The YWCA Greater Cleveland team was heartbroken to learn about the tragic shooting this past weekend in Colorado Springs at a LGBTQ+ nightclub that left 17 wounded and 5 dead. Venues like Club Q have historically served as safe havens for the queer community who worked hard to carve out a space for themselves in a society that violently marginalizes and othered them.

The current backlash to the progress we have seen in the past decade is a reminder of the dangers of transphobic rhetoric and anti-LGBTQ laws. YWCA stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community and we must make sure that the victims that lost their lives are never forgotten. Rest in power Daniel Davis Aston, Derrick Rump, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, and Raymond Green Vance.

If you would like to take action to support LGBTQ+ rights in Ohio, please visit our advocacy page to learn about how you can get involved.