A leader of Edmonton’s pride centre believes the massacre at a gay Orlando nightclub shows that members of the LGBTQ community are still not safe from violence even in places that are thought to be secure.
“Violence is kind of part of our lives. The risk of it is something that most of us are certainly aware of,” Mickey Wilson, Pride Centre of Edmonton executive director, said.
“The general population sees celebrations, they see the weddings, they see the legislation, but they don’t see our lived reality.”
READ MORE: Orlando shooting: 50 people killed, 53 injured at gay nightclub in Florida
Wilson said the community as a whole, not just the LGBTQ community, must fight homophobia and transphobia in order for discrimination and violence to stop against gay, lesbian and transgender people.
“We need to challenge those harmful statements every time we hear them, we need to think about embedding rights in our education system, not at grade nine but at kindergarten. We need to change our small communities, our large cities so that this kind of act and the fire that fuels these acts is not acceptable by anybody,” Wilson said.
Wilson added legislation and tolerance isn’t enough.
“Education on the ground, health care on the ground, safe places, mental health support, all of these things on the ground are what we need.”
READ MORE: Hundreds gather in Edmonton for Orlando shooting candlelight vigil
Authorities in Orlando said 49 people were killed and 53 injured when a gunman opened fire inside Pulse Nightclub, a gay club, early Sunday morning.
To show solidarity with the global LGBTQ community and pay tribute to those impacted by the Orlando shooting, the Edmonton Pride Festival held a vigil at 8 p.m. Sunday. Hundreds of people showed up to hear from local leaders, sing songs, and take part in a candlelit walk.
Watch below: Edmontonians attend candlelight vigil to honour Orlando shooting victims
City of Edmonton building flags were lowered to half-mast to mourn the victims of the mass shooting.
On Tuesday, the Pride Centre of Edmonton will host a BBQ fundraiser at 10541-106 Street in the MC College parking lot.
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