June 13, 2016
Philadelphia's LGBT community and supporters will gather on Monday to ask for peace in the shadows of the deadly mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando.
The vigil, which is being promoted via a Facebook page that has nearly 1,500 people marked as planning to attend as of Monday morning, is scheduled to take place from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday at the northeast corner of Philadelphia City Hall.
The description on the Facebook event reads, "Please join the LGBTQ community of Philadelphia in an outpouring of grief, love, and solidarity for the victims in Orlando," adding "...we ask that everyone please come with love and respect. No homophobia, transphobia, racism or Islamophobia is welcome at this event."
The nonprofit Philadelphia Dyke March, which is hosting the event, posted some ways for people to prepare for the vigil, including asking participants to bring candles, lighters and signs.
View the full event listing on Facebook.
The LGBT community in New Hope will gather at 8 p.m. Monday to "stand together against this act of senseless violence and hatred and remember the lives lost" in Sunday's massacre in Orlando.
"We grieve with the families who are experiencing such great loss today as a result of the mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning," the Board of New Hope Celebrates said in a statement. "We also send our thoughts and prayers to those injured and to all of the families and friends coming to terms with this horrendous incident. This was an act of terror and hate against not only the LGBT community but against all of us."
The vigil will be held on the Delaware River in the grassy area by the Bucks County Playhouse.
For more information, please contact Sharon Fronabarger, president New Hope Celebrates at Sharon@newhopecelebrates.com.
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack has ordered the state Capitol building to be lit in rainbow colors through Thursday to honor the victims of the Orlando massacre. Flag also will fly at half-staff on all state government buildings as ordered by Gov. Tom Wolf.
The front of the capitol building is illuminated from the balcony outside Stack's office.
"We must send a message in whatever way we can that hatred and violence toward any people based on their group identity is morally wrong," Stack said. "We stand now with the LGBT community in expressing both outrage and deep sorrow over the attack in Orlando."
Philadelphia's LGBT community unite this week to raise funds for the victims of the Orlando massacre.
ICandy, 254 S. 12th St., will host "Heart: A Benefit for the Victims of Pulse" from 9 p.m. to midnight Wednesday. Proceeds from the event will help defray funeral costs for victims of Sunday's attack at a gay nightclub, in which 49 people were killed, including Philadelphian Akyra Murray.
There is a suggested donation of $3 to $10.
Performers include Bev, Brooklyn Ford, Ariel Versace, Mimi Imfurst, Vinchelle, Iris Spectre, ZsaZsa St. James, Chachi Divine, Luke Grooms and Maria Top Cat. More entertainers are expected to join the lineup. A number of items have been donated by local business for raffles.
For more information, click here.
The Collingswood community will gather from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday for a candlelight vigil "to grieve, love and support" the victims and their families and friends.
The vigil will be held at Haddon and Woodlawn avenues, and attendees are asked to bring candles for themselves and for those who might not have any.
