangerous rhetoric is alive here in Utah as well, and it needs to stop now. To the good people of Utah, we implore you to recognize that LGBTQ are your family members, your neighbors, and your co-workers. When extremists ratchet up hysteria, they are endangering the people you love. We call on Governor Cox, President Adams, and Speaker Wilson to use their power and influence to tap down the hysteria in Utah. Do not give an audience to those who lie and distort LGBTQ lives. “
“To LGBTQ Utahns, you have so much beauty to contribute to the world. We will not allow another act of violence to make us cower and hide. We will take our anger and focus it into strength. We will work tirelessly to ensure that the next generation of queer children can live a life free of fear and shame. They will rise triumphant to share their gifts with the world.”
GLAAD — the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation:
“You can draw a straight line from the false and vile rhetoric about LGBTQ people spread by extremists and amplified across social media, to the nearly 300 anti-LGBTQ bills introduced this year, to the dozens of attacks on our community like this one,” GLAAD’s president and CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, said. “That this mass shooting took place on the eve of on Transgender Day of Remembrance, when we honor the memory of the trans people killed the prior year, deepens the trauma and tragedy for all in the LGBTQ community.
Human Rights Campaign Fund:
“We are absolutely heartbroken by last night’s deadly shooting at an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs. We know anti-LGBTQ+ hate is on the rise and gun violence impacts our community at devastating rates. We are also observing Transgender Day of Remembrance today and over the last 10 years two-thirds of the more than 300 fatalities we’ve tracked involved gun violence. We must rise against hate in the strongest possible terms, we must stand together in solidarity and love with our LGBTQ+ family in Colorado Springs and demand an end to this epidemic of gun violence. From Pulse to Colorado Springs to so many other lives stolen from us — this has occurred for far too long. HRC mourns the lives taken at Club Q last night and extends our deepest strength, love, and condolences to the loved ones impacted.
Encircle
“The tragedy in Colorado Springs has left us shocked, saddened, and truly heartbroken. Every day, and on this #TransDayofRememberance, we stand with our local LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ communities across the country and world. Together we send our love to everyone at #ClubQ and in Colorado impacted by this senseless act of violence.”
Political Leaders
President Joe Biden
“While no motive in this attack is yet clear, we know that the LGBTQI+ community has been subjected to horrific hate violence in recent years. Gun violence continues to have a devastating and particular impact on LGBTQI+ communities across our nation and threats of violence are increasing. We saw it six years ago in Orlando, when our nation suffered the deadliest attack affecting the LGBTQI+ community in American history. We continue to see it in the epidemic of violence and murder against transgender women – especially transgender women of color. And tragically, we saw it last night in this devastating attack by a gunman wielding a long rifle at an LGBTQI+ nightclub in Colorado Springs.
“Places that are supposed to be safe spaces of acceptance and celebration should never be turned into places of terror and violence. Yet it happens far too often. We must drive out the inequities that contribute to violence against LGBTQI+ people. We cannot and must not tolerate hate.
“Today, yet another community in America has been torn apart by gun violence. More families left with an empty chair at the table and a hole in their lives that cannot be filled. When will we decide we’ve had enough? We must address the public health epidemic of gun violence in all of its forms. Earlier this year, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, in addition to taking other historic actions. But we must do more. We need to enact an assault weapons ban to get weapons of war off America’s streets.
“Today, Jill and I are praying for the families of the five people killed in Colorado Springs last night, and for those injured in this senseless attack.”
Former president Donald Trump
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Colorado congressional candidate Adam Schiff, who recently conceded to Colorado Rep. Loren Boebert, tweeted:
“Sickened and horrified by the shooting at Club Q in Colorado Springs. The LGBTQ+ community is once again the target of the most terrible violence. And devastating attacks like these will only become more common if we don’t fight back. It must stop.”
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis:
“This is horrific, sickening, and devastating,” Polis said in a statement. “My heart breaks for the family and friends of those lost, injured, and traumatized in this horrific shooting. I have spoken with Mayor Suthers and made it clear that every state resource is available to local law enforcement in Colorado Springs. We are eternally grateful for the brave individuals who blocked the gunman likely saving lives in the process and for the first responders who responded swiftly to this horrific shooting. Colorado stands with our LGTBQ community and everyone impacted by this tragedy as we mourn together.”
Congressman Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs
“I am saddened to hear of the senseless loss of life in the shooting last night. Law enforcement and first responders are to be commended for their rapid response. All people should pray for the victims and their families.”
Nancy Pelosi
“Tragedy has once again struck the LGBTQ+ community — sadly, on #TransDayOfRemembrance when we mourn trans people killed by bigotry. The horrific shooting at Club Q is a call to mourn victims, thank heroic responders, and take more actions to disarm hate and end gun violence.”
Congressional LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus
“I am horrified and devastated by the news out of Colorado Springs this morning. LGBTQ+ clubs are often a place of refuge and affirmation for our community, yet once again what should have been a safe space became the target of a violent and deadly attack. My heart is with the victims of this horrific shooting, their family and friends, Club Q’s staff and patrons, and the entire LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs and around the country,” said Chair Cicilline. “As we mark Transgender Day of Remembrance today, we are further reminded that deadly violence against members of our community is sadly not new. We know the toxic combination of hate and access to guns in this country leads to deadly results. We must honor the lives lost in this shooting and all LGBTQ+ lives lost due to violence with action—action to address the twin epidemics of hate and gun violence in this country.”
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox
“Abby and I are deeply saddened by the senseless tragedy in our neighboring Colorado. We add our prayers for those impacted and plead for kindness, love and unity with our LGBTQ community.”
Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall
“To our Trans and gender non-conforming community: you are loved, you are seen and you are embraced by your City, which is a better place because of you. We remember those murdered in anti-trans violence + we continue our commitment to making this City a safe place for you.”
“Devastated, just devastated to read about another horrific act of violence targeted at the LGBTQ community. Salt Lake City mourns with our friends in Colorado Springs, and stands with the LGBTQ community everyday.”
Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson
“I was devastated to wake up this morning to news of the horrific mass shooting last night at Club Q in Colorado Springs. I stand as an ally and condemn all hate and violence directed toward our friends in the LGBTQ+ community. Please, please, let us all love our neighbors.”
