Arts & Entertainment
Twitter reacts to Orlando shooting with compassion, outrage; others tweet hate
users take to social media to voice opinions
Twitter erupted with reactions from celebrities, politicians and the LGBT community following news of the shooting at gay club Pulse in Orlando, Fla., on Sunday morning.
While many expressed compassion towards the victims and their families, others took to social media to praise gunman Omar Mateen and to share their homophobic views.
God opened His armory to deal with proud fag america. 20 dead in mass shooting at #Orlando “gay” nightclub #Pulse https://t.co/pmokhjaIls ā WBCVideo (@WBCVideo) June 12, 2016
Man I don’t know what’s better that fact that gays were killed or the fact that the killer was Muslim and a Democrat. ??? #Orlando #Shooting
ā (((Don Juanburg))) (@Jesushatesfig) June 12, 2016
I wake up to some dude shooting up a gay nightclub. Isn’t that weird. Homosexuality is condemned by God so that’s why he let that happen ppl
ā Chaasad Amath (@AhchNach) June 12, 2016
Florida Pulse gay club attacked I’m so happy someone decided to start shooting perverts instead of innocent people. https://t.co/AABxc642zb ā Jonathan Howell (@Jhowell1214) June 12, 2016
Daily Mail reports Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick tweeted “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Galations 6:7″ hours after the shooting.Ā Patrick’s social media handler, Allen Blakemore, says the tweet was scheduled ahead of time and not connected to the shooting.
The tweet has since been deleted.
āThe Lt. Governor is traveling out of the country, but our social media team has deleted the posts and graphics,” Blakemore said in a statement. “We regret the unfortunate timing of these posts and ask everyone to join us in praying for the people of Orlando in this awful time.ā
Others took to social media to express their frustrations and sadness about the biggest mass shooting in U.S. history, which specifically targeted the LGBT community.
I literally never want to hear again that LGBT people in the bathroom are a threat to public safety.
ā Jeremy Moss (@JeremyAllenMoss) June 12, 2016
You’re scared to be in a bathroom with us? We’re scared to be anywhere with you. ā (((Rhea Butcher))) (@RheaButcher) June 12, 2016
Devastated by the news out of FL. Whatever the madness behind this, let us all come together first to support victims & their loved ones.
ā George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) June 12, 2016
I am gay and I am not afraid. Love conquers all. #PrayforOrlando ā Ricky Martin (@ricky_martin) June 12, 2016
I’m gutted over the news in Orlando- the tears will not stop. My thoughts are w my gay brothers and sisters and their families.
ā Lance Bass (@LanceBass) June 12, 2016
Celebrity News
More than 1 million people attend Madonna concert in Rio
Free event took place on Copacabana Beach on Saturday
An estimated 1.6 million people on Saturday attended Madonna’s free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach.
The concert, which was the last one as part of Madonna’s Celebration Tour, included a tribute to people lost to AIDS.
Bob the Drag Queen introduced Madonna before the concert began. Pabllo Vittar, a Brazilian drag queen and singer, and Anitta, a bisexual pop star who was born in Rio’s HonĆ³rio Gurgel neighborhood, also joined Madonna on stage.
Congresswoman Erika Hilton, a Black travesti and former sex worker, and Rio Municipal Councilwoman MĆ“nica BenĆcio, the widow of Marielle Franco, a bisexual Rio Municipal Councilwoman who was assassinated in 2018, are among those who attended the concert.
“Madonna showed that we fight important fights for the human rights of Black (people), young (people), women and LGBTQIA+ people, and against all injustice, discrimination, and violence,” saidĀ AssociaƧao Nacional de Travestis e Transexuais (National Association ofĀ TravestisĀ and Transsexuals), a Brazilian trans rights group known by the acronym ANTRA, on itsĀ X account.Ā “What they call identitarianism’ is our subversion to the retrograde and conservative tackiness that plagues the country.”
The Associated Press reported the concert was Madonna’s biggest ever.
The DC Center for the LGBTQ Community, SMYAL and Rainbow Families sponsored Gay Day at the Zoo on Sunday at the Smithsonian National Zoo. The Smithsonian observed International Family Equality Day with special exhibits and an event space.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering Gay Day at the Zoo for @WashBlade . Here at @NationalZooDC pic.twitter.com/LqgGNOOAiM
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) May 5, 2024
Photos
PHOTOS: Taste of Point
Annual fundraiser held for LGBTQ youth scholarship, mentorship organization
The Point Foundation held its annual Taste of Point fundraiser at Room & Board on May 2.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)