#LoveWins. Since the tragic shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, on Sunday, June 12, many have honored the 49 killed and 53 wounded in the attack. Us Weekly has rounded up the most touching tributes from around the globe.
The World Trade Center, New York City
Following the attack, the spire of Manhattan’s One World Trade Center (the same site, of course, as the September 11, 2001, attacks) lit up in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and violet — emulating the colorful stripes of the international LGBT flag — in honor of the victims who lost their lives in what is now the deadliest shooting in American history.
The Eiffel Tower, Paris
Still reeling from its own terrorist attacks back in November 2015, the City of Light cast its most famous landmark in every color of the rainbow to remember those who were killed and hurt in Sunday’s tragedy.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge, Sydney
Australia’s capital honored those affected by the deadly incident by shining bright rainbow lights across the city’s Sydney Harbor Bridge.
London’s Vigil
Thousands of Londoners gathered in the SoHo neighborhood of England’s capital on Monday, June 13, to pay their respects to the lives lost in the Florida massacre, carried out by gunman Omar Mateen, who pledged allegiance to ISIS. Many carried rainbow flags and posters that read “Love Wins.” At around 7 p.m., vigil attendees held a moment of silence and then released 49 balloons in honor of each person who was killed in the attack.
New York City’s Vigil
On Monday night, thousands of New Yorkers congregated in front of Manhattan’s historic gay bar Stonewall Inn — birth of the modern LGBT movement in 1969 — to empower the LGBT community following Sunday’s harrowing event. The city’s mayor, Bill DeBlasio, attended the event and addressed the crowd with a moving message: “When thousands of people come together in love, in support, it is a renunciation of hatred. It is a way of overcoming pain. So your very act of solidarity tonight starts to move us forward.”
Los Angeles’ Vigil
More than 2,000 Angelenos banded together near City Hall on Monday to share their condolences for Orlando’s bloodshed. Southern California’s LGBT community — along with several celebrities — came out to show their support.
“We mourn the tragic loss of these innocent, beautiful people. Let’s all today pledge an allegiance of love to them and to their families who are suffering so deeply. They are sons and daughters. They were fathers and mothers. They are all our brothers and our sisters,” Lady Gaga said at the event. “But, tonight I will not allow my anger and outrage over this attack to overshadow our need to honor those who are grieving truly for their lost ones, lost members of the LGBT community.”
Athens’ Vigil
LGBT allies in Greece rallied together on Tuesday, June 14, to pay tribute to the killings in Orlando. Hundreds marched through the city’s streets as they held rainbow flags and signs inscribed with messages such as “Orlando, we are bleeding together.”
Brussels’ Vigil
Brussels, whose people experienced their own terror attack back in March when ISIS claimed responsibility for three airport bombings (in which 32 victims died), let Orlando know that the victims of the shooting are in their thoughts and prayers. On Tuesday, Belgium citizens gathered in the nation’s capital, holding rainbow flags and signs that read “From Brussels with love.”
Orlando’s Vigil
Thousands of Floridians assembled Monday evening to mourn those who were murdered in the attack on Orlando’s LGBT community. The city’s mayor, Buddy Dyer, attended the event to address the grieving crowd.
“For reasons we don’t fully understand, our city and our very way of life was attacked. Someone purposely sought out men and women of our — of our — LGBT community. He took the lives of 49 of our neighbors and loved ones and injured dozens more,” Dyer said. “He murdered — he murdered — sons and daughters, fathers and mothers. And ended the dreams of many young people who were just starting their adult lives in the city of Orlando. Tonight, we remain a city in pain. We are mourning. We are angry.”
