Written and published by X
As you all must have heard, a little over a week ago, there was a shooting at a gay nightclub located in Colorado Springs, that left at least five people dead and 18 more wounded. Club Q conveyed on their website, “Club Q is devastated by the senseless attack on our community. Our prayers and thoughts are with all of the victims and their families and friends. We thank the quick reactions of heroic customers that subdued the gunman and ended this hate attack.” Referring to Richard Fierro, an army veteran who disarmed the gunman, and Thomas James, both heroes to the community.
These LBGTQ+ nightclubs are more than just nightclubs. They are supposed to be a safe space for the community. They’re spaces where queer people can just feel like themselves, with no judgement from the outside world. A space where they can dance, make memories, and not have to worry about homophobia and transphobia. These safe spaces matter.
I’ve been seeing a lot of hatred towards clubs and venues lately, saying that the nightlife scene is “dark” and “demonic”, but the reality is that that’s just not true. There is abuse, hatred, and evil in every industry. Some of these clubs and venues are extremely important to people and communities. Gay clubs are just one example. These are spaces that we need. The problems never stem from the club or venue itself, it’s the lack of regulations and safety precautions that need to be addressed. Thankfully, the nightlife scene has been more progressive over the past few years, from coming up with the “angel shot” to carrying Narcan in medical tents, we’re moving forward, but there’s still hatred and unfortunate events that still seep into our world.
Let’s continue to be kind, advocate for safety and regulation, and be there for each other. My heart goes out to the community, the victims and their friends and family. No one deserves this.
Photo by Trevor Hughes
"It is absolutely imperative that every human being’s freedom and human rights are respected, all over the world." -Johanna Sigurodottir