MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Pride month for members of the LGBTQ community took a tragic turn when an American-born man, claiming ISIS allegiance, opened fire on patrons at a gay night club in Orlando.
West Virginia University leaders said planning for pride month events was overshadowed by the massacre that kiled 49 people and injured as many.
“These kinds of events can make people feel afraid,” explained Dr. T. Anne Hawkins, the Director of the WELLWVU Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services. “This is happening in the midst of LGBTQ pride month. So, at a time when LGBTQ individuals come together and celebrate who they are in their community, we have had this very chilling terrorist attack.”
The Carruth Center has provided counseling through extended hours following the Sunday tragedy.
“When people take these kinds of events in, I think they feel unsafe and they feel worried and it silences them,” Hawkins told WAJR’s Morgantown AM.
Hawkins, who works in private practice and also serves as the interim director of the WVU LGBTQ+ Center, said counselor schedules have been increasingly busy since many woke up Sunday to the chilling images from medical rescues at the Pulse nightclub.
“I think people are trying to make sense of something that we can’t make sense of. I think that’s very confusing. As individuals we do try to find meaning and make sense of tragedies,” continued Hawkins.
The killer, born in New York to Afghan parents, had been on FBI radar. But even after questioned over statements made to coworkers in the past, he was never charged with any crimes.
Other than his call to 911 during the killing spree where he mentioned ISIS, investigators have yet to release anything the terrorist may have written prior to the attack.
WVU’s staff assistance program will field calls from those who are having trouble coping with the shooting.
According to Hawkins, it might be best for those emotionally distraught to unplug from around-the-clock coverage.
“I think it’s really important to take a break from taking in all of the horrible information that is out there right now. I think it’s important we be educated about what happened. But, I also think it’s important to take a break from it.”
WVU will host a candlelight vigil at 8 p.m. Thursday on Woodburn Circle in honor of the 49 people killed and others injured.
Counselors will be available at the vigil.