The university community will unite noon Wednesday to mourn the 49 victims from Sunday’s Orlando LGBTQ nightclub shooting.

The LGBTQ Resource Center, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Equal Opportunity Services and other student affairs organizations will hold a vigil noon Wednesday at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center for the victims of Sunday’s Orlando shooting. | Photo Courtesy of Center for Diversity and Inclusion

The event is open to all and will be held at the A.D. Bruce Religion Center on behalf of the LGBTQ Resource Center, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Equal Opportunity Services and other student affairs organizations. Attendees are encouraged to participate in the discussion session hosted after the vigil.

Lorraine Schroeder, director of the LGBTQ Resource Center, believes that the tragedy – while an isolated event – demonstrates the hate LGBTQ individuals still experience in 2016.

“There is a big impact when you know there is that sort of hatred for who you are,” Schroeder said. “It affects our psyche in ways we don’t normally anticipate.”

The effects of the shooting have reached Houston and prompted Mayor Sylvester Turner to increase security for the upcoming Houston Pride Parade.

“At the end of the day, it comes down to respect,” said Michael Crook, the program coordinator for CDI. “We want to create a respectful environment that feels at the very least safe, but that they feel that they are welcome here and able to thrive.”

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“Campus organizations will host vigil for Orlando victims” was originally posted on The Daily Cougar