Islanders react to Orlando nightclub shootings with shock, horror

Shock. Disbelief. Horror. Those were some of the words Islanders are using to describe their reaction to the shootings in Orlando which have left 50 dead and injured 53, making it the deadliest shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history.

• Charlottetown vigil planned for Orlando nightclub shooting

Considerable progress has come about through pride and solidarity and it's very important to remember that and to work with that. P.E.I. Premier Wade MacLauchlan

Nicholas Whalen, 34, shared his memories of Edward Sotomayor Jr., also 34, one of the victims of Sunday morning's shooting at Pulse nightclub. When Whalen and his boyfriend travelled to Los Angeles a month ago for a convention that celebrated the art of drag, they met Sotomayor and became friends.

"The thing about this particular shooting was that it felt very close to me," Whalen said. "Those thousands of people that we met during that event, coincidentally, were there celebrating you know that very thing."

"I'm a gay person and that could have been me."

Sotomayor worked for a company that operated gay cruises, often travelling to promote events, a cousin told The Associated Press. He also booked tours for entertainer and drag queen RuPaul.

"The last time we saw Eddie was during the filming of a reality television show called RuPaul's Drag Race and the whole sense of what that show was all about is celebrating inclusiveness, appreciation, and respect for the gay community so it's rather ironic that that was the last time we saw him," Whalen said.

'Couldn't believe it'

The tragedy also hit home for Elyse Cottrell, co-chair of the UPEI Rainbow Alliance, who is openly bisexual and active in the LGBTQ community.

"I kind of just couldn't believe it was happening," she said. "We think of in North America as being like progressive and I think we kind of forget about all of the like homophobia and transphobia and biphobia that still exists here."

"This is proof that it can happen anywhere."

The shooting, said Cottrell, reminded her that people need to take action to make a difference.

The UPEI Rainbow Alliance is supporting the Pride PEI vigil and providing candles to use Tuesday evening at Trinity United Church in Charlottetown from 8 p.m. to 9. p.m.

Remember progress

Wade MacLauchlan, P.E.I.'s first openly gay premier, expressed his shock and horror.

"It can't help but remind any of us that gay people, LGBTQ community, have been vulnerable and that these, this comes out of a history of discrimination and hatred," MacLauchlan said.

"Considerable progress has come about through pride and solidarity and it's very important to remember that and to work with that in view as we go forward."

He said Tuesday's vigil will be an opportunity for all Islanders to get together to show solidarity.

Whalen will be there too, with mixed emotions.

"It's very sad. And I think I'm caught somewhere between sadness and being dispirited and that's the really sad thing is when you lose your spirit you feel very emotionally detached," he said.

Despite the tragedy, Whalen believes the LGBTQ community will emerge stronger than ever.

"The gay community has given so much creativity, colour and culture, and happiness to this world. And we will continue to do that."

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