Brandon Pride Week to go ahead as planned despite Orlando shooting, event chair says

Events to mark pride week in Brandon are going ahead as planned despite Sunday's deadly mass shooting in Orlando, Fla.

Brandon Pride chair Ken Jackson said event organizers have contacted Brandon police as a precaution to ensure events in the city are safe this week, but they don't anticipate any issues.

• Orlando shooting: more victims' names released
• Orlando shooting victims mourned with flags at half-mast in Manitoba
• Orlando gunman's father condemns son's crimes, posts video saying homosexuality an issue for God
• Orlando nightclub attack: Gunman Omar Mateen was 'cool and calm' during Pulse standoff

"We have a good working relationship with the Brandon city police," he saidon Monday. "We will be looking at whether we have to do any things differently."

Pride Week in Brandon starts Monday and wraps up Sunday. Events are being held nearly every day and the city's second annual Pride march will make its way through Brandon on Saturday morning.

Jackson said he was shocked when he first heard of the shooting on Sunday.

"It just shows how small the world actually is, that something that happens in Orlando, Fla., has an effect on places even like Brandon," he said.

In the wake of the shooting, two moments of silence are planned one at a flag-raising at city hall on Thursday and another at the Pride march but no events are being changed, Jackson said. Flags were lowered to half-mast at BrandonCity Hall on Monday. A vigil is planned for 8 p.m.Wednesday outside city hall.

"If there was any reason that we felt that events should be altered or changed, we would definitely do that," said Jackson.

Organizers anticipate a higher than average turnout this year, he said.

"We as a community do not want hatred, fear and terror to rule our lives," he said. "No one wants to go back into the closet and for that reason, Pride will go on.

"This isn't just about our community itself. This is our community. This is about the community as a whole," he said.

For a full list of events taking place in Brandonto mark Pride Week, visit the Brandon Pride website.