St. John's gathers to mourn victims of Orlando attack

Members of the St. John's LGBT community brought messages of love, pride and resistance Monday night to a vigil marking the Orlando nightclub attack.

Hundreds of people filled the foyer atCity Hall in St. John's with candles, signs, and plenty of pride flags to commemorate the 49 victims of the massshooting in a well-known gay bar in Florida.

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Gerry Rogers, the province's first openly-gay MHA, led the 200 to 300 attendees in a recitation, proclaiming that the crowd was "not afraid."

"Together, we are a love army," Rogers said.

'You're not going to silence us'

Police say 29-year-old Omar Mateen killed 49 people and injured many more early Sunday morning at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando. The shooting isthe deadliest attack by a single gunmanin American history.

Sowyer Making, one of the organizersof the St. John's commemoration, said the attackwas "completely devastating" and made him question his own safety.

"I just decided that we very much need to continue to be open," he said Monday night. "So I thought I would make this event and say you're not going to silence us."

Making saidthat his event was a way for the LGBT communityto come together for support after the tragicweekend.

The event included singing and calls for LGBT people and their allies to stay strong in the face of fear.

"This weekend, I am going to take my hot girlfriend to the gay bar and we are going to dance," said Gemma Hickey with a smile.

Set back

Musician Terry Riellyattendedthe vigilto support his manyLGBTfriends.

Hesaidthe nightclub killings represent a setback in human progress.

"It saddens me that there's so much hatred around in a world that needs a lot of love," said Rielly. "My expression is always love, and love all ways. We as a human species don't get that yet."