The irony of timing for the Orlando mass shooting that killed 50 people in a gay bar and injured 53 more—with some of them hovering between life and death—is not lost on us this week.
In Nanaimo, rainbow crosswalks were just unveiled during a three-day pride event that featured a parade. In Campbell River, a similar project has been pitched, and a temporary rainbow sidewalk will be painted on June 23, in conjunction with a pride festival.
In Port Alberni, while rainbow crosswalks never materialized, plans are afoot for another Pride event on Saturday, July 23 from 12–4 p.m. at Williamson Park.
The rainbow flag, a universal symbol for gay pride, is flying at the United Church on Church Street, and the congregation has embraced its LGBTQ members with pride, and some members are helping to organize Port Alberni Pride.
In this era, it is difficult to understand the hatred directed at different groups of people, be it for gender, beliefs or religion. It is easy to point fingers, and to call mass shootings acts of domestic terrorism, and to want to know why.
It is not so easy to figure out a way to halt these terrible happenings.
Our hearts and thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones in this senseless tragedy.