Lady Gaga & Leaders Rally In DTLA For Orlando Victims
“This [shooting] is an attack on humanity.”
– Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga and LGBT community leaders spoke out about the violent attack at Orlando’s Pulse Night Club at a vigil held in Downtown Los Angeles, on June 13th.
From the steps and throughout the grounds in front of city hall, hundreds gathered to find comfort in each other, and honor the 49 people killed and over 50 injured in the mass shooting. Many of the signs and shrines read “More Love Less Hate,” “Queers Against Islamophobia,” “Silence = Death” and “Love Orlando.”
The Los Angeles LGBT Center organized the event, which included songs from the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angles, addresses from the Center’s Lorri L. Jean, West Hollywood City Councilman John Duran, Latino Equality Alliance’s Ari Gutierrez and Los Angeles Transgender Advisory Council member Justine Gonzalez and others.
“No one believed it at first,” said Mike Schwonke of the moment singer Lady Gaga was announced and then quietly appeared. Many others shared similar sentiments of gratitude, admiration and shock. And yet, there she was, voicing her support for the LGBT community.
“You are not alone,” Lady Gaga told the mourners and the community at large. “This [shooting] is an attack on humanity.”
Just before reading some of the names of those who died, she added, “Let’s all today pledge an allegiance of love to them and to their families who are suffering so deeply.”
Mourners and speakers alike were overcome with emotion as the names were read, with many commenting that it was as touching and painful as Anderson Cooper’s reading of the names on CNN, earlier that day.
Leaders acknowledged the anger, pain and struggle LGBT people have faced so many times in the past, but called for everyone to “Rise Up” together for the sake of equality and in the name of the survivors and the dead.
“It is time to mourn our dead,” said Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Congregation Kol Ami. “We must mourn those amazing, precious souls in Orlando.”
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