Local LGBT community weighs in on Orlando massacre

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) Josh Mers, the head of Lexington Fairness, says waking up to the news was heartbreaking. It’s especially heartbreaking after gay days were just celebrated in Orlando and in the month of June when pride is celebrated throughout the nation.

He tells others LGBT activists and members of the community standing with him in front of the Fayette County Courthouse that, “I think it’s just shocking. I agree with you. It could happen, I mean right here across the street.”

Mers says it’s “Heartbreaking to wake up to that kind of news…to one of our fellow communities that this could happen to so many people.”

And it’s an area Mers has been to before.

He tells the others, “Unlike you I’ve been down for gay days at Orlando. I’ve been to several of those clubs. And you just don’t expect it that it’s something that we have to worry about.”

The group is also standing in the Court House Plaza where pride fest will kick off on June 25th.

Although unrelated to the shooting in Orlando, the events in Santa Monica where a man carrying ammunition in his car in town for the LA Pride Fest further puts the LGBT community on edge.

Christopher Bauer, Board President of Lexington’s Pride Community Services Organization, says “It makes you wonder are we a target and are we a target here in Lexington. ”

Pride Community Services Organization puts on Lexington’s Pride Fest and Bauer says people shouldn’t be worried.

Lexington Fairness is inviting everyone to show their support to those affected by the tragedy in Orlando at a vigil tonight in Triangle Park starting at 8pm.