Vigils will be held in Montreal on Sunday and Thursday nights in memory of the victims of the massacre that occurred at a gay club in Orlando, Florida, early Sunday.
On Sunday at 6:30 p.m., a vigil is being organized by the Diversité, Genres et Sexualités du Forum Social Mondial committee.
It will be held at parc de l’Espoir, at Ste-Catherine and Panet Sts., in Montreal’s gay village.
Thursday’s vigil, at the same location, is being organized by Montreal Pride, the organization behind Montreal’s annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival, and Collectif Carré Rose, which combats homophobia and violence against the LGBT community.
At least 50 people were killed when a gunman opened fire at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.
As a gesture of solidarity, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre ordered that the rainbow flag be raised in front of Montreal city hall.
“On my own behalf and on behalf of all Montrealers, I express my deepest sorrow and sympathy to the families, relatives of the victims and the entire LGBT community,” Coderre said in a statement. “In these difficult times, Montrealers stand in solidarity with all Americans affected by this terrible tragedy. We share in this grief and in the struggle against all forms of violence.”
