Dallas LGBTQ Community Shows Support For Gay Clubs In Orlando
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DALLAS (CBS11) - The Orlando terror attack has caused a special pain in the LGBTQ community because of the place the shooter chose to target.
You can find tributes to The Pulse nightclub in many of the windows along Cedar Springs Road in Oak Lawn. There are plenty of places that feel a common bond with the Orlando nightclub.
An employee at one local bar says he's already heard from customers who worry about similar attacks, but many are taking a defiant stance against the attacker.
Though quiet during the day, places like Round-Up, S4, and JR's in Oak Lawn share much in common with Orlando's Pulse. For Ric Shanahan these clubs have felt like safe havens from discrimination, and he worries the attack in Orlando could change that.
"If that happened there, it can happen anywhere," Shanahan said.
Many in Oak Lawn shared Shanahan's concern.
People came to the neighborhood's Legacy of Love monument to lay flowers and express solidarity with Orlando victims. Drew Cox points out clubs like The Pulse offer a sense of community.
"Whenever I go out to a club, I just feel like I can be more of myself," Cox said.
That's why Cox hopes he and his friends can find strength amid the tragedy.
"If their intention was to disrupt our way of life, it's probably not going to happen because everyone that I know, all my gay friends have all told me, I'm not going to stop being who I am; I'm not going to live in fear," Cox said.
Shanahan insists he will continue to go to Oak Lawn's popular clubs, and he hopes members of the community will draw closer to help look out for each other.
"Just be more diligent. Pay attention. Know who's around you. Just pay attention. Notice things. You can never be too safe, but just pay attention," Shanahan said.
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