Local gay center holds vigil to honor Orlando victims, feels targeted
Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:”Table Normal”;mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:””;mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:107%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:”Calibri”,sans-serif;mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
In Orlando, Florida, last year, 49 people were killed and 58 wounded at a gay club. Authorities called it a terrorist/hate crime. Rosa Diaz, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center in El Centro said it can happen here, as well.
“Could we be a target? Could something like what happened in Orlando happen here? Of course. It can happen anywhere,” Diaz said.
The center held a vigil on Monday to honor the Orlando victims that died on June 12, 2016.
“We had people from the community. It was a moment to just come together as one, there was no division, where, oh, you’re gay or you’re not. No. You’re a person and you’re a person and we’re a people,” Diaz said.
She explained that local gay people are targets of abuse daily.
“Many stories of people who have been harassed, bullied, beaten up, because they do identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” Diaz said.
She said hiding is not the answer.
“I think that our visibility and our voice in Imperial County is going to help to change some of those misconceptions,” Diaz said.
She went on to say that many people from all walks of life are now claiming to be gay openly.
“We have actors, professionals, doctors, attorneys,” Diaz said.
She explained that Monday’s vigil was one way of being part of the community.
“If there continues to be a misunderstanding of who we are, we will continue to be targeted,” Diaz concluded.
