LGBTQ Georgia Reps Speak Out on Shootings at Orlando Gay Nightclub

State Representatives Park Cannon (D-Atlanta), Karla Drenner (D-Avondale Estates) and Keisha Waites (D-Atlanta) issued statements today following Sunday’s mass shootings at the Pulse night club in Orlando that caters to the LGBT community. Cannon and Drenner are lesbians, while Cannon identifies as queer.

From a press release:

“Make no mistake, the LGBTQ community is under attack, even within the ‘safe places’,” said Rep. Cannon. “I am devastated to report that I am close to someone who has been affected by this extreme outbreak of gun violence in Orlando, Florida. Please lift prayers for the families, friends, and communities of those who escaped, endured a terrifying hostage situation, or were unable to avoid this horrific act of mass violence.”

“We are deeply saddened to hear of the tragic loss of many innocent lives in Orlando, Florida,” said Rep. Drenner. “There are also many steps we can take to lessen the chance of these types of mass shootings from occurring in Georgia, including exploring legislation to prevent individuals who have been listed at some point on an FBI watch list as potential threats to our safety from procuring such weapons.”

“The tragedy that took place in Orlando was in fact a political statement, and the notion that we should not politicize the Orlando massacre is naïve,” said Rep. Waites. “The reality is that the United States reported 32,000 gun deaths last year, and there is a reason why countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Australia and Canada combined have a lower gun violence rate. The 50 Americans who were viciously assassinated deserve our commitment to calling for gun reform, hate crimes legislation and LGBT equality.”