New Verse News Extra: CLUB Q
by Peter Witt
A vigil was held at All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church. Credit: Daniel Brenner for The New York Times, November 20, 2022
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Patrons Subdued Gunman Who Killed at Least 5 at Colorado Club: The authorities credited people inside the gay nightclub in Colorado Springs with stopping the gunman, who police say opened fire with a long rifle just before midnight. More than two dozen were injured. —The New York Times, November 20, 2022
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Club Q, a supposed safe space where people can let their hair down or wig it up, where go-go dancers and drag queens rule, where bartenders in scanty attired serve tame and not so tame drinks to similarly minded customers, a place rife for hate by people threatened by the idea of individuality, where people go to hang out, to feel secure, without the fear of physical harm, where in an instant, all changed when harm walked through the door. Now Sunday festivities are off, no planned drag brunch, with drink specials and drag show followed by an evening Transgender Day of Remembrance for all those killed or attacked in the U.S. and around the world…an irony considering Saturday’s murderous events. Instead, sometime in the days ahead, the LGBTQA+ community and their supporters will gather to add the names of all the victims of a wanton shooter in Colorado Springs. Some politicians will tweet and send notes of support, while some will remain silent and in the days ahead whip up more fear and loathing with statements about the biblical repulsiveness of gay marriage, how drag queens are polluting the minds of young children during library readings, and books about LGBTQA+ identity should be removed from school libraries. On Thursday Club Q planned a Friendsgiving Dinner, which if held, will turn into an evening of tears, stories, and hugs to celebrate those lost and wounded.
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Peter Witt is a Texas poet, a frequent contributor to The New Verse News and other online poetry web-based publications.