To honor the lives lost following the deadly mass shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ nightclub in Colorado Springs, Project Pride SRQ invites the community to come together for a candlelight vigil of remembrance on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 6:00 p.m. at Selby Five Points Park in Downtown Sarasota. Throughout the gathering, the LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization will be providing candles and the opportunity to sign cards to send to survivors of the Club Q tragedy.
The vigil comes nearly a week after a man with a rifle killed at least five people and injured more than two dozen others at Club Q in Colorado Springs, Colorado, late in the evening of Saturday, Nov. 19. The mass shooting occurred hours before Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance held on Nov. 20 that honors the memory of transgender and gender-nonconforming people killed by acts of violence.
“A place that was once a safe haven for so many was turned into a nightmare in an instant, and as we look to restore that lost sense of safety and belonging, we hope this vigil will be a moment for everyone – whether your LGBTQ+, an ally, or simply a concerned neighbor – to grieve and heal together, as one community, with one shared humanity,” said Jordan Leschert, President of Project Pride SRQ. “Our hearts beat as one with those who lost their lives and those who are still recovering from this senseless act of hate, gone too soon to violence our community has endured for far too long. We choose to honor each of them with action, and we hope you will join us too in bringing about a more accepting, inclusive future for all who call Sarasota, this state, and this country home.” To learn more about the vigil and how you can join in support, visit www.ppsrq.org.
About Project Pride SRQ Project Pride SRQ is a Sarasota-based nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding awareness and understanding of the LGBTQ+ community by creating strategic partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and governments towards a shared goal. From providing youth scholarships to organizing local gatherings, Project Pride has brought together LGBTQ+ and allied partners since 2019 to build capacity, support, and a vision for an all-inclusive community where everyone is equally united, supported, and celebrated in Sarasota and beyond. For more information, visit www.ppsrq.org.