Haus of Codec and over two dozen other organizations held a vigil on Wednesday evening to hold space and honor the five members of the queer community killed at the Club Q night club in Colorado Springs, Colorado on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Transgender Day of Remembrance is observed in honor of the lives of trans people lost to anti-trans violence and hatred.
GEM emceed the event which included a candlelight vigil, a moment of silence and opportunities for community members to speak out against violence, bigotry and the anti-queer, anti-trans and anti-BIPOC rhetoric that is plaguing our communities. Over 300 people attended the event in Providence's Dexter Park.
The event sought to honor those who were murdered at Club Q - Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derrick Rump, Ashley Paugh and Raymond Green Vance - along with the countless others injured in the shooting.
Here's the video:
Speakers included:
- Julio Berroa, Executive Director of Haus of Codec
- Tammy Brown, The Womxn Project and Contemporary Theater Company
- Evan Jones from Sojourner House
- Volta Tran (and Sky)
- Em from the Providence Student Union
- Celestino from Youth Pride
- Ron Richard from PFLAG
- Monique Paul and Trevor, boardmembers from the TGI Network
- Ashley from Moniker Brewery
- Cookie from Weber Renew Beyond Program
- Satya Vatti from the Party for Socialism and Liberation
- Danny Cano Restrepo from Newport Out and Newport Pride
- Megan, a law student
- Jen Stevens from the Commission on Prejudice and Bias
- Katima Bolmer, college student
- Astrid from the Providence Poetry Slam
- Sy Bedrick from Luna Community Care
- Leia Fifer, peer support navigator
- TJ from Direct Action for Rights and Equality (DARE)
- Haley and Charlotte Peters, Haus of Codec
All Photos ©2022 Selene Means:
