Toronto vigil 'a demonstration of love' to Orlando shooting victims

With 50 people dead, the shooting in Orlando's gay nightclub Pulse is being called the worst mass shooting in American history. The pain of this violence is felt around the world, especially by members of the LGBTQ community.In Toronto, the gay community has banded together to support the victims and survivors of the Orlando shooting with a candlelight vigil.

One of the organizers of this vigil is David Morris, a member of the board of management of The 519, an LGBTQ community agency in Toronto. Morris spoke with Checkup's guest host Asha Tomlinson.

Cross Country Checkup5:2320160612 - Caller David Morris

Toronto's queer community responds to the mass shooting in Orlando night club.

On the importance of holding a candlelight vigil:

The feeling that our brothers and sisters of the queer community were targeted in this way really has stirred an emotional reaction in the community. There are a lot of people coming to the vigil because they need to express their grief, but many others are coming because they want to show a demonstration of love and support, and that love can conquer hate. We can send a message to those people in Orlando, and to members of the Muslim community in Canada and around the world, that we still love you and embrace you, and we are going to work together to fight this kind of violence and hatred.

On the role of nightclubs in the LGBTQ community:

Nightclubs were the places that we could go together to be joyful, to celebrate and to find love. They were often our safe space that we could escape to and be with other members of our community.

I'm not sure if you heard President Barack Obama address, but I continue to reiterate this because it really hit me in terms of the significance. He said that a nightclub is a place of solidarity, a place of empowerment where you can feel free.

It is a place where we come together and it was one of our earliest meeting places. It was where we could find love, where we could find our potential partners, our boyfriends, our lovers. It was so important to making very deep connections. In terms of solidarity and peace, it was where we could rally together. Thirty five years ago when clubs were attacked that really brought the community together and created the beginning of the queer movement here in Toronto. So clubs are more than lights, smoke machines and music. They are essential places for us to come together as a community moving forward.

On the impact the shootings will have on Pride Toronto festivities:

Representatives of Pride Toronto have been speaking about coming together to mourn the loss of our brothers and sisters in Orlando. I think there will be ongoing conversations about whether or not security needs change, but one thing I can be absolutely sure about is that we're never going to compromise our pride, our freedom, or our joy for the sake of security. The reason we celebrate pride is to put ourselves out there and to send our message of inclusion and openness to the world, and that cannot be lost.

David Morris' comments have been edited and condensed. This online segment was prepared by Champagne Choquer.