Colorado nightclub nightmare hits "close to home" for members and supporters of Pittsburgh's LGBTQ community
Patrons and employees at Pittsburgh-area LGBTQ bars expressed shock and sadness after learning about the mass shooting at Club Q, an adult-oriented gay and lesbian nightclub in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Saturday night, five people were killed and 25 were hurt when police said a man, armed with a "long rifle" walked into the club and started shooting.
"I envisioned if something like that were to ever happen here," said Michael Devitt, a bartender at P-Town located on Baum Boulevard in Pittsburgh.
Devitt works at the gay bar several nights a week. He said he was very emotional when he found out about the shooting on social media.
"It's heartbreaking when you think about peoples' lives that were taken from them and for something as innocent as just going out at a night club with your friends," Devitt said.
According to its website, Club Q hosts a "Drag Diva Drag Show" on Saturdays. Sunday night, P-Town was hosting it's annual "Miss P-Town Drag Pageant."
"It's supposed to be a celebration," Devitt said about the event. "But I think no matter what you do, it's going to have a little bit of a somber overtone because of the tragedy."
Devitt said that they usually had a security guard at the entrance of the bar and that all bags are checked when people walked in.
On social media, several other area LGBTQ bars posted about the tragedy.
5801 Video Lounge & Bar said on Facebook, "On this Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor and remember those who have lost their life because of anti-transgender violence, including those senselessly injured and murdered in last night's tragic shooting in Colorado Springs."
Brewer's Bar posted, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims in the Club Q shooting last night."
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all the victims in the ClubQ shooting last night
Posted by Brewer's Bar on Sunday, November 20, 2022
Corey Dunbar was at Brewer's Bar Sunday night, having a drink with friends. He said he also found out about the shooting via social media.
As he was reading the headline, he said he was reminded of the 2016 Pulse Night Club shooting in Orlando, Florida.
"It's heart wrenching," Dunbar said. "It's something you don't want to hear, especially in the community."
Dunbar and Devitt said these spaces, particularly certain bars and night clubs, should be a safe haven for the community, never a crime scene.
The owner of Brewer's told KDKA they plan to increase security at the bar to ensure the safety of their customers and all members of the LGBTQ community.
"I think hatred can rear its ugly head no matter where it's at," Devitt said. "Which is the scariest part."
Authorities were still investigating a motive for Saturday night's shooting. Dunbar and Devitt said they believed the attack was rooted in hatred and demanded an end to such senseless killings.
"You can throw hate our way all day long," Devitt said. "But we are not going anywhere and you're not going to succeed. I always firmly believe that love wins in the end."