Dear Chamber Member,
As you've likely heard by now, over the weekend, the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado Springs and the entire state suffered an unspeakable tragedy. To date, 5 people were gunned down and 25 were wounded when a gunman walked into Club Q, an LGBTQ+ bar, and started shooting. And...on the eve of Transgender Day of Remembrance. Our community is in mourning for the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado, and we are heartbroken.
I've spent two days crafting a statement, reaching out to the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce to offer our condolences and support, working with their chamber to identify a fund to support the families and victim and collaborated with the Montrose Center on the vigil. All of which you can read about below.
My holiday week was not supposed to start with crafting statements, determining a fund to support victims, mourning the loss of LGBTQ+ community members or all of the above. It was supposed to be the start of a holiday week and looking forward to a "quieter week", as I mentioned to someone last week, and not a week filled with tears and literally being heartbroken because of the hatred and violence we are reading about in Colorado Springs.
Now, I am writing this email to you with such sadness that this has happened to the LGBTQ+ community. In a world, where we must constantly look over our shoulder, the LGBTQ+ community needs more support than ever. Whether a tragedy in Colorado Springs or the anti-LGBTQ+ attacks that we will see during the 2023 legislative session, the LGBTQ+ community needs your support.
Read the Chamber's statement below about the Club Q massacre, learn more about how you can contribute to the fund to help the families and victims and join the Chamber, along with other LGBTQ+ and Allied organizations, for a vigil this week. And...looking forward...how you can use your voice this upcoming legislative session. Now is the time to come together as a community.
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Chamber Statement on Club Q Massacre |
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No community should have to go through this kind of loss and pain. We are lifting up the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado and sending strength across the miles to our colleagues at the Colorado LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce.
We are saddened at the tragic loss of life and at the hand of violence and likely hate. Patrons at a Club Q should have had a regular Saturday night of fun and enjoyed a night out. Instead, the city of Colorado Springs is dealing with an unspeakable tragedy and the LGBTQ+ community is forever changed due to senseless violence.
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“As I woke up in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday and saw the news of this tragedy, I was in shock and my heart sank,” said Tammi Wallace, Co-Founder, President & CEO, Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “Our hearts are broken. This attack on the LGBTQ+ community at Club Q is devastating. An attack, that, rooted in hate, reminds us once again that lives are precious. The loss of lives and traumatized victims means that lives are forever altered and a community is scarred from an unthinkable act of violence.”
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This act of violence is another stark reminder of the challenges the LGBTQ+ community faces. There is much work ahead to ensure the LGBTQ+ community lives our daily lives free from fear and with full equality at all levels of government.
We offer our deepest condolences to the Colorado Springs community and the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado. We are grieving and mourning with you.
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Fund to Support LGBTQ+ Families and Victims - Colorado Healing Fund |
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The Colorado Healing Fund is currently activated for the Club Q Colorado Springs Tragedy that occurred on November 20, 2022. In the aftermath of mass violence, victims need immediate and long-term support, CHF provides a secure way to donate to victims of these tragedies.
The Colorado Healing Fund was founded in 2018 by a group of victim advocates and community leaders to establish a secure way for the public to contribute to victims of mass casualty crimes in Colorado. Initial funding was provided by the Colorado Attorney General's Office.
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Club Q Vigil - Wednesday, November 23 |
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A Club Q Vigil will be held this Wednesday, November 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and hosted by the Montrose Center along with various community partners. The community is invited to attend to grieve and honor the lives lost at Club Q in Colorado Springs. This will be held outside in the Montrose Center parking lot, weather permitting.
Event will start shortly after 6 p.m. with a brief speaking program. Following speakers, the names of the victims will be read aloud and there will be a moment of silence.
INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN
If outside is not suitable given weather, the vigil will move inside to Rooms 106/107 on the 1st Floor.
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Stay tuned for more details about our Day at the Capitol that will be held in February next year. Your voice is needed now more than ever to help us combat anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Texas. Normally, I wouldn't combine such an email with the tragedy in Colorado Springs to what is happening in our home state. However, they are inextricably linked. Anti-LGBTQ+ hate is on the rise in our state and across the country. What cannot be taken away is the voice of our community and our allies standing side-by-side to address this toxic rhetoric.
Make plans to join us in Austin in mid-February for the Day at the Capitol.
Contact the Chamber to find out how your company can support the Chamber's advocacy work, both during the session and beyond, and actively engage to ensure the state leaders understand the business community will no longer accept anti-LGBTQ+ hateful rhetoric as the norm in Texas.
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We Just Want to Live Our Lives... |
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Earlier today, I found myself thinking about all of the basics of life...needing to schedule a doctor's appointment, calling the veterinarian, talking to my wife about what's for dinner...you know...life. Our community deserves just that...a society where we can just live our lives and not in fear of the next shooting or the next hateful piece of legislation.
Or for some in the LGBTQ+ community dealing with everyday challenges such as access to healthcare, food insecurity or other facets that impact the community from an economic standpoint. These are the real issues facing our state and not just with the LGBTQ+ community. As we mourn for Colorado Springs, we also mourn for what is coming in the Texas Legislative Session.
Be Engaged, Have a Voice and Make a Difference.
With Pride and Much Reflection,
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Tammi Wallace (she/her/hers)
Co-Founder and President & CEO
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Greater Houston LGBT Chamber of Commerce
www.houstonlgbtchamber.com
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