“I am so filled with pride and joy right now. Maybe with the largest and most severe one in American history, something will be done.”ĭurbin said the vigil offered inspiration on what was otherwise a dark day. “We’ve had many incidents like these of gun violence in the past, and nothing is being done. Palm Springs Leather 2016, Christopher Durbin, said he felt sadness, followed by anger, when he heard about what is now the deadliest mass shooting ever in the United States. Richard Noble, who walked across America with the rainbow flag to promote LGBT civil rights, was present holding a sign that said “Enough Gun Violence.” This is significant on so many levels for this community.” “Because this event in Orlando happened in a gay bar, and we had our own tragedy with George Zander on Arenas back in November, it was important for us as a community to gather on this street and show our solidarity in our community. He said it was important for the vigil to be held on Arenas-the epicenter of gay nightlife in the Coachella Valley. In a 12-hour period of time, what’s been able to come together when communities mobilize-it’s pretty fantastic.” There are 152 events scheduled over the next couple of days in 32 states, including San Juan, Puerto Rico and in Mexico City. “I’m on a list with a bunch of other community centers, and it’s been phenomenal to see the kind of support that’s being shown. Thompson said that he had not spoken with anyone at The Center, Orlando’s LGBT community center, but he said he was heartened to see how many similar vigils and events had been scheduled in solidarity with Orlando. It was great to have something to rally around, and the support has been tremendous.” “A few people already coordinated some activities, so it was immediately getting together with them and organizing the community organizers. “It was really kind of a matter of minutes,” Thompson told the Independent. Mike Thompson, the LGBT Center’s chief executive officer, explained how the vigil came together. The country woke up to this horrifying news on Sunday morning, and the LGBT Community Center of the Desert quickly assembled a vigil to be held at 6:30 p.m. In the three terrible hours that followed, at least 50 people lost their lives. on Sunday, June 12, Omar Mateen walked into Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., and started firing at the 320 or so people who were still in the club after the bartenders announced last call.