To honor the victims of the deadly mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Florida and provide a forum for those affected by the tragedy, Cal Poly Pomona’s Pride Center will hold a campus vigil on June 13 from 5 to 6 p.m.
“It will be an open mic opportunity for people to speak,” says La’Keisha Beard, acting director of the Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers.
The vigil will be held in University Plaza in the center of the Old Stables. Staff members from Counseling and Psychological Services will be in attendance.
The attack on June 12 in Orlando killed 49 people and wounded 53 at the Pulse nightclub, making it the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
The Pride Center and CAPS also held a debriefing in the Rainbow Weaver Room.
For more information, contact the Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers at (909) 869-2841 or the Pride Center at (909)869-2573.
The following is a message that was sent to the student body:
To the Cal Poly Community,
Our hearts are heavy as LGBTQ communities in Orlando and LA and across the country experienced senseless acts of violence and threats of violence over the weekend. 49 people were killed, and another 53 were injured after an attack at Pulse, a LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando early Sunday morning. Authorities also arrested a heavily armed man who was planning to attend LA Pride on Sunday. June is important to many communities as National LGBTQ Pride Month. Pride Month is an opportunity for us to remember the resilience of the LGBTQA and People of Color communities, and our ability to be strong with and for one another. We stand with the Orlando LGBTQ community and continue to hope for equity, inclusion, and justice.
It is important for us to recognize that this act of violence is not about religion. This is about the existence of LGBTQ people. This is about homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, and the intersections of race. This is about people of color. These issues have profound implications for members of our community here at Cal Poly Pomona and we want to acknowledge the toll these events can have on mental, emotional, and physical health. The Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers is here to support you. Please join us for the following event open to the entire campus community.
The Pride Center will be hosting a Vigil from 5:00pm-6:00pm today in University Plaza (Historic Stables).
University Counseling Staff will be present as well. Please know that Counseling Services are always available for students at: 909-869-3220, THEN PRESS 2 for telephone crisis support (24/7).
Please do not hesitate to reach out to any and all of the staff at the Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers for additional questions and support.
What affects one, affects us all. Take care of yourselves and each other.
In solidarity,
La’Keisha Beard, Acting Director, OSLCC
Tashiana Bryant, African American Student Center Coordinator
Gloria Castillo, Administrative Coordinator
Jami Grosser, Senior Coordinator, Cultural Centers
Irvin Harrison, Native American Student Center Coordinator
Thavery Lay-Bounpraseuth, Asian & Pacific Islander Student Center Coordinator
John LeJay, Greek Life & Education Coordinator
Lorena Marquez, Cesar E. Chavez Center for Higher Education Coordinator
Andrea Montes, Student Involvement Coordinator
Oronne Nwaneri, Leadership and Student Involvement Coordinator
Brianna Sérráno, Pride Center Coordinator
Anita Roberts, Interim Women’s Resource Center Coordinator
Sharon Rocacorba, Interim Senior Coordinator, Student Life