Response to Club Q Shooting in Colorado Springs
By Lisa Scott, Director of Programming, Innovation, and LGBTQ+ Services at WJCS
Our WJCS community stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community in our outrage over the senseless shooting at Club Q, an LGBTQ+ club in Colorado Springs, on November 20th. This is a horrific attack in what should be safe space. We are devastated by the loss of life and feel deeply for others whose lives are forever altered by the injuries they sustained in the attack. Acts like these are meant to scare the LGBTQ+ community and LGBTQ+ allies but we at WJCS will continue to stand together.
This attack occurred on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance, an annual observance in memory of Trans people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence. We honor the 32 transgender Americans tragically and horrifically killed this year and know the actual total is almost certainly higher. Black and Brown transgender women are the most frequent target for violence.
The unspeakable violence at Club Q and the horrible violence against Trans people makes the work at WJCS to support LGBTQ+ youth even more urgent. We will continue to help LGBTQ+ youth create community, connect with culture, and contribute to the world.
May we all find peace and the strength to continue to do the important work of making our communities, small and large, more affirming of difference.
